He was born in New York City (but grew up in New Haven, Connecticut) and began learning the saxophone when he was 15 and by age 16, had begun to tour with a band. He reached Hollywood the first time, as a sideman with Irving Aaronson's band in 1931, performing at the famous Orange Blossom Room (site of the first Academy Awards ceremony in 1929). Returning to New York City in1932, he became a highly in-demand session musician, working for example as one of just a handful of accompanists to Bing Crosby's first signature radio show for William S. Paley's already powerful and influential CBS radio network. Ultimately, Artie (who was known strictly as "Art" Shaw until his fortuitous Summer, 1938 contract with RCA Victor records' Bluebird label commenced) organized and led five, full-time touring orchestras that were all extremely popular -save the last, from 1949, with its be-bop oriented book. Ironically, that final Shaw-led big band (populated with players like Al Cohn), is considered by most jazz critics to have been Artie's best. With time out to lead a Navy service band (in the Pacific combat theater) during WWII, Shaw's actual big band- leading career lasted less than a decade overall -yet, it was a remarkably productive one, populated with some fourteen "Gold" records. These included such mega-hits as "Begin the Beguine", "Stardust", "Frenesi", "Moonglow", "Temptation", "Dancing In The Dark" and "Summit Ridge Drive" -the latter by his famous quintet billed as the Gramercy 5.
Shaw was known for being an innovator in the big band idiom, pioneering strings with jazz and using unusual instrumentations. His Summer, 1935 piece "Interlude in B-flat" was one of the earliest examples of what would be later dubbed "third stream". In 1938 he convinced Billie Holiday to be his band's vocalist, becoming the first white bandleader to hire a full-time black female singer. This 1938-1939 orchestra became phenomenonally successful and appeared in the movie "Dancing Co-ed" which also featured one of his future wives, Lana Turner, in the cast. Artie's clarinet playing, had by now reached a level that was arguably the greatest in jazz, easily rivaling that of Benny Goodman. Longtime Duke Ellington clarinetist Barney Bigard, himself a highly talented musician -cited Shaw (in 1940) as his "favorite" clarinet player. Literally abandoning his famous 1938-1939 band at the absolute peak of its' fame and earning power (Artie, just himself alone pulling down more than $10K per week) in late November, 1939, Shaw "abdicated" to Acapulco, Mexico. Returning to the U.S. he organized an entirely new orchestra, with full string section in the Summer of 1940. A truly stellar aggregation, it lasted until mid-1941, featuring stars Billy Butterfield, Johnny Guarneiri, Nick Fatool and Ray Conniff as principal arranger. This outfit can be prominently seen in the RKO film "Second Chorus" starring Fred Astaire and Paulette Goddard. The final pre-war Shaw band, started in late, 1941, had Davey Tough and Hot Lips Page and big hits on St. James Infirmary Blues and Blues In The NIght. Artie broke this outstanding unit up shortly after Pearl Harbor so he could "enlist" in the Navy -refusing an offered commission. Back from the Navy, Shaw put together a new band that featured Roy Eldridge and an ambitious library stocked with arrangements by Eddie Sauter, Buster Harding, Ray Conniff and others. Hit records for this band included "Little Jazz" and "S'Wonderful" and by now Artie was married to Ava Gardner. His final public performances (as a clarinetist) took place in 1954, including with a sublime quartet in an extended Las Vegas booking. Apparently, he last picked up and played his fabled clarinet in about 1960 at his beach house in Spain (as recounted in final wife actress Evelyn Keyes' autobiography) and resisted all lucrative offers to return to the stage until finally fielding a "ghost" band under the highly capable aegis of outstanding clarinetist Dick Johnson in 1985. For about the first year, Artie often appeared on stage with this very fine orchestra at certain, prestigious bookings, but soon tired of the "grind" -and not to Dick Johnson's dismay. This now true "ghost" band is still appearing during Summer seasons (with much of the original Shaw "books"), principally in the New England area (Johnson lives in Boston) and is well worth seeing. Although he had more wives (8) than bands, Artie fell one wife short of Charlie Barnet's record (for a famous bandleadrer) of nine.
