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Swinging Projects for Lindy Hop & Balboa Dancers

Ozzie Nelson

DJ Chrisbe’s Song of the Week #109: Rigamarole

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Although this tune was used several times for Lindy Hop performances (see an example below), I'm considering Rigamarole a typical Balboa song.

I have the feeling, that we don't hear this song that often anymore on the dancefloor, maybe because it's overplayed. However, as a Balboa dancer you should know this song, and as a Swing DJ you should own it.

Rigamarole

DJ Chrisbe's Song of the Week #109: Rigamarole by Willie Bryant & His OrchestraRigamarole was composed by Harald «Hal» Mooney and first recorded by Ozzie Nelson & His Orchestra on January 23, 1935.

The more popular and slightly slower version is by Willie Bryant & His Orchestra, recorded only a few months later in the same year.

Willie Bryant's version is also more energetic and sharper.

If you wanna learn more about Willie Bryant, check out Song of the Week #77 where you can find a short biography.

By the way, since English is not my mother tongue, I was wondering what rigamarole (also: rigmarole) means. I found this definition:

  1. confused or meaningless talk
  2. a complex and sometimes ritualistic procedure

Did you know that?


[easyazon-image align=»left» asin=»B007Q0TZYE» locale=»us» height=»160″ src=»https://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51IG9pqjgrL._SL160_.jpg» width=»160″]Title: [easyazon-link asin=»B007Q0U2Q4″ locale=»us»]Rigamarole[/easyazon-link]
Artist: Willie Bryant and His Orchestra
Recorded: May 8, 1935
Album: [easyazon-link asin=»B007Q0TZYE» locale=»us»]Throwin› Stones[/easyazon-link]
Tempo: 245 bpm
Dance: Balboa, Lindy Hop



Click the link to download the song at
iTunes CH/EU ･ iTunes US ･ [easyazon-link asin=»B001SSKF3A» locale=»de»]Amazon.de[/easyazon-link] ･ [easyazon-link asin=»B007Q0U2Q4″ locale=»us»]A'zon.com[/easyazon-link] ･ [easyazon-link asin=»B001MT2NYE» locale=»uk»]A'zon.co.uk[/easyazon-link] ･ eMusic


Do you like Rigamarole – the song? 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 #27: «Swamp Fire» by Ozzie & Harriet Nelson
Song of the Week #77: «A Viper's Moan» by Willie Bryant
Song of the Week #108: «Fariboles» by Alix Combelle
Song of the Week #107: «I Didn't Like It the First Time (The Spinach Song)» by Julia Lee
Song of the Week #106: «The Goon Drag (Gone Wid De Goon)» by Sam Price & His Texas Blusicians

DJ Chrisbe’s Song of the Week #27: Swamp Fire

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Ozzie Nelson is best-known for his acting on the television series Ozzie and Harriet (which earlier had been featured on radio).

But before that, during the 1930s, Ozzie Nelson led one of the most popular swing and dance bands in the New York area.

Nelson not only played tenor (mostly sticking to section work), but provided many of the swinging arrangements.

In 1932, Nelson – who did a lot of the singing for the band himself – added a female vocalist, a singer and would-be actress named Harriet Hilliard. They fell in love and were married in 1935.

The jazz world bible Downbeat praised the Ozzie Nelson band in 1935 for its “subtle suggestion of melodic beauty and rhythmic patterns” and wrote that these “get under your skin.”

Ozzie Nelson & His Band were the first swing orchestra ever booked into the legendary Glen Island Casino on Long Island, which became one of the most celebrated swing band venues in the world.

Read the full biography by Bruce Elder about the colourful personality of Ozzie Nelson on allmusic.com (it’s a long one).

I’m just very inspired by the Swiss Balboa Weekend from last weekend, so I decided to present another Balboa tune.

Swamp Fire

I like Swamp Fire because of the difference between the real tempo and the feeling of it: the song is quite faster than it seems to be!

Title: Swamp Fire
Artist: Ozzie Nelson & His Orchestra
Recorded: 1935
Tempo: 258 bpm
Dance: Balboa

You can find the songs of the series also on my Spotify playlist. Official hashtag of the series: #djcsotw

Do you like the «Song of the Week» series? Share your thoughts below.

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