Many of us who experienced the magical big-band sound during this wonderful swing era in American music, especially while coming of age, would give anything to return. Life was NEVER better! Oh, the fabulous memories. IMHO, no musical era ever compared. Featuring the three Helen canaries ... Helen Forrest, Helen Ward, Helen O'Connell.
We could have a moment to enjoy the Beautiful ladies and the music. Then back to reality where we were loosing on two military fronts. Way to many losses but still gearing up to the challenge. We never considered anything but victory. No one said America was the problem back then. Other than Germany and Japan. Thing about it.
What more can be said of Helen O'Connell that a million voices have already uttered? Cute, pretty, wonderful voice, matchless phrasing, unique delivery and gorgeous..............darn it!.......I've just repeated what those million voices said!
Jimmy Dorsey carried it into the 50's with "So Rare" from 1957. I love this tune it's a killa' big band thing pretending to be a vocal tume. ruclips.net/video/cCoZLDwMamE/видео.html
Who are those children dancing like that!! they are absolutely amazing :) WOW!!! look at them.. so talented and adorable.. and of of course Bob Eberle his so dreamy
Helen's voice sparkles---that's the only word for it--she goes slightly off tune without being out of tune--she jazziszzes a song...swings it and still keeps it sweet.
Helen O'Connel at 09:45 is simply the best! This is my inspiration, at age 73, from the generation that came before me. I hope music of this quality will again enter the popular market.
I’m 73 and it won’t. You can’t go back. This was American culture at its peak. That was 80 years ago. It has seriously declined since. There I no way back.
Kirk Barkley, I know what you are trying to say. The same caliber of people in the entertainment industry like in the 30s and 40s is just no longer. With today's degrading caliber it would take a lot of Training, work and psychological conditioning.
I think the lovely Helen O'Connell was 23 when she was in this movie. It is amazing you can watch pretty much the whole span of her career from when she was 19 singing "Rubber Dolly" in a 1938 Soundie to this 1942 picture to the 60's and into the 80's and early 90's when she passed. What a class act.
Jimmy Dorsey did several of the "triple header gems" that were so well done...male vocal by Bob Eberly, upbeat orchestra interlude, then Helen O'Connell's vocal that put the icing on the cake. They were all so great. A very well done upload, thanks.
Was born in 50 but this music is so wonderful love there best era's 40s 50s 60s when I hear these songs I get goose pimples great era's the best I've just turned 70 old days have gone
Thank you so much for a most enjoyable posting. The sound recording is unbelievably great.What a wonderful time of music and the jiving dancers out of this world,just groovy. The beautiful melody of Tangerine with incredible lyrics will always be synonymous with the powerful performance of the vivacious Helen O and not forgetting the contemporary smooth vocal tones of Bob Eberly. Once again Thank you.
Helen O'Connell's Classic Movie Scenes Star Eyes and Tangerine are both major standards of the American Song Book as well as core tunes among leading jazz musicians. Both songs were first introduced in the movies by Helen O'Connell and Bob Eberly with the Jimmy Dorsey Orchestra. Star Eyes, introduced in the Vincent Minnelli directed(his first) film "I Dood It" is here accompanied by a rousing Helen O'Connell swing number from the same film. "Tangerine" was featured in the movie "The Fleet's In". At the time a jazz writer for Metronome, Barry Ulanov, had a chance to attend the rehearsals for the movie and called the performances of Helen O'Connell a 'revelation'. Star Eyes like Amapola, Green Eyes and Tangerine, also has that 'spanish tinge'.
Small correction. This was not Minnelli's debut but his second film as director after 'Cabin in the Sky'. For some reason he always disparaged 'I Dood It', possibly because he was called in to rescue it after Roy Del Ruth walked out. VM called it 'my sophomore jinx', maybe punning on 'Swingin' the Jinx Away', the recycled 1936 footage in the finale. He was not an instinctive broad-comedy director, and on this assignment he had Buster Keaton haunting the set and privately coaching Red Skelton, his protege.
Wonderful film clip...and great sound! Thank you SO much for posting this. It gives us more of a feeling of what the culture was like back then (at least in the movies...)
IIRC Helen was diffident about her acting and dancing. She knew a star of musicals had to be a triple threat. A little later, along came a blonde band singer who fit the spec- Doris Day.
From 7:05 the scenes are from the movie "The Fleets In" also called "Swingland". In that Movie Helen sings some superb songs, among them Tangerine with Bob Eberly.
She had a strength and presence and could blend with band like the girls had to do in the middle of the song..but she was soon put at the front of the song a nd the band was behind her
What nostalgia ! Thanks to RUclips I can continue to enjoy real music. By the way seeing in these old movie scenes make me wonder why you never see sailors and soldiers in uniform. What happened ?
