Songs That Got Us Through WWII

Product Description
They may have rationed meat, milk, canned goods, and gasoline, but there was no limit to the musical talent during World War II. Morale-boosting sounds on the home front and "over there" were one of the Allies' most potent weapons. WWII gave birth to many of the 1940s' most popular artists and songs, as well as many of the most important independent record labels. Songs That Got Us Through WWII is the first of a two-volume series collecting the hits that kept the home fires burning and brought a little bit of America to the G.I.s overseas. Compiled and developed by singer/songwriter/music historian Billy Vera, Vol. 1 features many of the era's biggest artists, including The Andrews Sisters, Frank Sinatra, Duke Ellington, The Mills Brothers, The Ink Spots, Harry James, and many more.

Tracks:

Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy - Andrew Sisters
I'll Be Seeing You - Tommy Dorsey & His Orchestra
Don't Get Around Much Anymore (Never No Lament) - Duke Ellington & His Orchestra
Till Then - Mills Brothers
G.I. Jive - Johnny Mercer
I'll Walk Alone - Martha Tilton
When The Lights Go On Again (All Over The World) - Vaughn Monroe & His Orchestra
Yours - Jimmy Dorsey & His Orchestra
Ac-Cent-Tchu-Ate The Positive - Johnny Mercer
I Don't Want To Walk Without You - Harry James & His Orchestra
I Wonder - Louis Armstrong
Long Ago (And Far Away) - Jo Stafford
I'll Get By (As Long As I Have You) - Ink Spots
(There'll Be Blue Birds Over)The White Cliffs Of Dover - Jimmy Dorsey & His Orchestra
Comin' In On A Wing And A Prayer - The Song Spinners
Sentimental Journey - Les Brown & His Orchestra
Waitin' For The Train To Come In - Peggy Lee
It's Been A Long, Long Time - Harry James & His Orchestra

Album Description

They may have rationed meat, milk, canned goods, and gasoline, but there was no limit to the musical talent during World War II. Morale-boosting sounds on the home front and "over there" were one of the Allies' most potent weapons. WWII gave birth to many of the 1940s' most popular artists and songs, as well as many of the most important independent record labels. Songs That Got Us Through WWII is the first of a two-volume series collecting the hits that kept the home fires burning and brought a little bit of America to the G.I.s overseas. Compiled and developed by singer/songwriter/music historian Billy Vera, Vol. 1 features many of the era's biggest artists, including The Andrews Sisters, Frank Sinatra, Duke Ellington, The Mills Brothers, The Ink Spots, Harry James, and many more.

Customer Reviews:

A hit with the WWII generation.......2007-07-15

We played this CD at a family reunion honoring our elders (who either fought in WWII or were married to those who fought). It was a hit. The tunes ranged from bouncy to sentimental, but all were enjoyable.

great compilation of 40's music........2007-03-18

i was born in 1961, but like the geeky audiophile that i am, i have eagerly dug into all the decades that have produced recorded music. i always thought that the forties were one of the weaker decades out there when it comes to sonic delights. so why do i love the two volumes of "songs that got us through wwii" so much? rhino records has a lot to do with it. as all audiophiles of the cd age now, rhino is one of the best outfits around when it comes to compilations of music. on these 2 wonderful discs from the forties, they have done it again. pure pleasure is to be had here. one drifts back to another time, across decades, to experience the popular songs of another american culture. this is a perfect introduction to that decade for anyone. having heard these two volumes, i can't wait to give the forties another chance. i am being won over, i think. thanks rhino.

Songs That Got Us Through WWII.......2007-01-04

When my mother heard this CD that I played on a recent road trip, she sang along with every one! She loved it so much that I bought one for her, plus the second one in the set. The selections are great (variety of songs and artists) and recording quality very good considering a lot of these were recorded 60 years ago. This is a great CD for anyone over 50 who grew up with this music or listened to their parents play it.

My Review.......2006-11-20

The songs on this CD are the songs I loved listening & singing to when I
was a young teen. Wonderful CD!!!

Songs that got us through "the big one"..........2006-11-20

World War II was the most catastrophic in history. Fifty-five million people were killed in just five years. Music had the power to make people feel better even when life was this rough; and this CD proves it.

The CD starts on a strong upbeat note with The Andrews Sisters belting out "Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy." Vic Schoen and his orchestra perform the musical arrangement which packs a big punch! I like this song for its "swing" feel and its playfulness at the same time.

The next song, "I'll Be Seeing You," switches right away to the sadder aspects of war. This classic tearjerker song deals with the pain two lovers or spouses experience when one must go to war. Frank Sinatra sings this beautifully. Other songs that deal with the pain and stress of war include "Don't Get Around Much Anymore" performed flawlessly by Duke Ellington and his Orchestra; "I'll Walk Alone" by Martha Tilton and "I Don't Want To Walk Without You" sung by Helen Forrest with Harry James and his Orchestra.

The CD also gives us songs that express hope for a quick end to the war so that a sense of normalcy can return. I love the beautiful "When The Lights Go On (All Over The World)" and "(There'll Be Bluebirds Over) The White Cliffs Of Dover." These are truly classic pop vocals.

"G.I. Jive" and "Ac-Cent-Tchu-Ate The Positive" are great upbeat songs, too. Terrific!

The CD has a solid ending with the touching "It's Been A Long, Long Time" sung by Kitty Kallen with Harry James and his Orchestra performing the musical arrangement.

The quality of the remastering could be better. Throughout the CD there is a lot of surface noise and it is obvious that these songs were recorded a very long while ago. However, in the liner notes there is a note that these recordings were remastered before superior technology was available to reduce surface noise. I considered giving this CD 4 1/2 stars for this but the songs are so good that this will be a five star review.

Bill Vera contributes an informative essay for the liner notes and there are several great photos of the artists on this CD. You also get the song credits and the date each hit was released. Excellent!

Overall, this is a great CD for people who love American pop classics from the World War II era and big band vocals in general. I highly recommend this CD; and if you like it then I suggest you try volume two of Songs That Got Us Through World War II. May you enjoy this nostalgic CD as much as I did!

SMILE

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