Oh Lady Be Good
Artie Shaw Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
It's terribly sad but true,
All dressed up, no place to go
Each evening I'm awfully blue.
I must win some handsome guy
Can't go on like this,
I could blossom out I know,
Oh, sweet and lovely lady, be good
Oh, lady, be good to me
I am so awfully misunderstood
So lady, be good to me
Oh, please have some pity
I'm all-alone in this big city
I tell you I'm just a lonesome babe in the wood,
So lady be good to me.
Oh, please have some pity
I'm all alone in this big city
I tell you I'm just a lonesome babe in the wood,
So lady be good to me.
Oh lady be good to me.
The lyrics of "Oh Lady Be Good" by Artie Shaw tell the tale of a woman who is looking for love and companionship in a big city, but is unable to find it. She is all dressed up with nowhere to go, feeling blue each evening. She longs to find a handsome man who can accompany her and make her feel loved. She is misunderstood and alone in the big city, hence the plea for the lady to be good to her.
The lyrics convey a sense of desperation and the longing for human contact, which is quite relatable. The woman is looking for someone who can accept her for who she is, and make her life better. The use of imagery such as "blossoming out" with somebody just like you" adds to the romantic nature of the song. The plea to be good to her is a request for understanding and compassion towards her loneliness. The last line of the song reiterates the woman's plea for companionship, and the vulnerability she feels as a "lonesome babe in the wood."
Line by Line Meaning
Listen to my tale of woe,
Please listen to my sad story
It's terribly sad but true,
The sadness I feel is genuine
All dressed up, no place to go
I put in effort but have nowhere to be
Each evening I'm awfully blue.
Every night I feel very sad
I must win some handsome guy
I need to find a good-looking partner
Can't go on like this,
I cannot continue feeling this way
I could blossom out I know,
I have potential to improve myself
With somebody just like you. So
If I had someone like you in my life,
Oh, sweet and lovely lady, be good
Oh, kind and charming lady, treat me well
Oh, lady, be good to me
Oh, lady, please treat me kindly
I am so awfully misunderstood
People don't understand me and it pains me
So lady, be good to me
So, I plead for your kindness
Oh, please have some pity
Oh, please feel compassion for me
I'm all-alone in this big city
I feel very lonely in this large place
I tell you I'm just a lonesome babe in the wood,
I'm an innocent and lonely person without guidance
So lady be good to me.
So, I beg for your kindness once more.
Oh lady be good to me.
Oh, lady, please treat me kindly.
Lyrics © Kanjian Music, Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Songtrust Ave, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: George Gershwin, Ira Gershwin
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@UnleashTheGreen
the mind boggling thing is Buddy Rich didn't miss a beat for almost another 50 years. when he passed he didn't leave one drop of potential on the table.
@jazzcornertv
I strongly agree. These musicians left nothing for the next generations of musicians to create and be original with.
@davewallace8219
This song....would not be the same. Without buddy...
@mikebrzostowski8183
Now this is music! Songs like this from all the big bands from that time will be enjoyed till time ends!
@davewallace8219
Swings like mad!
@josephfollo7530
The best band in the country in 1938-1939. Could do it all.
@RockoKitty9373
Take em for a walk Artie
@alanosterman7130
This burns ! One of the main reasons I bought Ken Burns Jazz set. The sheer joy the players show playing this. Their in seventh heaven. Swing was something special. It transcended jazz.
@nataliep.9047
But you could play ANY song at this tempo and get the same result. Why not just listen to some rock band?
@alanosterman7130
@@nataliep.9047 I've got lots of Hendrix, Cream, Zeppelin, you name it. But, variety is the spice of life. Don't live life with blinders on. Expand !