Star Eyes became a favorite of the beboppers. Sonny Stitt relished playing it throughout his career--it was like an aria for the best saxophonists in modern jazz.
EARL COLEMAN has the most penetrating version of this strong tune on his last, eponymous lp on Stash from 85 !!! Was lucky to observe the man @ Northsea 87.
I first heard Star Eyes sung by Mary Mayo on the 1963 album Moon Gas by Dick Hyman. What a voice! Warm at the low end, clear and piercing at the top. Her two-octave finish is fabulous. Hyman wanted to make electronic music that was accessible and playable live. Star Eyes has the same problem as the rest of the tunes on the album": It's too short. I wish they would have stretched out on all the tunes and made it a double album.
Jimmy and Tommy Dorsey were, of course, brothers but fought so much that they couldn’t share the same bandstand for long. Nelson Riddle, in his trombone playing days, had to get between them once when fists started flying.
I honk you’re little overboard on Helen o’ Connel as if she were Helen of Troy. But it is maxing how she could sing off key and flat on purpose and it still sounded good. Nobody else ever did that and that became her signature.
There will never be another time in musical history like Artie Shaw & Glen Miller w/the likes if singer Helen Forest type singers. Their are a few good singers around in 2018 but most of performers on t.v.shows are rediculous in comparison to the 1940's. .Most so-called singers today are mumbling jibberish, jumping around on a sound stage while grabbing their crotch & screaming crazy, inaudible sounds. Joe G. Bowen Miss Gulf Coast
That’s why Frank Sinatra went out on his own, he feared Bob would beat him to it. Helen and Bob with Jimmy Dorsey sold more records from 1939-1942 than probably all the other major big band singers combined. In terms of fan favorites and record sales they were the undisputed champs. Helen retired in 1942 to get married but was doing select shows in the New York area in 1943 and commanding a greater price than any other singer in the country, including Frank Sinatra.
Why did male big band singers always look so UNTRUSTWORTHY? They were probably perfectly jake, but damn, they looked as if they all came from an Eddie Haskell breeding farm!
O'Connell is perhaps the most beautiful female singer of all time. So talented, sparkling, lovely.
......I agree, .and Oh....those dimples !
Bob E and Helen O! The Golden Age of Class,Cool and Talent.😉
I love this combination, Bob Helen & Jimmy were all so wonderful
I grew up with this music..... I look around me now and realize how I no longer belong here....those were the best of days!
Many of us who experienced the magical big-band sound during this wonderful swing era in American music, especially while coming of age, would give anything to return. Life was NEVER better! Oh, the fabulous memories. IMHO, no musical era ever compared. Featuring the three Helen canaries ... Helen Forrest, Helen Ward, Helen O'Connell.
I feel exactly the same way
trully a golden era! i can only wish i lived it! you belong here...sorry my English...Saúde
Ditto!!!!!!
I don't either.❤
There once was a special time, a special place, gone, but thanks for the memories.
We could have a moment to enjoy the Beautiful ladies and the music. Then back to reality where we were loosing on two military fronts. Way to many losses but still gearing up to the challenge. We never considered anything but victory. No one said America was the problem back then. Other than Germany and Japan. Thing about it.
These were the days of great musicians , wonderful music, and great singers that you could understand every word they sang.
What more can be said of Helen O'Connell that a million voices have already uttered? Cute, pretty, wonderful voice, matchless phrasing, unique delivery and gorgeous..............darn it!.......I've just repeated what those million voices said!
Even her expressions are the best…it’s as if she singing about someone she knows!
What a wonderful era for music...the 40s!
wasn't though? = thank God for RUclips!
Jimmy Dorsey carried it into the 50's with "So Rare" from 1957.
I love this tune it's a killa' big band thing pretending to be a vocal tume.
ruclips.net/video/cCoZLDwMamE/видео.html
Now this is "real" music. The kids of today will never understand. Oh, what are missing.
Not to mention the dancing those two kids did. Wow!
Who are those children dancing like that!! they are absolutely amazing :) WOW!!! look at them.. so talented and adorable.. and of of course Bob Eberle his so dreamy
those flashing eyes and wonderful voices of bob ..and ray eberly. man what did I miss
I did not know, that Bob had a brother Wow! that's awesome!
How about those dancing teenage kids getting a break in the business at about 5:27, because everybody else is involved in the war?
Helen's voice sparkles---that's the only word for it--she goes slightly off tune without being out of tune--she jazziszzes a song...swings it and still keeps it sweet.
The songs were perfect for the orchestra, the vocals and the time.
Helen O'Connel at 09:45 is simply the best! This is my inspiration, at age 73, from the generation that came before me. I hope music of this quality will again enter the popular market.
