Charlie Barnet (October 26, 1913 - September 4, 1991) was unusual in severa… Read Full Bio ↴Charlie Barnet (October 26, 1913 - September 4, 1991) was unusual in several ways. One of the few jazzmen to be born a millionaire, Barnet was a bit of a playboy throughout his life, ending up with a countless number of ex-wives and anecdotes. He was one of the few white big band leaders of the swing era to openly embrace the music of Duke Ellington (he also greatly admired Count Basie). Barnet was a pioneer in leading integrated bands (as early as 1935). And, although chiefly a tenor saxophonist (where he developed an original sound out of the style of Coleman Hawkins), Barnet was an effective emulator of Johnny Hodges on alto in addition to being virtually the only soprano player (other than Sidney Bechet) in the 1930s and '40s.

And yet Charlie Barnet was only significant in jazz for about a decade (1939-1949). Although his family wanted him to be a lawyer, he was a professional musician by the time he was 16 and ironically in his career made more money than he would have in business. Barnet arrived in New York in 1932 and started leading bands on records the following year, but his career was quite erratic until 1939. Many of Barnet's early records are worthy but some are quite commercial as he attempted to find a niche. Best is a sideman appearance on a 1934 Red Norvo date that also includes Artie Shaw and Teddy Wilson.

In 1939, with the hit recording of "Cherokee" and a very successful run at the Famous Door in New York, Charlie Barnet soon became a household name. In addition to the fine trumpeter Bobby Burnet (who soloed on many of Barnet's Bluebird records), such sidemen as guitarist Bus Etri; drummer Cliff Leeman; singers Lena Horne, Francis Wayne, and Kay Starr; pianist Dodo Marmarosa; clarinetist Buddy DeFranco; guitarist Barney Kessel; and even trumpeter Roy Eldridge spent time with Barnet's bands. Although at the height of his popularity during 1939-1942 (when his orchestra could often play a close imitation of Ellington's), Barnet's recordings for Decca during 1942-1946 were also of great interest with "Skyliner" being a best-seller.

By 1947 Barnet was starting to look toward bop. Clark Terry was his star trumpeter that year, and in 1949 his screaming trumpet section included Maynard Ferguson, Doc Severinsen, Rolf Ericson, and Ray Wetzel. Barnet, however, soon lost interest and near the end of 1949 he broke up his band. Semi-retired throughout the remainder of his life, Charlie Barnet occasionally led swing-oriented big bands during short tours and appearances, making his last recording in 1966.

The All Night Record Man
Charlie Barnet Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

It's the all night record man

There's a man you should know
Who puts on a show
Each night at a radio station
When you're going to bed
He gets up instead
And he goes to his odd occupation

(Judy)

Stay up Stan, the all night record man
Friend of every night owl music fan
All night long he's at his post
To play the tunes you love the most
Stay up Stan, the all night record man

Send him a telegram, hear your favorite band
He'll play you anything, Bach to Dixieland
For every ten that critisize
A thousand others idolize
Stay up Stan, the all night record man

Puts on a record, out the music goes
Where it reaches no one ever knows
Someone alone in the hinterland
Maybe to a crowd on a roadside stand

Gang at the tavern, tavern in the town
Get together send a message down
Please play a song just for Auld Lang Syne
Something we can sing like Sweet Adeline

Dance, dance
Stay up Stan, the all night record man

Overall Meaning

The All Night Record Man is a song by Charlie Barnet that tells us about a man whom everyone should know. He works at a radio station and has a job to play music for all the night owls who stay awake listening to the radio. His name is Stan and he is known as the all-night record man. When people are going to bed, he goes to work, and his unusual occupation makes him stand out in a crowd. Stan is a friend to every music fan and plays the tunes they love the most.

The lyrics detail how Stan is always available, and anyone can request a song by sending him a telegram. He will play any song, whether it’s Bach or Dixieland, and for every ten people who criticize him, there are a thousand others who idolize him. The song goes on to describe how Stan puts on a record and sends out the music into the world, where no one knows where it goes, but someone somewhere hears it. Stan plays music for someone alone in the hinterland, to a crowd on a roadside stand, and even to gangs at the tavern. The chorus "Stay up Stan, the all night record man" reminds us that Stan is always there, playing music that brings joy and happiness to people.

Line by Line Meaning

It's the all night record man
Introducing the subject of the song, an individual known as the all night record man.

There's a man you should know
Indicating the importance of knowing this man.

Who puts on a show
Highlighting the performative aspect of the all night record man's work.

Each night at a radio station
Explaining the context in which the all night record man operates - at a radio station.

When you're going to bed
Pointing out the time at which most people are usually asleep.

He gets up instead
Contrasting the all night record man's schedule with that of the average person.

And he goes to his odd occupation
Describing the all night record man's work as unconventional or unusual.

Stay up Stan, the all night record man
Addressing the all night record man by his name and urging listeners to stay up and listen to his show.

Friend of every night owl music fan
Emphasizing that the all night record man is popular among those who like to stay up late listening to music.

All night long he's at his post
Illustrating that the all night record man works throughout the night.

To play the tunes you love the most
Reiterating that the all night record man's focus is on playing music that listeners enjoy.

Send him a telegram, hear your favorite band
Encouraging listeners to request songs or bands they want to hear by sending a telegram to the all night record man.

He'll play you anything, Bach to Dixieland
Asserting that the all night record man has a wide range of musical knowledge and is able to play songs from different genres.

For every ten that criticize
Admitting that not everyone is a fan of the all night record man's show.

A thousand others idolize
Claiming that many listeners appreciate the all night record man and his show.

Puts on a record, out the music goes
Explaining how the all night record man plays music on his show.

Where it reaches no one ever knows
Noting that the all night record man has listeners all over, and it's impossible to determine exactly who is listening at any given time.

Someone alone in the hinterland
Suggesting that some of the all night record man's listeners are in remote or isolated areas.

Maybe to a crowd on a roadside stand
Speculating that some of the all night record man's listeners are gathered together in public places.

Gang at the tavern, tavern in the town
Providing an example of a group of people who might be listening to the all night record man's show together.

Get together send a message down
Describing how listeners can request songs via telegram to the all night record man.

Please play a song just for Auld Lang Syne
Offering a specific song request as an example of what listeners might ask the all night record man to play.

Something we can sing like Sweet Adeline
Suggesting that listeners may request songs that are fun to sing along to.

Dance, dance
Encouraging listeners to enjoy and dance to the music being played by the all night record man.

Stay up Stan, the all night record man
Repeating the refrain and sign-off of the song.

Contributed by Victoria Y. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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