Phil Harris

[JRK]

Like most members I have a big collection of radio broadcasts and as much JB as is on DVD.

A character I love is Phil Harris, but his approach to music is a conundrum for me.

Tell me about his arrangers and the sideman that were with his orchestra please.

There are times when the arrangements are very naive but played well enough. There are also times when it is a full on swinging big band with excellent soloitsts on parade and very skilfully contrived arrangements that give and impression of later eras.

I assume recording opportunities other than vocalising did not happen, and that is a shame when for some reason indicates that whatever the motivation, the band can' hang one on' as they say.

I know He was a drummer at one time, so a certain amount of rhythm was in his soul. Was it an existing band or a studio band? Were the personel different on tour?


JRK

[Yhtapmys]

A character I love is Phil Harris, but his approach to music is a conundrum for me.

Tell me about his arrangers and the sideman that were with his orchestra please.

JRK, welcome. I'm sure some people far more knowledgeable than I will weigh in here. I gather some of Phil's sidemen, like Frank Remley on guitar and Sammy Weiss on piano, stayed with him for some time.

Mahlon Merrick started doing arrangements in the late 30s.

I honestly don't know know how much of a connection Phil actually had with the musical portions of the programme. The impression I'm left with, reading various people on this board, is he actually had very little a couple of years after his arrival.

As well, there wasn't really much of a chance for the band to shine. The programme started in the 30s, much like most shows of its type, as kind of a variety show where the house band would be featured in a few numbers. But as the show veered into the sitcom format, the solos were cut, and the band was merely there to back Dennis in his songs, the Sportsmen in the commercials and provide theme and bridge music.

On his own show, he employed Walter Scharf's orchestra.

Harris formed a band with Carol Lofner in the 1920s and then played for three years at the St. Frances Hotel in San Francisco. Here are two sides from a Victor disc from that time. It's 1931.
http://dismuke.net/musicfiles/howmusic/igottheritz.ram
http://dismuke.net/musicfiles/howmusic/imsorrydear.ram

Obviously, Harris isn't doing vocals in the second.

The band ended up with their engagement at the Cocoanut Grove, which is what pushed Harris into the spotlight (Lofner started his own band and by 1934 had taken over a gig from Gus Arnheim at the Gold Room of the Beverly-Wilshire Hote).

Yhtapmys

[JRK]

Thank you..... as well as an appreciation of jazz and big band music today I have a great fondness (as I get older) for the music of the 30's and 40's.

It seems that this was or could have been a good recording band. Several times it seems that for various reasons the band filled because of unforeseen circumstances and has been able to do a good 30 minute concert suggesting to me that they had something going, when asked, other than effects and so on.

Ho hum never mind.

I have heard many references to favourite routines by JB. I agree they are all worthwhile. The one mostly missed out is the brilliant ISTANBUL exchange with Frank Nelson. For me this has to be one of the great comedy routines. Original, perfectly executed and hysterically funny.

I love Si and Si, the holdup and so on but that one never fails for me. I play it for anyone who will listen and always get the astonished reaction and laughter.

JB my hero....

[epeterd]

I've heard that episode one time. Can't remember if it was from my own collection or on XM. What is the date of that episode?

peter

[shimp scrampi]

That gag with the "Istanbul (Not Constantinople)" lyrics is in the February 21, 1954 show. It's a running gag that was also done before with other songs, like the "Tennessee Waltz" and other song lyrics; I'm pretty sure Laura documents all of them in 39 FOREVER. I always get a kick out of it as well.

[JRK]

Thanks for the comment. I loved the aothers tro but this one had a rhythm to it that was especially intensive.

One of the most simple and effective commic ideas ever.

Thank you JB.

[Yhtapmys]

That gag with the "Istanbul (Not Constantinople)" lyrics is in the February 21, 1954 show. It's a running gag that was also done before with other songs, like the "Tennessee Waltz" and other song lyrics; I'm pretty sure Laura documents all of them in 39 FOREVER. I always get a kick out of it as well.

What's great about this is the vocal rhythms in the dialogue are the same as the beats of the song. The bit wouldn't have worked as well otherwise.

Yhtapmys