Song of the Week

DJ Chrisbe’s Song of the Week #156: She’ll Keep The Devil Dancing On Your Heart

25.02.2013 by Chris

Note: This will be the last Song of the Week on this blog. From the following week, DJ Chrisbe's Song of the Week will be published on Swing DJ Resources. Learn more about this transition in a separate blog post on Friday (March 1, 2013).

An add on Twitter by Little Kim brought my attention to a belgian western swing & hot swing jazz band and their music on Bandcamp.

Little Kim & the Alley Apple 3

Little Kim & the Alley Apple 3 play swing music in the broadest sense of the word. They love all kind of old time roots music, be it the sensuous swing jazz of the roaring twenties or the piercing lyrics of the fabulous Hank Williams.

They first met in 2007 when Kim placed an online ad, stating she was looking for a new touring band that played the music styles she loves: jazz, honky tonk, swing, …

By the time Tom responded to her ad, he had already gathered two wonderful musicians to play along: Patrick Cattoir on lapsteel and Selim Meiresonne on slappin' double bass.

They went on rehearsing for a year which resulted in a first self titled EP “Little Kim & the Alley Apple 3” (2008).

It got so many good reviews that a lot of concerts in Belgium, France, the Netherlands and Germany followed. Convinced they had something good in hand, they started working on their first full album “Riding the Rails”, which hit the streets in 2010.

Not satisfied with the idea that music should be labeled or confined to narrow boxes, they started writing new songs, that were meant to sound totally different to the songs on “Riding the Rails”.

The writing process was finished in August 2011 and with the help of Kristof Maes of the Closed Session Studio they started the long journey of recording the album.

She’ll keep the devil dancing on your heart

“She’ll keep the devil dancing on your heart” (2012) turned out to be a much more elaborate record than their firstborn. With the bunch of friends they invited to appear as guests on this album they opened to path to a future that is as exciting as it is diverse.

Lyrics

She’ll keep the devil dancing on your heart

O you might, o you might, o you might as well
Throw your bible down the well
‘Cause she’s a work of art, her spell will tear you apart
And keep the devil dancing on your heart

She’ll take your gold, sell your pearls and wants nothing in between
They call her Two Faced Tawnee of New Orleans
‘Cause she’s a work of art, her spell will tear you apart
And keep the devil dancing on your heart

I don’t know what you’re looking for
But if you need a hand out of this ditch
Better think twice … she’ll pass you like a hat in church
And won’t even give a twitch

O you might, o you might, o you might as well
Throw your bible down the well
‘Cause she’s a work of art, her spell will tear you apart
And keep the devil dancing on your heart

Title: She’ll keep the devil dancing on your heart
Artist: Little Kim & the Alley Apple 3
Released: 2012
Album: She’ll keep the devil dancing on your heart
Tempo: 104 bpm
Dance: Lindy Hop

You can find all the songs of the series also on my Spotify playlist or on 8tracks.
Official hashtag of the series: #djcsotw

What do you think about Little Kim's music? Share your thoughts in the comment section below!

Now Check Out

DJ Chrisbe’s Song of the Week #155: Cou Cou

18.02.2013 by Chris

This is a song that swings but I still wouldn't call it a typical swing song. However, it works for dancing and it's a nice one to spice up your DJ sets.

Erin McKeown

Erin McKeown (*1977) is an American folk/rock performer, writer, and multi-instrumentalist.

She began her folk career by performing in local clubs and coffeehouses at night. By day, she attended Brown University to study ethnomusicology, a field that would eventually fuel the diversity and depth of her own music.

In 1995, McKeown entered the mid-Atlantic song contest held by the songwriters' association in Washington, DC, and finished as a semi-finalist. With proof that others believed in her talent, she worked hard to found a label of her own, where she could record her music free of outside constraints.

After creating TVP Records, she enlisted help from other artists to record her debut album.

In 2006, she returned to the studio to record a standards album, Sing You Sinners.

Source: iTunes/Rovi

Cou Cou

From that album is the song Cou Cou. Sorry for the cheesy YouTube clip (it was not released by the artist herself)

I like the atmosphere in this song, and her accent singing the lyrics. 😉

Title: Cou Cou
Artist: Erin McKeown
Released: 2007
Album: Sing You Sinners
Tempo: 169 bpm
Dance: Lindy Hop, Balboa

Click the link to download the song from: Amazon ･ iTunes

You can find all the songs of the series also on my Spotify playlist or on 8tracks.
Official hashtag of the series: #djcsotw

Do you like Erin McKeown's version of Cou Cou? Share your thoughts in the comment section below!

Now Check Out

DJ Chrisbe’s Song of the Week #154: You Brought A New Kind Of Love To Me

11.02.2013 by Chris

How many European Jazz artists do you know? I have to say I don't know that many. That's why I'm looking all the time for European musicians I've never heard about before.

