Goodman was regarded by some as a demanding taskmaster, by others an arrogant and eccentric martinet. Many musicians spoke of The Ray, Goodman's trademark glare that he bestowed on a musician who failed to perform to his demanding standards. Anita O'Day and Helen Forrest spoke bitterly of their experiences singing with Goodman. "The twenty or so months I spent with Benny felt like twenty years," said Forrest. "When I look back, they seem like a life sentence." He could also be incredibly self-absorbed; it is reported that when eating an egg onto which a ketchup bottle cap had fallen, Goodman simply ate around it. At the same time, there are reports that he privately funded several college educations and was sometimes very generous, though always secretly. When a friend asked him why one time, he reportedly said, "Well, if they knew about it, everyone would come to me with their hand out."
Some suggest that Elvis Presley had the same success with rock and roll that Goodman achieved with jazz and swing. Without Goodman there would not have been a swing era. It is true that many of Goodman's arrangements had been played for years before by Fletcher Henderson's orchestra. While Goodman publicly acknowledged his debt to Henderson, many young white swing fans had never heard Henderson's band. While most consider Goodman a jazz innovator, others maintain his main strength was his perfectionism and drive. Goodman was a non - pariel virtuoso clarinetist and -along with only Artie Shaw, amongst the most technically proficient jazz clarinetists of all time.
Goodman is also responsible for a significant step in racial integration in America. In the early 1930s, black and white jazz musicians could not play together in most clubs or concerts. In the Southern states, racial segregation was enforced by the Jim Crow laws. Benny Goodman broke with tradition by hiring Teddy Wilson to play with him ] in the Autumn of 1936. He then added Lionel Hampton on vibes in December, 1936, and in the early Summer of 1939 he augmented the famous "quartette" with pioneering jazz guitarist Charlie Christian to his band and small ensembles, who played with him until his untimely death from tuberculosis less than three years later. To give an understanding of American history at this time, Goodman's integration of popular music happened ten years before Jackie Robinson entered Major League Baseball. "[Goodman's] popularity was such that he could remain financially viable without touring the South, where he would have been subject to arrest for violating Jim Crow laws." By the mid- Summer of 1941, Benny had hired the incomparably rhythmic and show-man drummer, legendary "Big Sid" Catlett, the (later) famous John Simmons on bass, and still possessed the incomparable Charlie Christian on electric guitar -plus Cootie Williams was in the middle of his one-year contract... This amounted to virtually one-quarter of the orchestra of black heritage, but of course -following Jimmy Munday and Fletcher Henderson (who also joined the band as pianist for 6 months in July, 1939) it was really an orchestrated white extension of black big band jazz -only, curiously -better.
All the Cats Join In
Benny Goodman Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
When they're at the their best
And meet a couple of future dates
Well, Roger I suggest -
Hop in the old jallop,
And head for the malted shop,
And all the cats join in.
Down goes my last two bits,
And all the cats join in.
Now drop your jack in the old juke box,
Play your favourite disc.
When you dance with the bobby socks,
You dance at your own risk.
Rip! Everybody swing,
Yes, swing 'till the rafters ring,
And all the cats join in!
Benny Goodman's "All the Cats Join In" is a joyful and rhythmic song that talks about a thriving social scene in the 1940s. In the lyrics, the singer suggests that if someone wants to join the exciting social gatherings, they should hop in their jallop (or jalopy, an old car), head for the malted (or milkshakes) shop and join the rest of the 'cats' there. The term 'cats' was often used in the 1940s to refer to people who were cool, hip, or trendy.
In the lyrics, the singer goes on to describe the scene at the malted shop where everyone is enjoying themselves, having banana splits and dropping coins into the jukebox to play their favourite music. When the music plays, everyone is encouraged to dance, but they're warned that if they dance with bobby socks (socks that go up to mid-calf) on, they'll do so at their own risk. The singer encourages the dancers to swing until the rafters ring, let loose, and party as everyone else joins in. This song captures the essence of the 1940s swing era, where music and dance went hand in hand, and social gatherings were filled with joy and energy.
Line by Line Meaning
If you want to join the gates
If you want to be included in the group
When they're at the their best
When the group is having the most fun
And meet a couple of future dates
And potentially meet some romantic partners
Well, Roger I suggest -
I suggest we do the following, as a personal example
Hop in the old jallop,
Get into the car
And head for the malted shop,
And go to the soda fountain
And all the cats join in.
And everyone joins in the fun
Down goes my last two bits,
I spend my last two coins
Comes up one banana split,
To get a delicious ice cream dessert
And all the cats join in.
And everyone else also enjoys delicious treats
Now drop your jack in the old juke box,
Now choose your favorite record and put it on the jukebox
Play your favourite disc.
Play the song that makes you happiest
When you dance with the bobby socks,
When you dance with the girls wearing flat shoes
You dance at your own risk.
You are responsible for your own enjoyment
Rip! Everybody swing,
Go for it! Everyone should start dancing
Yes, swing 'till the rafters ring,
Dance energetically until the whole building shakes
And all the cats join in!
And everyone else starts dancing as well!
Writer(s): RAY GILBERT, E. SAUTER, A. WILDER
Contributed by Jason M. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@mackenzieasbury9216
1:38 Older sister took off her orange shirt and drops it on the ground.
1:39 She takes off her blue pants(and pulls her underwear off too) as she waves her butt in a groovy motion.
1:40 She's now naked and tosses her drawers.
1:44 Older sister exits the shower.
1:45 She quickly grabs a towel hiding her butt as she dries herself off.
1:46-1:48 She dries herself off with a towel whilst dancing.
1:50 She jumps into her new clothes.
@katieb4655
I grew up with Swing jazz - my Dad's influence, he was also a clarinet player - and I still love it to this day. I have lost count of how many times I've listened to this track and watched this cartoon. Absolute masterpiece.
@user-fx1wx5uz7l
who is your most favorite character of this cartoon?
@mackenzieasbury9216
1:38 Older lady, she starts undressing. Holding her discarded shirt. Then tosses it.
1:39 She proceeds to take off her pants. Nice side butt.
1:40 There goes the pants. She's naked! Shower time.
@mackenzieasbury9216
@@user-fx1wx5uz7l The older sister who got naked at 1:38-1:40. I like seeing her nude silhouette.
@markschildberg1667
A brilliant segment with marvelous, fluid animation led by Freddy Moore and inspired direction by Jack Kinney.
@harrymandel1663
Just think those "wild teens" are about 90 years old now.....
@marlonbundo4324
I love how they slow down for the cop lol that was a new joke for the time
@zarquondam
Pretty sure they had that joke back in the silent films of the 1920s.
@Johnlindsey289
Funny stuff
@marlonbundo4324
@@zarquondam oh.. well i wasn’t around then