Your favorite music from 1944

Can be a single track, a 78 with multiple tracks, early albums (as in literal albums of 78s bound together), a classical piece, a later compilation focusing on the year . . . whatever.

Doesn't have to be a list, though of course you can post a list if you want. You can also just post one title at a time as you think of it/run across it (which is what I do in these threads).

 

Ella Mae Morse - "Milkman, Keep Those Bottles Quiet" / "Tess's Torch Song" [Capitol 151]

 

Flipside:

 

I would go for this 1944 release by Leadbelly:

A-Side - (Black Gal) Where Did You Sleep Last Night?
B-Side - In New Orleans (AKA The House of the Rising Sun)

It was released on the Musicraft label and although Leadbelly would record/release these songs many more times, this was the first time.

 

Billie Holiday - I'll Get By

 

Jammin' the Blues

 

Might not quite be the right year, but it should be.

 

"Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas"
(Hugh Martin and Ralph Blane)
From the MGM film Meet Me in St. Louis, 1944
As sung by Judy Garland

 

Not much for me to like in jazz (jazz didn't get interesting to me until the late 50's), and nothing for me to like in pop.

But classical, what a great year! Almost all my listening is from the post WWII to the present eras.

Bela Bartok - Concerto for Orchestra
One of the best pieces of music ever written...

Elliott Carter - Symphony No 1
Carter was still finding his own voice at this time, but this it still enjoyable. Too tonal and traditional sounding for me, but you can detect inklings of his restlessness.

Arnold Schoenberg - Piano Concerto
Arnold Schoenberg - Themes and Variations for Orchestra
Both pieces are brilliant. Marth Argerich's performance of the piano concerto is incredible!

Andre Joviet - Danses Rituelles

Samuel Barber - Capricorn Concerto
Not quite up there with his piano concerto, or cello concerto, or Madea's Dance of Vengeance, but still top quality stuff.

 

Marlene Dietrich - Lili Marlene (recorded in 1944)

 

SENTIMENTAL JOURNEY
Fox Trot
Vocal Chorus by Doris Day
-B. Green-L. Brown-Homer-
L E S‎‎‏‏‎‏‏‎ ‏‏‎ ‎B R O W N
and his ORCHESTRA


recorded in New York, 20th November 1944


COLUMBIA 36769 - issued 22nd January 1945







​

Les Brown, Jr. recounts the story »

 

'Strange Things Happening Every Day' - Sister Rosetta Tharpe


78 Record: Sister Rosetta Tharpe - Two Little Fishes And Five Loaves Of Bread (1944)

 

Arthur "Big Boy" Crudup


78 Record: Arthur "Big Boy" Crudup - My Mama Don't Allow Me (1944)

 

'Evil Gal Blues' - Sextet with Dinah Washington


Sextet With Dinah Washington – Homeward Bound / Evil Gal Blues (1944, Shellac)
Cover versions of Evil Gal Blues written by Lionel Hampton | SecondHandSongs

 

'Hey Lawdy Mama (Meet Me in the Bottom)' - June Richmond with Roy Milton and his band (Camille Howard - piano)


1944 "Soundie"; song previously released on record by Andy Kirk and his Clouds of Joy with June Richmond in 1943
Hey Lawdy Mama (1944) - IMDb
Cover versions of Hey Lawdy Mama written by Bumble Bee Slim | SecondHandSongs

 

Recorded November 30, 1943, but not released until early 1944, here's the first song the King Cole Trio recorded for Capitol. It became a hit on the pop (#9), R&B (#1) and country (#1) charts, "Straighten Up and Fly Right":

 

Because it settled early with the musicians' union, Decca dominated the best-seller chart in 1944 in a way that likely will never happen again. For 44 of the 52 weeks of 1944, a Decca 78 was the #1 song. The biggest of these was Bing Crosby's wonderful "Swinging on a Star":

 

The end of an era:

During 1943 and 1944, several a cappella recordings hit #1 on the Billboard best-seller chart. Because singers were not part of the American Federation of Musicians, they could still record, but with no instrumental accompaniment. The last of these to hit #1 was Victor's only chart-topper of 1944, "I'll Walk Alone" by Dinah Shore.

 

(Wee) Bea Booze


'These Young Men Blues'
78 Record: Bea Booze - So Good (1944)
Bea Booze - Wikipedia

 

Cab Calloway and the Cabaliers


78 Record: Cab Calloway - Let's Go Joe (1944)

 

Ted Daffan's Texans (vocal - Leon Seago)


'Look Who's Talkin'
78 Record: Ted Daffan's Texans - Bluest Blues (1944)

 

Glenn Miller and the Modernaires...

 

Roy Acuff and his Smoky Mountain Boys


78 Record: Roy Acuff And His Smoky Mountain Boys - I'll Forgive You But I Can't Forget (1944)

 

Tampa Red


w. Big Maceo Merriweather - piano
78 Record: Tampa Red - You Gonna Miss Me When I'm Gone (1944)