I’m 73 and it won’t. You can’t go back. This was American culture at its peak. That was 80 years ago. It has seriously declined since. There I no way back.
It has and I can get close by listening to Alan Bracewells big band every Thursday night night at North Chadderton social club Oldham
John Noone
Unforgettable performances that you never tire of watching. Thanks for this extended video !
This is beyond charming: why can't we enjoy such things today?
well, I guess we kinda can: thank Goodness for Y.T.!!
Kirk Barkley, I know what you are trying to say. The same caliber of people in the entertainment industry like in the 30s and 40s is just no longer. With today's degrading caliber it would take a lot of Training, work and psychological conditioning.
I was 6 when this film was made. Can't go back, but look carefully and we'll find 'such things' to enjoy
I think the lovely Helen O'Connell was 23 when she was in this movie. It is amazing you can watch pretty much the whole span of her career from when she was 19 singing "Rubber Dolly" in a 1938 Soundie to this 1942 picture to the 60's and into the 80's and early 90's when she passed. What a class act.
Helen had the looks and the voice of the big bands back in the 1940's.
fantastic. & Ms O'Connell has not only a lovely voice but also possess a timeless beauty
One take Helen is what the band called her.............absolutely full of talent and class by all involved. Thanks for sharing.
Some great west coast swing there from the kids! Tangerine has always been a favorite and this version is sublime. What a great clip. Thanks!
So far,the best musical period in history! Superb!!
I think I'm in love with Tangerine, lol, whoever she is.
I'm too old now, & no children...but if I would have had two daughters,,I would have named them,, Tangerine & Remember...........
Hated to see this end. Absolutely amazing performances!
Jimmy Dorsey did several of the "triple header gems" that were so well done...male vocal by Bob Eberly, upbeat orchestra interlude, then Helen O'Connell's vocal that put the icing on the cake. They were all so great. A very well done upload, thanks.
Was born in 50 but this music is so wonderful love there best era's 40s 50s 60s when I hear these songs I get goose pimples great era's the best I've just turned 70 old days have gone
I have always loved Helen O'Connell. And those two kids who danced were wonderful!
Thank you so much for a most enjoyable posting. The sound recording is unbelievably great.What a wonderful time of music and the jiving dancers out of this world,just groovy. The beautiful melody of Tangerine with incredible lyrics will always be synonymous with the powerful performance of the vivacious Helen O and not forgetting the contemporary smooth vocal tones of Bob Eberly. Once again Thank you.
Helen O'Connell's Classic Movie Scenes
Star Eyes and Tangerine are both major standards of the American Song Book as well as core tunes among leading jazz musicians. Both songs were first introduced in the movies by Helen O'Connell and Bob Eberly with the Jimmy Dorsey Orchestra. Star Eyes, introduced in the Vincent Minnelli directed(his first) film "I Dood It" is here accompanied by a rousing Helen O'Connell swing number from the same film. "Tangerine" was featured in the movie "The Fleet's In". At the time a jazz writer for Metronome, Barry Ulanov, had a chance to attend the rehearsals for the movie and called the performances of Helen O'Connell a 'revelation'. Star Eyes like Amapola, Green Eyes and Tangerine, also has that 'spanish tinge'.
Small correction. This was not Minnelli's debut but his second film as director after 'Cabin in the Sky'. For some reason he always disparaged 'I Dood It', possibly because he was called in to rescue it after Roy Del Ruth walked out.
VM called it 'my sophomore jinx', maybe punning on 'Swingin' the Jinx Away', the recycled 1936 footage in the finale. He was not an instinctive broad-comedy director, and on this assignment he had Buster Keaton haunting the set and privately coaching Red Skelton, his protege.
Wonderful film clip...and great sound! Thank you SO much for posting this. It gives us more of a feeling of what the culture was like back then (at least in the movies...)
Wonderful. Helen was hounded by the movie studios for years after she retired from the band. She told Hollywood to go stuff it!
wonder why she didn't go Hollywood? certainly has the look
IIRC Helen was diffident about her acting and dancing. She knew a star of musicals had to be a triple threat. A little later, along came a blonde band singer who fit the spec- Doris Day.
Helen was pure class!
Yes!
From 7:05 the scenes are from the movie "The Fleets In" also called "Swingland". In that Movie Helen sings some superb songs, among them Tangerine with Bob Eberly.
In Wisconsin and the upper peninsula of Michigan please listen to Door County radio 93.9 FM Denny Ferrel Big Band Showcase Sunday night at 9 PM EST
She had a strength and presence and could blend with band like the girls had to do in the middle of the song..but she was soon put at the front of the song a nd the band was behind her
I am helplessly in love with Helen. What a shame this all history :-(
What nostalgia ! Thanks to RUclips I can continue to enjoy real music. By the way seeing in these old movie scenes make me wonder why you never see sailors and soldiers in uniform. What happened ?
