The Boswell Sisters inauspiciously launched their recording career in New Orleans, their hometown, on March 22, 1925. Early local appearances featured Connie, the eldest, on cello, Helvetia (Vet) on violin, and Martha at the piano, but the city's Jazz environment made Connie and Vet switch to saxophone and banjo, respectively. At first, the singing was almost incidental, but it became their ticket to national attention five years later when they moved to New York and became a fixture on radio shows. The Boswell Sisters were notable for their tight harmony as well as their unique ability to modulate pitch and give familiar songs a new melodic twist. They were the cutting edge that inspired future groups, including the Andrews Sisters, who began their own career by emulating them, even down to their Southern accent. The exuberant sisters recorded a string of hits in the 1930s, sometimes teaming up with fellow vocalists, such as Bing Crosby and the Mills Brothers. Instrumental accompaniments are by some of the days most popular musicians and bands, including the Dorsey Brothers, Don Redman, Red Nichols, and Benny Goodman. Considering their popularity and impact, the sisters had a relatively brief run, disbanding in 1936 when Martha and Vet married outside of the music industry and decided to give priority to family life. Connie, however, continued and enjoyed a successful solo career. This boxed set contains the entire Boswell Sisters output of commercially released recordings- a remarkable set of performances that paved the way for the vocal trio genre. It also includes a bonus DVD featuring more extraordinary performances.
14 California Medley, Pt. 1: California, Here I Come/Golden Gate/Fisco, He
15 California Medley, Pt. 2: Hail Stanford/Avalon/Avalon Town/Whispering/I
16 Lawd, You Made the Night Too Long
17 "O.K. America!" Medley, Pt. 2: My Romance/The Old Man of the Mountain
18 "O.K. America!" Medley, Pt. 1: She Was Just a Tarter's Darter/Love Me T
- Disc 3 -
1 Was That the Human Thing to Do?
2 California Medley, Pt. 2: Hail, Stanford, Hail!/Avalon/Avalon Town/Whis
3 Lawd, You Made the Night Too Long
4 "O.K., America!" Medley, Pt. 2: My Romance/The Old Man of the Mountain
5 "O.K., America!" Medley, Pt. 1: She Was Just a Tarter's Daughter/Love M
6 Doggone, I've Done It
7 Hand Me Down My Walkin' Cane
8 Old Yazoo
9 We Just Couldn't Say "Goodbye"
10 Sleep, Come on and Take Me
11 Down Among the Sheltering Palms
12 Down on the Delta
13 Charlie Two-Step
14 Sentimental Gentleman from Georgia
15 It Don't Mean a Thing
16 Louisiana Hayride
17 Minnie the Moocher's Wedding Day
18 Crazy People
19 Mood Indigo
20 Forty-Second Street
21 Shuffle Off to Buffalo
- Disc 4 -
1 California Medley, Pt. 2
2 O.K. America, Pt. 2
3 We Just Couldn't Say Goodbye
4 Sleep, Come on and Take Me
5 Down Among the Sheltering Palms
6 Mood Indigo
7 Forty-Second Street
8 The Gold Diggers' Song
9 It's Sunday Down in Caroline
10 Puttin' It on
11 Swanee Mammy
12 Sophisticated Lady
13 That's How Rhythm Was Born
14 Song of Surrender
15 Coffee in the Morning (Kisses in the Night)
16 You Oughta Be in Pictures (My Star of Stars)
17 I Hate Myself (For Being So Mean to You)
18 Goin' Home
19 The Lonesome Road
20 Rock and Roll
21 If I Had a Million Dollars
22 The Object of My Affection
23 It's Written All Over Your Face
24 Dinah
- Disc 5 -
1 O.K. America
2 Coffee in the Morning (Kisses in the Night)
3 Alexander's Ragtime Band
4 The Darktown Strutters' Ball
5 Don't Let Your Love Go Wrong
6 Why Don't You Practice What You Preach?
7 If I Had a Million Dollars
8 The Object of My Affection
9 It's Written All Over Your Face
10 Dinah
11 Way Back Home
12 Every Little Moment
13 Travelin' All Alone
14 St. Louis Blues
15 Fare Thee Well, Annabelle
16 Lullaby of Broadway
17 Top Hat, White Tie and Tails
18 Cheek to Cheek
19 I'm Gonna Sit Right Down and Write Myself a Letter
20 The Music Goes 'Round and Around
21 Let Yourself Go
22 I'm Putting All My Eggs in One Basket
- Disc 6 -
1 Close Farm-Ony: Night Life/Give, Cow, Give/Unknown [Excerpt]
2 Newsreel: Put That Sun Back in the Sky
3 The Big Broadcast: Paramount/Crazy People/Heebie Jeebies
4 Ramblin' Round Radio Row, Pt. 1: Louisiana Waddle [Excerpt]
5 Sleepy Time Down South/Louisiana Waddle
6 Moulin Rouge: Coffee in the Morning and Kisses in the Night
7 Transatlantic Merry-Go-Round: Rock and Roll
The Boswell Sisters inauspiciously launched their recording career in New Orleans, their hometown, on March 22, 1925. Early local appearances featured Connie, the eldest, on cello, Helvetia (Vet) on violin, and Martha at the piano, but the city's Jazz environment made Connie and Vet switch to saxophone and banjo, respectively. At first, the singing was almost incidental, but it became their ticket to national attention five years later when they moved to New York and became a fixture on radio shows. The Boswell Sisters were notable for their tight harmony as well as their unique ability to modulate pitch and give familiar songs a new melodic twist. They were the cutting edge that inspired future groups, including the Andrews Sisters, who began their own career by emulating them, even down to their Southern accent. The exuberant sisters recorded a string of hits in the 1930s, sometimes teaming up with fellow vocalists, such as Bing Crosby and the Mills Brothers. Instrumental accompaniments are by some of the days most popular musicians and bands, including the Dorsey Brothers, Don Redman, Red Nichols, and Benny Goodman. Considering their popularity and impact, the sisters had a relatively brief run, disbanding in 1936 when Martha and Vet married outside of the music industry and decided to give priority to family life. Connie, however, continued and enjoyed a successful solo career. This boxed set contains the entire Boswell Sisters output of commercially released recordings- a remarkable set of performances that paved the way for the vocal trio genre. It also includes a bonus DVD featuring more extraordinary performances.