Dated singing revisited

[LLeff]

While listening to the 1-18-42 show today which is all music (due to Carole Lombard's death), I was thinking about the previous comment here of Dennis' singing being passe in his own time as compared to others like Frank Sinatra.

I grew up in the 70s with parents that listened to easy listening/beautiful music radio. Lots of Mantovani, Frank Chacksfield, London Symphony Orchestra, Percy Faith, etc. Sometimes the Carpenters. My parents loved it, had it on in the car all the time, so I listened to it as well. And I even developed a taste for it, and later worked at one of the last such stations in the country (WEZV - Fort Wayne) as it started to change its format to avoid the dreaded "elevator music" label. Don't tell anyone, but I saved a few of the old broadcast reels from oblivion before they were sent back to Kalamusic for disposal. Wound one up on my reel-to-reel a few months ago and it was like an emotional time capsule.

So while there were the Rolling Stones, Jimi Hendrix, the Grateful Dead, Supertramp, Pink Floyd, and whoever else may have been considered "cutting edge" at that time, my parents were happily listening to stuff that could be described in comparison as dated, schmaltzy, dreamy, stuffy, and square. Just a matter of taste.

So I'm sure that there were many people who might have preferred Dennis' traditional singing to some more progressive artists of his time.

And just as Dennis sang some current songs, I was once stunned to hear an easy listening station broadcasting the London Symphony Orchestra's rendition of "Material Girl".

[benny-allen fan]

well, i might be a bit unique but i like what's known as "pop standards" by the artists of Jack Benny's radio era {Sinatra, Dennis, Bing, later Dean Martin, and the others} and i'm 26. this morning i was listening to Tony Bennet singing "Chicago", which isn't the same song as the one Sinatra did. i also like Barry Manilow, Elton John, Billy Joel, Paul Anka, Clay Aiken, George Jones, Ray Stevens, Conway Twitty, John Conlee, Merle Haggard, LeAnn Rimes, Charley Pride, Hank Snow, Ray Price...and on and on...but no heavy metal or rap stuff. if there's an act i think can actually sing and not just simply hollar, cuss, and scream and call it singing, i'll give them a listen. well, what i'm trying to say is that i try not to embrace what's current or popular when it comes to music and i judge for myself on how well the person sings, not on how it sounds because if i cared about the sound i'd buy instrumentals. but i've often heard jokes made about traditionalism vs. contemporary even back then. on Bing Crosby's radio show, i think Bing and his announcer were poking fun at Jack's shoes and how they weren't in style anymore. the announcer said: "...yeah, Jack in those button shoes!" and Jack snapped: "and WHAT'S wrong with button shoes??". i guess i'm just not into fashion and trend setting or chasing. i wear what i want and i listen to whatever i want and i could care less if it's popular or in style. i have favorite singers and actors from every era from the '30s to today, simply put.

[alain]

I'm 42, and while i prefer contemporary music-esp "alternative", i also enjoy alot of other styles,.
Though i wouldn't buy CD's, i kinda like hearing big band, Sinatra, Clooney, Fitzgerald, Porter tunes,etc, etc....
I suppose its all "IMHO" but this topic keeps coming up cuz i would guess like me, MOST people just don't like radio tenors,( i can't stand 'em-and still FF whenever possible during a JB show) and find them extremely anachronistic post-30's.
I understand at that time (ie-even into the 50's) there may have been a segment of the population that still liked that stuff-but for such a widely popular show, (that was otherwise ahead of its time, IMO)there had to be more popular options. In fairness, i should acknowledge the unbelievable comedic talent/timing of these singers(Day being the one i'm familiar with).

[benny-allen fan]

i don't mind the radio singers too much because they added to the overall mood, at times. the singer's spot was intended to be serious, right? so i wouldn't expect Dennis to stroll out and start singing a Phil Harris type ditty...and i would laugh if Phil tried a "serious" song. guess i'm in the minority once again when i say i don't mind Dennis or the other tenor's singing style.

[LLeff]

My mother, who was a devoted Jack Benny fan, once told me that Dennis' song was when people went to the bathroom. Dunno...data point of one!

[alain]

Hey b-a fan; ...point taken on atmospheric consistancy...tho i still wonder why easy/obvious improvements not made.

Hey LL, i LOL'd on your bathroom break comment! (i bet my parents would have had the same reaction )

[Jack Benny]

It took me a long time to get used to Dennis' singing, but now I love it! I think over time I fell in love with the Dennis Character, and now I just enjoy whatever he does. I especially enjoy him singing Irish songs like "Clancy Lowered the Boom." Phil's songs are still the best though, I have never heard a Phil song I didn't like.

[BobR]

It would have been enjoyable if Mary and Dennis would have done a few duets like she did with Phil. I enjoyed their duets and it sounded as if they put alot spirit into them.I wonder why Dennis and Mary never performed together?

[jbenny-idunne fan]

I'm 24, and new to the Jack Benny programs--both radio and TV. But, I love to hear Dennis sing on the programs that I have...he's got such a wonderful voice that it makes me want to sing along with him! I enjoy when he starts in with Jack, too. Wish I could sound so innocent like that when I start in with someone and get away with it...

-Amy

[Gerry O.]

This may sound strange, but for some reason I consider Dennis' songs to be more of an imposition and "bathroom break" material in the later (late 1940's and later) Benny shows.

Maybe that's because in the earlier years, having a singer perform was the norm for most comedy-variety programs....However, by the late 40's and early 50's, many of the remaining radio comedy shows dispensed with a regular vocalist and band numbers, giving us straight comedy. Plus, by the late 40's, Jack's radio show was getting into more and more "situation comedy"-type episodes rather than the "performing on a stage" variety-oriented episodes....and Dennis' songs always seemed more out of place and forced in the "sitcom" episodes. ("OK Dennis, while I'm packing my suitcase let me hear the song that you're going to sing on Sunday", etc.)

[Jack Benny]

Dennis' songs always seemed more out of place and forced in the "sitcom" episodes. ("OK Dennis, while I'm packing my suitcase let me hear the song that you're going to sing on Sunday", etc.)

I was just listening to an episode from the '50's and Dennis said somthing to the efffect of - Lucky I picked the phone both with the piano in it, so I can practice my song for the show. I kind of love these jokes about songs and equipment in odd places. It just sounds like the cast embracing this theater of the absurd that they are in.

[Guest]

Great to see GerryO messages........always a fave poster of mine on previous format of this board.

[Guest]

Great to see GerryO messages........always a fave poster of mine on previous format of this board.

Thank you for the compliment! I hung back for a while, waiting to get the "feel" of the new board format. Now that I'm used to the new format, I'm looking forward to taking part in some interesting Benny message threads!

[LLeff]

Thank you for the compliment! I hung back for a while, waiting to get the "feel" of the new board format. Now that I'm used to the new format, I'm looking forward to taking part in some interesting Benny message threads!

Yay! I was wondering when we'd see you again!

[alain]

I forgot to include my "username" in earlier post noting my appreciation of Gerry O's insights.....

Also, comment on later "sitcom" Vs earlier "variety" style reminded me of a question (my 300+ show collection is at least > 80% post '44);

Is there a log (or reference of some sort) that lists "missing episodes"?

I realize some shows w/o audio records do have surviving scripts....i also assume that most missing shows are from the 30's(?)