I've been doing a lot of Roundtable's lately devoted to radio sessions by bands from the 1960's-2000's, but haven't really investigated any of that treasure trove of radio sessions done in the 1930's and 1940's, when just about every major network radio program had at least one or two guest appearances by major recording artists singing either their latest hits or songs they never recorded commercially.
A lot have been reissued in various formats over the years featuring a vast galaxy of Pop and Jazz artists of the day. I'm not sure if this one has been reissued. If not, that's a shame, but not anymore since you get to hear it here.
Connee Boswell (or Connie Boswell depending on which period you're talking about) was part of the legendary sister singing team, The Boswell Sisters, who were very popular from the 1920's until their breakup in 1936. Connee went on to pursue a solo career and became one of the most influential Jazz singers of her day. Her style of singing was cited as a major influence on, among others, a young Ella Fitzgerald.
Tonight's track, Boogie Woogie Piggie is from 1942 and was from The Old Gold Cigarette Program, airing in 1942. There's no mention of the band backing her, but it might be Ray Noble's Orchestra (just a hunch). It falls in that gray area between Novelty, Scat and Jazz, but done in true Connee Boswell fashion, it's original.
Get ready for more of these "one-off" examples this week. There's quite a pile of them.
