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.
Please Be Kind
Benny Goodman Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Handle my heart with care, please be kind
This is all so grand, my dreams are on parade
If you'll just understand, they'll never, never fade
So tell me your love's sincere, please be kind
Tell me I needn't fear, please be kind
'Cause if you leave me, dear, I know my heart will lose its mind
This is my first affair, so a-please be kind
Handle my heart with care, oh a-please be kind
So tell me your love's sincere, yes, please be kind
Tell me I needn't fear, please be kind
'Cause if you leave me, dear, I know my heart will lose its mind
If you love me, baby, please be kind
The lyrics of Benny Goodman & His Orchestra Feat. Martha Tilton's song "Please Be Kind" are those of a person who is experiencing their first love affair. The person is aware that this is a significant moment in their life and is asking their lover to handle their heart with care. They are hopeful that their relationship with their lover will be sincere and full of love. The person is also aware that if their lover leaves them, their heart will lose its mind. Overall, the song is about vulnerability and the need for kindness, sincerity, and love in a relationship.
The lyrics of the song are straightforward and heartfelt, making it relatable to anyone who has experienced their first love affair. The lyrics highlight the excitement, the hope, and the vulnerability that come with this experience. These emotions are well captured in the music of the song, especially the swing era jazz style that Benny Goodman and his orchestra were known for. The song originally featured Martha Tilton's vocals, which added to the purity and sweetness of the song's message.
Line by Line Meaning
Well, this is my first affair, please be kind
As this is my first experience with love, I ask that you treat me gently.
Handle my heart with care, please be kind
I am entrusting you with my heart, so I implore you to handle it with tenderness.
This is all so grand, my dreams are on parade
I am overwhelmed with joy as my hopes and desires are coming to fruition.
If you'll just understand, they'll never, never fade
If you can comprehend the significance of this moment, my happiness will endure forever.
So tell me your love's sincere, please be kind
I need assurance that your feelings for me are genuine, so I ask that you be compassionate in your response.
Tell me I needn't fear, please be kind
I am afraid of losing you, so I plead with you to offer me comfort and reassurance.
'Cause if you leave me, dear, I know my heart will lose its mind
My emotions would spiral out of control if you were to abandon me, and I am scared of that possibility.
If you love me, please be kind
If you truly care for me, I implore you to treat me with kindness and consideration.
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: SAMMY CAHN, SAUL CHAPLIN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Joe Carbery
Beautiful! Any idea of rest of personnel?
Tobias Ryan
Bass – Percy Heath
Drums – Connie Kay
Guitar – Cal Collins
Written-By – Sammy Cahn, Saul Chaplin
Got from Verve Jazz Masters 33
Joe Carbery
@Tobias Ryan Thank you, Tobias.