The Mel-Tones 1945 - Back Home Again in Indiana

The Mel-Tones - Mel Torme, Bernie Parke, Ginny O'Connor, Betty Beveridge, and Les Baxter sing "Back Home Again in Indiana" in this 1945 Soundie. (Sorry for the print being backwards)
Movie contract restrictions supposedly kept Torme from appearing in this and other 1945 Soundies featuring the group. Blond Bernie Parke lip-syncs Torme's voice. An unknown, dark-haired male stand-in completes the group.
The accompanying jazz quintet features Buddy Cole (later married to Yvonne King of the King Sisters) on Piano, Dave Barbour (later married to Peggy Lee) on guitar, Nick Pelico on Vibes, Phil Stevens, String Bass, and Nick Fatool on drums.
Thanks to Mark Cantor of CantorJazzOnFilm channel on youtube for this title.

[@keithkirk8697]

If these singers could come back to life and hear today's popular music they'd ask to be reburied.

[@sandaglad]

Agreed!

[@mauromartinez3091]

GREAT MUSIC 🎶..REMINDS ME OF MY MOTHER & FATHER..BORN 1921 & 1923....AM 62 NOW...AND LOOK LIKE A YOUNG MAN STILL ' CRAZY...BUT THEIR GONE AND I NEVER FORGOT...NEW 🌎 WORLD NOW. YES..

[@Anvanho]

The malted milk poster ... the red/white checkered tablecloth ... the (especially) lady's hairdos .. it all somehow fits perfectly with these harmonies, this song ...what a time it was.

[@marcallen100]

The essence of American music. Love this version and Bird's too!!!!!!

[@laurafygi887]

That IS a very young Mel Torme ! The Mel-Tones with Mel were really great

[@addison133]

That's Bernie Parke, not Mel. Mel is only heard in this video.

[@Gennettor-nc8kx]

That's not Mel but a stand-in by the name of Bernie Parke.

[@kanetaker56]

I think this is one of the best versions I have ever heard.

[@billhamelin9502]

I like this too! I also like the version with Jimmy Dean with great guitar work.

[@SpencerMusicSchool]

Love seeing this.. as I'm writing Les Baxter's bio. Les with with the Mel Tones for only about a year before leaving to record his orchestra works at Capitol. Many might not know that Ginny O'Connor.. became Mrs. Henry Mancini.

[@Gennettor-nc8kx]

Mel is actually not in this Soundie.

[@SpencerMusicSchool]

@@Gennettor-nc8kx I know

[@sandaglad]

For another really good example of a 40's vocal group, check out (here at youtube) "Yes We have No Bananas, Luxury Liner 1948" featuring June Hutton and the Pied Pipers.

[@aseventh]

As a Hoosier, I love this.

[@bennyjazzful]

WOW WOW WOW !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
From a mad keen 73yo Aussie fans.

[@waltergray7722]

Great post !!
Thank you for sharing.

[@hep2jive]

love that vibe right at the end! Thanks for posting!

[@sandaglad]

Hi Laura:
Check out another swinging Mel-Tones number from a 1945 radio broadcast. Type in command performance 197 2/3...you'll love it.

[@icecreamforcrowhurst]

Wonderful

[@Rudipolt]

Thanks so much Aloha from Hawaii

[@iiiiiiiiii_o_O]

Feelin Glonky

[@Gennettor-nc8kx]

Original reverse print to fit Soundie machine.

[@patrickgallagher1161]

I love what Charlie Parker did with it!

[@NightShot444]

Miles actually wrote donna lee!

[@patrickgallagher1161]

@@NightShot444 Right, thanks! Credit where is due. Both are masters.

[@NightShot444]

@@patrickgallagher1161 Without a doubt. But what parker did on donna is something else. Bird was the bach of our time in my opinion!

[@countrypaul]

Wow! Just wow.

[@hoek334]

JEWEL thanks

[@clancykobane9102]

That was keen.

[@jacirasantanna7221]

Lovely!

[@addison133]

It's a pre-record and Bernie is mouthing Mel's solo. Bob Thompson far right. Still . . . as great as ever!

[@danielstanwyck2812]

You said it!

[@little.miss.newyork6416]

Wow

[@MapleSyrupPoet]

Music 🎶 🎵 must

[@MenelionFR]

Those seconds and sevenths (I'm talking about musical intervals here) should sound awfully wrong, but no, they are awesome! Thanks!

[@shurshot2764]

Where the hell did the verse come from? And they didked up the lyrics to the chorus! Crap!

[@appletongallery]

Sounds good to me

[@danielstanwyck2812]

That blonde guy ain't Mel Torme. Aside from anything else, his bone structure is completely different.Look at Good News, MGM 1947, with June Allysopn and Peter Lawford, and there you'll see the REAL McCOY.

[@addison133]

Correct.

[@sandaglad]

@@addison133 Daniel:
The blonde guy is Bernie Parke, and he is lip syncing Mel Torme's voice. Torme couldn't appear in Soundies because of a movie contract restriction, so although he doesn't physically appear in this Soundie, his voice is heard.

[@Gennettor-nc8kx]

Indeed, it's Bernie Parke who stood in for Tormé.

[@hot88s23]

You've probably seen it by now, but if not, GLEN CAMPBELL !

[@MrCretemaniam]

If you like this sound
Check out
THE FOUR POLKS
My family

[@RipsNordic7]

Just coming here to see if the pretty glonky guy got the lyrics right. He did his best in my, lmao

[@ham_5842]

Makes me want a fallout game set in Indiana

[@segoon2000]

Drink DETLAM KLIM

[@innalapteva3153]

Эй, ухнем! для меня. вечером танцуй для меня....Петрогрэд

[@WildwoodClaire1]

God, I HATE jazzed-up renditions of this song.

[@corbse2059]

Jazzing up a song usually ruins it.

[@icecreamforcrowhurst]

The Mayor then y’all gonna hate ‘Donna Lee’ an amazing bebop tune based on the chord progression of ‘Indiana’

[@F0nkyNinja]

This comment triggered my gag reflex.

[@Gennettor-nc8kx]

Then don't watch it.