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.
Love Is Just Around
Benny Goodman Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
But can't you see, you've captured me.
Being so glamorous, can't you be amorous just with me?
Make it soon, take a look at the moon.
Love is just around the corner, any cozy little corner.
Love is just around the corner when I'm around you.
I'm a sentimental mourner, and I couldn't be forlorner,
Venus de Milo was noted for her charms,
But strictly between us, you're cuter than Venus,
And what's more you got arms.
So cuddle in a corner, any cozy corner,
Love is just around the corner and I'm around you.
In these lyrics to Benny Goodman's song "Love Is Just Around the Corner", the singer is expressing their feelings towards the person they love. They start by admiring the person's beauty, saying that they have been captured by it. They then ask the person to be amorous with them, suggesting a desire for a romantic relationship. The singer then mentions the moon, perhaps implying that they want to spend the night together.
The chorus asserts that love is close by, just around the corner, particularly when they are around each other. The singer then describes themselves as a sentimental mourner, indicating that they have been waiting for the person they love for some time. The singer then compares their beloved's beauty to Venus de Milo, emphasizing the fact that they find them incredibly attractive. They end by inviting their beloved to cuddle with them in a cozy corner, again reinforcing their desire for a romantic relationship.
Overall, the lyrics express the singer's strong feelings of love and desire towards the person they are singing to. They seem to be hoping that this love can be reciprocated, and that they can begin a romantic relationship with the other person. The lyrics rely heavily on comparisons to mythological figures (Venus de Milo) and ideas of romanticism (the moon, cozy corners).
Line by Line Meaning
Beautiful miracle, pardon my lyrical rhapsody,
My feelings for you are so intense it's like a beautiful miracle, forgive me for expressing them through this lyrical rhapsody.
But can't you see, you've captured me.
I am so in love with you, it's like you have captured my heart.
Being so glamorous, can't you be amorous just with me?
You are so attractive, can't you show your love and affection only for me?
Make it soon, take a look at the moon.
Let's not waste any time, let's gaze at the moon and fall in love soon.
Love is just around the corner, any cozy little corner.
Love is just waiting for us, wherever we may be.
Love is just around the corner when I'm around you.
When I'm with you, I feel like love is just one step away.
I'm a sentimental mourner, and I couldn't be forlorner,
I am someone who is easily affected by emotions, and I couldn't be sadder than I am now.
When you keep me in a corner just waiting for you.
When you keep me waiting for you, it's like I'm stuck in a corner with no way out.
Venus de Milo was noted for her charms,
Venus de Milo is famous for her beauty and charm,
But strictly between us, you're cuter than Venus,
But, just between us, I personally find you even more attractive than Venus de Milo.
And what's more you got arms.
On top of that, you have arms, which is a bonus for me.
So cuddle in a corner, any cozy corner,
Let's cuddle up together in a cozy corner somewhere.
Love is just around the corner and I'm around you.
I feel like love is just waiting for us, especially since I'm with you.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA/AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
JJSolis
"Get ready... You're about to really blow your wig!"
This line is said as a certain character from a certain film drops "Bugle Call Rag" from "Gene Krupa" onto the platter... Respect to anyone who can name the film and the character! And enormous respect to anyone who can remember why the record was labeled "Gene Krupa" and not "Benny Goodman".
Mark Thompson
First Benny Goodman record I ever had or heard, coupled with take #3 of "House Hop" on the flip. I was blown away. It still has that effect. Gene Krupa's drumming was a revelation.
johnpetters
King Krupa. Great playing, especially the press rolls behind Benny.
Trombonology Erstwhile
This great side is so representative of both the Swing Era and the qualities I love in the Goodman band, my favorite. As we know, there was hotness and swing before Goodman's coronation -- the secret to his success lay in absorbing these influences from the best possible sources and then adding his own ideas and virtuosity to produce something irresistible to '35 audiences. With all due respect to the mighty Basie team, of the leader, Freddie Green, Walter Page and Jo Jones, this particular incarnation of the Goodman rhythm section remains my all-time favorite. When Ziggy joined the band, it was nearing perfection -- which would come with the addition of Harry James. I do rather wish Murray McEachern, who solos so effectively here, had stayed on.
Nick Dellow
I do so agree with what you say. I was listening to Murray McEachern today and was continuously blown away by his tone and his ideas. An underrated player. He plays an astonishing version of Star Dust.....plays with such technique and also such feeling https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lYpHmMluGVc
johnpetters
Great transfer!
Nick Dellow
Many thanks.
C Porter
Has the pianist any relation to saxophonist Jack Stacy? (Sometimes listed as "Stacey")