Helen was in complete control of her medium--music, presentation, connection with an audience.
I loved her in the 40's and still do!
Ms O'Connell is timeless
My favorite recording ever! This accompanying video just add icing to this beautiful recording!
Merveilleuse belle talentueuse j'adore et restera gravé dans mon cœur. Love 💋
Swing was a great time.
I’m enjoying this still in 2020! Sing on....
Helen O’Connell was awesome...in every way! Sigh! ❤️♥️
I just watched The Fabulous Dorsey’s on PureFlix . A very entertaining movie.
How absolutely wonderful
Star Eyes became a favorite of the beboppers. Sonny Stitt relished playing it throughout his career--it was like an aria for the best saxophonists in modern jazz.
She could sell a song, absolutely unique voice . Great drummer as well.
EARL COLEMAN has the most penetrating version of this strong tune on his last, eponymous lp on Stash from 85 !!! Was lucky to observe the man @ Northsea 87.
When music was music and singers had dignity.
there are ten very sad people in this world, judging from the thumbs down above...
I love big bands. Thanks for the posting.
O'Connell...........the jewel that stood out from the Big Band singers.
I first heard Star Eyes sung by Mary Mayo on the 1963 album Moon Gas by Dick Hyman. What a voice! Warm at the low end, clear and piercing at the top. Her two-octave finish is fabulous. Hyman wanted to make electronic music that was accessible and playable live. Star Eyes has the same problem as the rest of the tunes on the album": It's too short. I wish they would have stretched out on all the tunes and made it a double album.
My Mom, God rest her, was whiz-bang dancer like this thru WWII and right after !
SHE WAS GORGEOUS
Awesome!
Such class is hard to find these days.
The young male dancer looks like a combination of young Mickey Rooney and a young Gordon MaCrae.
I immediately thought of Mickey Rooney!
helen que elegancia.bob bravo!
Excellent !
perfect
Jimmy and Tommy Dorsey were, of course, brothers but fought so much that they couldn’t share the same bandstand for long. Nelson Riddle, in his trombone playing days, had to get between them once when fists started flying.
que melodia jimmy!
Jimmy Dorsey Orchestra is just as good, if not even better, as Tommy Dorseys.
I honk you’re little overboard on Helen o’ Connel as if she were Helen of Troy. But it is maxing how she could sing off key and flat on purpose and it still sounded good. Nobody else ever did that and that became her signature.
can't really beat it, can you? epitomise's all that we yearn for in our dreams...yes?
I wonder what our youth of today think of this music and how they would compare the 40’s music with the 2020’s?🤓
I pity that the picture quality is so inferior on that fantastic dance number by the two youngsters!
Cute!😊
They spent some serious doe on sets and costumes.
There is a little, slight resemblence between Helen O´Connell and Marilyn Monroe. Although they were active in different eras.
Terrific doesn't do it. They were all rock stars of the era. BTW Who were the young dancers?
Exactly my question!!
Are they playing live, miked up, or lip syncing to a recorded track?
There will never be another time in musical history like Artie Shaw & Glen Miller w/the likes if singer Helen Forest type singers. Their are a few good singers around in 2018 but most of performers on t.v.shows are rediculous in comparison to the 1940's.
.Most so-called singers today are mumbling jibberish, jumping around on a sound stage while grabbing their crotch & screaming crazy, inaudible sounds.
Joe G. Bowen
Miss Gulf Coast
It's what the punters want so they're getting it. Shame.
When are these scenes recorded? (exept 1942 "I Dood It")
Star Eyes is from the 1942 film ‘I Dood It’.
Tangerine is from the 1941 film ‘The Fleet’s In’.
Just to think..
Imagine if Bob Eberly hadn't been called up
for military service; he might've been as big
as Frank Sinatra..
Just supposing'..
That’s why Frank Sinatra went out on his own, he feared Bob would beat him to it. Helen and Bob with Jimmy Dorsey sold more records from 1939-1942 than probably all the other major big band singers combined. In terms of fan favorites and record sales they were the undisputed champs. Helen retired in 1942 to get married but was doing select shows in the New York area in 1943 and commanding a greater price than any other singer in the country, including Frank Sinatra.
Marilyn Monroe looked like Helen O'Connell a lot!!
Who are kids?
Thinking we need more carefully written lyrics.
Listen carefully girls.
Why did male big band singers always look so UNTRUSTWORTHY? They were probably perfectly jake, but damn, they looked as if they all came from an Eddie Haskell breeding farm!