I've very excited about this post. It contains seven of the eight commercial sides that Irene Dunne recorded. Six are from the 1941 Decca 78 album depicted above, with one from an LP reissue of a 1935 Brunswick record. Unfortunately I haven't been able to locate the flip side of the latter record. I don't believe the Decca sides have been reissued.
The repertoire consists entirely of the music of Jerome Kern, notable because Dunne was one of the stars of the 1930s film versions of Roberta and Show Boat.
These days, Dunne is mostly remembered as the wonderfully funny lead in such screwball comedies as the Awful Truth, ironic because she started out as a singer and somewhat reluctantly veered into comic roles, at which she excelled. Also ironic because her persona remains compelling to us in those roles, even after 70 years, but as an interpreter of Jerome Kern, styles have moved on so drastically that it is easy to find her singing style unconvincing, even stilted - which is the last thing you would call her comic acting style.
As with all styles whose time has passed, you have to give up your preconceptions of how this music ought to sound and remember that this is the way (or at least one way) that Kern expected it to sound.
The accompaniments are by Victor Young on the Kern songs above, by Nat Shilkret on the final song.
SECOND NEW LINK
It is wonderful to compare Dunne and Grayson versions of Jerome Kern--and you, God bless, have made that possible. Although I personally give Kathryn the edge, it is, in reality, a toss-up. Years ago, I thought Barbara Cook and the like could keep this tradition alive. But it was sustained by the fact that Kern's songs were contemporary music written for singers like this--and we simply do not have such composers anymore.
ReplyDeleteDavid,
ReplyDeleteJust wanted to say that, as always, I appreciate your thoughtful comments. I do agree with your assessment, by the way!
Buster - sorry it took me so long to get this uploaded to you, but here is a recording of "Lovely to Look At OST"
ReplyDeletehttp://www.sendspace.com/file/87sxp9
It is only ripped at 160 kbps and the artwork is not up to your high standards (I'm hoping you can find a better copy). And, of course, it's not a 10" record. If you want a higher kbps rip, e-mail me ASAP at:
MindyB@aol.com
It's due back to the library Weds.
Hi Mindy,
ReplyDeleteMany thanks for this. Most appreciated, at any bit-rate! Very thoughtful of you.
The missing song is "When I Grow Too Old To Dream". It would be good if it could be located: then we could have a complete Irene Dunne on 78 set!
ReplyDeleteExcellent site, Buster - it is one of my most visited, and always has fascinating items.
Regards from Scotland,
Alistair
Alistair,
ReplyDeleteI would love to locate the missing song myself, but no luck so far! Thanks for your note.
I'm old enough, 75, and my early memories sharp enough, to have heard singers such as Miss Dunne, Jessica Dragonette(sp?) and many others who bridged America's shift from the European mode to more "contemporary" styles. "Roberta" and the '36 "Show Boat" were fine examples of the more formal style...and Helen Morgan was unforgettable in her version of "Bill".
ReplyDeleteForgotten is the radio networks' battle with ASCAP, driving the great popular composers off the air, leading ultimately to rock & roll, as young people shunned the amateurish pap that ensued, turning to the "black" stations further down the dial to listen to the more visceral rhythm & blues.
I was fortunate to have lived a few blocks from Philly's Robin Hood Dell, an extraordinary--and FREE!--experience.18,000 music lovers would cover the hillsides of this natural outdoor amphitheater to hear the Philadelphia Orchestra, Heifetz, Pinza, Iturbi, etc.
I appreciate greatly your taste, and your extraordinary generosity and workmanship.
Many thanks.
Buster,
ReplyDeleteCould you please activate this Irene Dunne album.
Thank you,
Hit Parade
Buster, Sepia has a nice Irene Dunne collection, including your album here, and much more!
ReplyDeletehttp://www43.zippyshare.com/v/28374188/file.html
"When I Grow Too Old To Dream" is track 8, and I added two bonus trax.
Buster & Flyingfinger,
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for the album and for "When I Grow Too Old To Dream" (1(4)-1935 by Glen Gray), one of the greatest songs of all time.
Hit Parade
Many thanks for reup of Irene Dunne, lovely music.
ReplyDeleteKind regards from Ireland.
James.
This has been remastered (again), and is in Apple lossless format:
ReplyDeletehttps://mega.co.nz/#!yMEwmbJZ!eH6qUwFzqCeJMgFHkT1tX3beR2NUCZt1wmkx3c7cfFs
Thanks for reposting this. FYI, I'm pretty sure the accompaniment on the Brunswick side ("Lovely to Look At") is not by Nat Shilkret but by his brother, Jack Shilkret.
ReplyDeleteSympleglades - Thanks!
ReplyDelete