The Charioteers made many excellent records in the 1940s, some of them collected on this very early Columbia LP.
Forgotten today, the group was prominent in the post-war era, regulars on Bing Crosby's radio show and making records with the likes of Frank Sinatra.
The Charioteers started out as a gospel group and made records in the 1930s for Vocalion. Signed to Columbia in 1940, they began recording pop music in a style similar to the Ink Spots.
The group's lead vocals were by Billy Williams, who went on to form a group under his own name in the 1950s, and to have a big solo pop hit with I'm Gonna Sit Right Down and Write Myself a Letter in 1957.
This was quite a good group. Most of these sides have not been re-released, to my knowledge.
The cover is an example of Columbia's first generic house style.
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Another bull's eye. The Charioteers version of "My Fate is in Your Hands" is the best I have ever heard. I look forward to more vocal harmony gems from your collection. Do you have any albums by the Four Knights or the Delta Rhythm Boys?
ReplyDeleteHmm, it seems to me that I have 12-inch LPs by both groups. Let me see if I can find them (always a chancy proposition).
ReplyDeleteBy the way, I think you asked about Myra Hess quite a while back. I came across one of her albums yesterday while looking for something else - that's the way it works around here - and will feature it soon.
Wow. This site it great!
ReplyDeleteGetting back to Billy Williams. Would you happen to have a version of his solo song "Tied To The Strings Of Your Heart"?
@AlternateAthos,
ReplyDeleteThanks for the kudos! I know I do not have any singles by Billy Williams, so unless that song appears on one of his albums, 'fraid not.
Thank you for the Charioteers, I like these guys. Sounded immediatelly familiar, and now I know why; they recorded some (very good) sides with Pearl Bailey.
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jeronimo - they also recorded with Sinatra among others, and were on radio with Crosby.
ReplyDeleteAny chance you could relink this one?
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