One of these musicians I recently discovered is this English man with born into a wealthy family

Humphrey “Humph” Lyttelton

Humphrey Richard Adeane Lyttelton (May 23, 1921 – April 25, 2008) was a English trumpeter, bandleader, composer, record company owner, cartoonist, writer and radio host.

He was born in Eton College, where his father was a famous housemaster, and where he was subsequently educated.

He formed his first jazz band in 1948, after spending a year with George Webb’s Dixielanders, a band which pioneered New Orleans-style jazz in Britain.

Humphrey Lyttelton and His Band, with Wally Fawkes on clarinet, soon became the leading traditional jazz band in Britain, with a high reputation in Europe gained through many Continental tours.

In 1949, he signed a recording contract with EMI, resulting in a string of now much sought-after recordings in the Parlophone Super Rhythm Style series.

Prior to that, the band had already made records on his own London Jazz label, and had accompanied the great Sidney Bechet in an historic session for Melodisc in 1949.

It was for Parlophone that Humph recorded his own ‘Bad Penny Blues’ which, in 1956, was the first British jazz record to get into the Top Twenty.

Source: humphreylyttelton.com

You Brought A New Kind Of Love To Me

This is a live version of that popular song from the 1930s.

I don't know exactly when it was recorded, but I like it better than the studio recorded version on other albums.

[easyazon-image align=”left” asin=”B001D60J4C” locale=”us” height=”160″ src=”https://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/61zwakWEyNL._SL160_.jpg” width=”160″]Title: [easyazon-link asin=”B001D62IFA” locale=”us”]You Brought A New Kind Of Love To Me[/easyazon-link]
Artist: Humphrey Lyttelton & His Band
Recorded: 1956/1957 (?)
Album: [easyazon-link asin=”B001D60J4C” locale=”us”]Humph, Bruce & Sandy Swing At The BBC[/easyazon-link]
Tempo: 164 bpm
Dance: Lindy Hop, Balboa beginners

Click the link to download the song at
iTunes EU ･ iTunes US ･ [easyazon-link asin=”B001SKZLKA” locale=”de”]Amazon DE[/easyazon-link] ･ [easyazon-link asin=”B001D62IFA” locale=”us”]Amazon US[/easyazon-link] ･ [easyazon-link asin=”B001L8UZI2″ locale=”uk”]Amazon UK[/easyazon-link]

What is your favorite tune by Humph? Share your thoughts in the comment section below!

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

DJ Chrisbe’s Song of the Week #153: Ain’t Misbehavin’

04.02.2013 by Chris

Ain’t Misbehavin’ was composed by Fats Waller and Harry Brooks with lyrics by Andy Razaf in 1929. It's an early swing tune with the 32 bar AABA structure.

The song was the opening number of the all-black musical revue “Hot Chocolates” at Connie's Inn in Harlem. It was such a success that it moved onto Broadway, premiering at the Hudson Theatre on June 20, 1929, and running for 219 performances.

Ain't Misbehavin' has become a jazz standard.

Albert Nicholas

Albert Nicholas (May 27, 1900, New Orleans, Louisiana – Sept. 3, 1973, Basel, Switzerland) was mainly playing clarinet.

He studied with Lorenzo Tio, Jr. in New Orleans. Still a teenager, he in the 1910s with Buddy Petit, King Oliver, and Manuel Perez. After three years in the Merchant Marines and then joined King Oliver in Chicago and played ther from 1925 to 1927, recording with Oliver's Dixie Syncopators.

After spending one year in East Asia and Egypt, he returned to New York City in 1928 and joined Luis Russell for five years. He also played there with Red Allen, Charlie Holmes, and J.C. Higginbotham.

In 1937, he rejoined Louis Russell with the Louis Armstrong Orchestra, playing until 1939. In the same year, her was recording with Jelly Roll Morton (Nicholas already recorded with Morton in 1929).

Then in 1941, when there was not much work as musician, he took a job as a guard on the New York Subway. With the Dixieland revival of the late 1940s, he returned to music in 1945, playing with Art Hodes, Bunk Johnson and Kid Ory. In 1948, he had a regular gig with Ralph Sutton.

Following Sidney Bechet's example, Nicolas moved in 1953 to France (returning to the U.S. for recording sessions in 1959 and 1960) where he remained for the rest 20 years of his life.

Live In Baden Switzerland in 1969

If you can, buy the full album. Every single song is great for swing dancing – slow or fast. Or just download the light-footed version of Ain't Misbehavin', not too slow but very relaxed.

