George Scott-Wood

Early in the morning, just a few hours ago, the second edition of the European Swing Dance Championships in Barcelona ended.

These kind of events are not only inspiring as a dancer but also music wise. There a lot of competitions, routines, social dances and live music, so always great places to discover «new» music.

This song here was spun by the competition DJ Michael Gamble between two competitions. I didn't know this version and it was so appealing to me that I have to present it as our Song of the Week.

Harlem

The clip is more about the gramophone but you can hear the song good enough.

George Scott-Wood was born in Glasgow on 27th May 1903. He studied piano and played classical music before he made the shift to popular music somewhen in the 1920s.

«It was in 1934 that Scott-Wood's Six Swingers came into being. This was a rather superior jazz group which really caught the public's attention during its seven-year existence and produced over 50 recordings. George was later described as ‹the pioneer of swing music in this country›. In the 1938 Daily Mail radio popularity poll, the Six Swingers were voted top of radio entertainment, with all other dance music grouped together in seventh place.»

Read more about George Scott-Wood here.

I love the minor key harmonies in this song!

[easyazon-image align=»left» asin=»B005VQHTYI» locale=»de» height=»160″ src=»https://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51I-D9lBzIL._SL160_.jpg» width=»160″]Title: [easyazon-link asin=»B005VQHZOC» locale=»de»]Harlem[/easyazon-link]
Artist: Scott Wood & His Orchestra
Recorded: 1936
Album: [easyazon-link asin=»B005VQHTYI» locale=»de»]That's Jazz (Swing)[/easyazon-link]
Tempo: 155 bpm
Dance: Lindy Hop

Click the link to download the song at
iTunes CH/EU ･ [easyazon-link asin=»B005VQHZOC» locale=»de»]Amazon.de[/easyazon-link] ･ A'zon.com ･ [easyazon-link asin=»B005VSA77C» locale=»uk»]A'zon.co.uk[/easyazon-link] ･ emusic

What do you think about this version? Share your thoughts in the comment section below!

Every Monday, I post a new «Song of the Week«.
You can find the songs also on my Spotify playlist or on 8tracks.

Related Songs:

Song of the Week #119: «Traffic Jam» by Artie Shaw
Song of the Week #118: «I Wan'na Be Like You» by Louis Prima
Song of the Week #117: «Shoot The Sherbert To Me Herbert» by Tommy Dorsey
Song of the Week #116: «Paramour» by Gordon Webster feat. Naomi Uyama
Song of the Week #115: «Five O'Clock Blues» by Jimmy Yancey