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.
Therell Be Some Changes Made
Benny Goodman Lyrics
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But I've found out this will never do
When you grow old, you don't last long
You're here today and then tomorrow you're gone
I loved a gal for many years gone by
I thought her love for me would never die
She made some changes that would never do
From now on I'm goin' to make some changes too
For there's a change in the weather
There's a change in the sea
So, from now on there'll be a change in me
My walk will be different, my talk and my name
Nothin' about me is goin' to be the same
I'm goin' to change my way of livin' if that ain't enough
Then I'll change the way that I strut my stuff
'Cause nobody wants you when you're old and gray
There'll be some change made
They say, 'the old time things are the best'
That may be very good for all the rest
But I'm goin' to let the old things be
'Cause they are certainly not suited for me
There was a time when I thought that way
That's why I'm all alone here, today
Since everyone of these days seeks something new
From now on I'm goin' to seek some new things too
For there's a change in the fashions
Ask the feminine folks
Even Jack Benny has been changing jokes
I must make some changes from old to the new
I must do things just the same as others do
I'm goin' to change my long, tall mama for a little short fat
Goin' to change the number where I live at
I must have some lovin', or I'll fade away
There'll be some changes made
The song "There'll Be Some Changes Made" by Benny Goodman & His Orchestra with vocals by Louise Tobin is a classic sentiment about the inevitability of change in life, and the need to adapt in order to survive. The song speaks to the idea that staying stuck in old ways, both personally and professionally, can lead to stagnation and missed opportunities for growth.
The opening lines of the song, "They say, 'don't change the old for the new' / But I've found out this will never do," set the tone for a narrative focused on the importance of adjusting to new circumstances. The singer recounts her experience of losing a long-time love and realizing that she too must embrace change in order to move forward. This message is further reinforced in the following verse, which characterizes the transient nature of life and the need to adapt in order to survive.
Line by Line Meaning
They say, 'don't change the old for the new'
People advise against change
But I've found out this will never do
But I don't agree with this advice now that I'm older
When you grow old, you don't last long
Old age is fleeting
You're here today and then tomorrow you're gone
Life is short
I loved a gal for many years gone by
I was in love with someone for a long time
I thought her love for me would never die
I believed that her love for me would always last
She made some changes that would never do
She made changes that I didn't like
From now on I'm goin' to make some changes too
I'm going to make changes as well
For there's a change in the weather
The weather is changing
There's a change in the sea
The ocean is changing
So, from now on there'll be a change in me
I'm going to change myself
My walk will be different, my talk and my name
I will physically and verbally change
Nothin' about me is goin' to be the same
I won't be the same person
I'm goin' to change my way of livin' if that ain't enough
I'll change my lifestyle
Then I'll change the way that I strut my stuff
I'll change the way I carry myself
'Cause nobody wants you when you're old and gray
No one desires old age
There'll be some change made
I'll make changes
They say, 'the old time things are the best'
Old things are often preferred
That may be very good for all the rest
Others may like it, but not me
But I'm goin' to let the old things be
I'm going to leave old ways behind
'Cause they are certainly not suited for me
Old ways don't suit me
There was a time when I thought that way
I used to think like that
That's why I'm all alone here, today
That's why I am alone
Since everyone of these days seeks something new
People nowadays seek novelty
From now on I'm goin' to seek some new things too
I'll seek new things
For there's a change in the fashions
Fashion is constantly changing
Ask the feminine folks
Women know best about fashion
Even Jack Benny has been changing jokes
Even comedians change their style
I must make some changes from old to the new
I have to make some changes
I must do things just the same as others do
I'll do what everyone else does
I'm goin' to change my long, tall mama for a little short fat
I'll seek a different type of romantic partner
Goin' to change the number where I live at
I'll change my address
I must have some lovin', or I'll fade away
I need love or I'll wither away
There'll be some changes made
I am going to make changes
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: THOMAS NEWMAN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Trombonology Erstwhile
Interesting that it took this fabulous side so long to catch on in a big way. One hundred years old at the time of this post, Louise Tobin, the wife of Harry James when she participated in this recording, was a fine vocalist in her day, with a refreshingly, grittily different style, perfect for this defiant number. Louise, arranger Fletcher Henderson, the band's reed section, and soloists Goodman and Ziggy Elman hit this old chestnut out of the park.
Gregory Kayne
She sounds like she's Mildred Bailey's younger sister until she floats that fine falsetto note near the end. She's brillant.
sal sax
Happy 101st Louise !!!! You sound GREAT !!!
Robert Kirby
Great tune and a superb Henderson arrangement. Good...man is aptly named.
The Shellac Station
Well, a couple of weeks after turning 104 years old. The singer of this lovely song died today, on November 26th, 2022, 83 years after the song was recorded.
Edward Marshall
A Fletcher Henderson arrangement never grows old.
Kaleb Jokinen
@Edward Marshall I see you Eddie!