[easyazon-image align=”left” asin=”B0014K8IMW” locale=”us” height=”160″ src=”https://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51RsGbb-NKL._SL160_.jpg” width=”160″]Title: [easyazon-link asin=”B0014KDDUO” locale=”us”]Ain't Misbehavin'[/easyazon-link]
Artist: Albert Nicholas with the Henri Chaix Trio
Recorded: 1969
Album: [easyazon-link asin=”B0014K8IMW” locale=”us”]Baden 1969[/easyazon-link]
Tempo: 171 bpm
Dance: Lindy Hop

Click the link to download the song at
iTunes EU ･ iTunes US ･ [easyazon-link asin=”B001SI0SG4″ locale=”de”]Amazon DE[/easyazon-link] ･ [easyazon-link asin=”B0014KDDUO” locale=”us”]Amazon US[/easyazon-link] ･ [easyazon-link asin=”B001RUOSS2″ locale=”uk”]Amazon UK[/easyazon-link]

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

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

DJ Chrisbe’s Song of the Week #152: Streamliner

28.01.2013 by Chris

This is a song by the Bill Elliott Swing Orchestra I regularly spin for Lindy Hop crowds.

Bill Elliott Swing Orchestra

An excerpt from their website. The last update I found there is from 2006, though.

The BILL ELLIOTT SWING ORCHESTRA, fifteen musicians and four singers strong, plays exciting swing music in the styles of the '30s, '40s, and '50s, with a twist: much of the band's repertoire has been written in the '90s and 2000 by leader Bill Elliott, a composer and arranger whose songs have been prominently featured in many feature films and TV shows, including the recent HBO film Introducing Dorothy Dandridge and the current Disney Channel film Alley Cats Strike.

Elliott began his career as a rock'n'roll piano player, touring and recording with such artists as Bonnie Raitt, Stevie Nicks, and many others, before finding his calling as a swingmeister while writing and arranging songs for the 1989 film Dick Tracy.

The Swing Orchestra, formed in 1993, was an outgrowth of Elliott's continuing success in writing original, vintage-sounding swing music for film, television, and commercials. He has assembled many of L.A.'s hottest musicians for his mission of recreating the authentic fire and style of big bands at their peak in the late '30s.

The band also features BILL'S LUCKY STARS, a vocal quartet who sing in the close-harmony style of the Pied Pipers and the Modernaires, and glamorous lead singer Cassie Miller in featured solos as well.

Playing a dominant role in southern California's current swing revival, Elliott's band is a favorite among the young jitterbug and Lindy Hop dancers whose vibrant new counterculture has been growing rapidly.

Elliott's music is in the style of the great swing bands of the late '30s and early '40s – as hard-swinging as they come, with an emphasis on colorful arrangements, sophisticated and light-hearted lyrics, and danceability.

So, it seems they very active at the beginning of the 21st century, is Bill Elliott still active? Let me know!

Streamliner

I like this song because it has this great big band feeling with many energy changes between orchestra and solo parts. It it has a quite dirty sound, what I miss about most of the contemporary big bands.

[easyazon-image align=”left” asin=”B0013AYSD6″ locale=”us” height=”157″ src=”https://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51WJWRGXh3L._SL160_.jpg” width=”160″]Title: [easyazon-link asin=”B0013AYIHW” locale=”us”]Streamliner[/easyazon-link]
Artist: Bill Elliott Swing Orchestra
Recorded: 1999
Album: [easyazon-link asin=”B0013AYSD6″ locale=”us”]Introducing Dorothy Dandridge[/easyazon-link]
Tempo: 156 bpm
Dance: Lindy Hop

Click the link to download the song at
iTunes EU ･ iTunes US ･ [easyazon-link asin=”B001VFDZHI” locale=”de”]Amazon DE[/easyazon-link] ･ [easyazon-link asin=”B0013AYIHW” locale=”us”]Amazon US[/easyazon-link] ･ [easyazon-link asin=”B001GXK5EQ” locale=”uk”]Amazon UK[/easyazon-link]

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

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

Song of the Week

DJ Chrisbe’s Song of the Week #156: She’ll Keep The Devil Dancing On Your Heart

Little Kim & the Alley Apple 3

She’ll keep the devil dancing on your heart

Lyrics

Now Check Out

DJ Chrisbe’s Song of the Week #155: Cou Cou

Erin McKeown

Cou Cou

Now Check Out

DJ Chrisbe’s Song of the Week #154: You Brought A New Kind Of Love To Me

Humphrey “Humph” Lyttelton

You Brought A New Kind Of Love To Me

What is your favorite tune by Humph? Share your thoughts in the comment section below!

Related Songs:

DJ Chrisbe’s Song of the Week #153: Ain’t Misbehavin’

Albert Nicholas

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

Related Songs:

DJ Chrisbe’s Song of the Week #152: Streamliner

Bill Elliott Swing Orchestra

Streamliner

Related Songs: