Born in Viroqua, Wisconsin, he learned to play drums as a boy. Later he took up xylophone and at 13 changed to piano. He studied with a local teacher throughout high school. At 17 his parents moved to Chicago where he continued his musical training. He met Rosy McHargue, a well known clarinetist, who took him to hear many leading musicians including Bix Beiderbecke and Earl Hines. His first job was with Johnny Tobin at the Beach View Gardens. He later moved to Los Angeles where he worked with Henry Halstead, Earl Burtnett and Lennie Hayton, before joining Ben Pollack in 1934.
He played with the Jimmy Dorsey Band in the 1930s and was a charter member of the Will Bradley Orchestra when it formed in 1939. Known to bandmates as "Daddy Slack," he played the piano solo on Bradley's recording of "Beat Me Daddy, Eight to the Bar", one of the early white boogie-woogie hits and a classic of the Big Band era.
After forming his own band in 1942 and signing with the newly-founded Capitol Records, he recorded three songs at the third Capitol recording session on May 21, 1942. His recording of "Cow Cow Boogie," sung by the 17-year-old Ella Mae Morse, was the second record Capitol issued on July 1, and by July 25 it had reached number 1 on the hit parade. It was Capitol's first gold single.
T-Bone Walker was a member of Slack's band from 1942 to 1944 and Slack later accompanied Walker on his first solo recording for Capitol, Mean Old World. This band also had a hit with "Strange Cargo."
Slack continued to record with Capitol until at least 1950, recording some 80 tracks for the label.
Slack also recorded as an accompanist for Big Joe Turner, Johnny Mercer, Margaret Whiting, and Lisa Morrow.
In the original version of the song "Down the Road a Piece", recorded in 1940 by the Will Bradley Orchestra, Slack is mentioned in the lyrics:
If you wanna' hear some boogie then I know the place
It's just an old piano and a knocked-out bass.
The drummer-man's a guy they call 8-beat Mack
You remember Doc and old "Beat Me Daddy" Slack.
Man it's better than chicken fried in bacon grease
Come along with me boys, it's just down the road a piece.
"Eight Beat Mack" refers to drummer Ray McKinley, and "Doc" refers to the band's bass player, Doc Goldberg.
His 1955 album Boogie Woogie on the 88 featured a horn section including jazz musicians Shorty Sherock and Herbie Harper among others, and with arrangements by Benny Carter.
He also co-wrote the 1945 classic "The House of Blue Lights" first recorded with singer Ella Mae Morse, and later by Chuck Miller, The Andrews Sisters, Chuck Berry, and Jerry Lee Lewis.
Hit the Road to Dreamland
Freddie Slack Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Bye bye baby
Time to hit the road to dreamland
You're my baby
Shirley:
Dig you in the land of nod
Hold tight baby
We'll be swinging up in dreamland
All night baby
Jack:
Where the little cherubs trot
Shirley:
Look at that knocked out moon
Been a-blowing his top in the blue
Jack:
Never saw the likes of you
Both:
Bye bye baby
Time to hit the road to dreamland
Don't cry baby
It was divine but the rooster has finally crowed
Jack:
Time to hit the road
Shirley:
Bye bye baby
(Bells)
Jack:
Bye bye baby
Both:
Well it was divine but the cuckoo has finally crowed
Time to hit the road Time to hit the road
Time to hit the road.
The lyrics to Freddie Slack & His Orchestra's song Hit The Road To Dreamland evoke the feeling of sleep and the journey to dreamland. The song features three different singers - Shirley, Jack and both. The opening lines "Bye bye baby, time to hit the road to dreamland" suggest a farewell to the waking world and a transition to a world of dreams. The lyrics reinforce the sense of going to sleep with Shirley's line "Dig you in the land of nod" and references to cherubs and a "knocked out moon".
The tone of the song is light and playful as the singers bid farewell to the waking world and embrace the realm of dreams. The lines "Hold tight baby, we'll be swinging up in dreamland all night baby" suggest the sense of adventure and excitement that can be found in dreams. The chorus "Bye bye baby, time to hit the road to dreamland, don't cry baby, it was divine but the rooster has finally crowed" signals the end of the dream and the return to waking life.
Overall, Hit The Road To Dreamland is a whimsical and joyful celebration of sleep and dreams, with clever use of word play and references to dream imagery.
Line by Line Meaning
Bye bye baby
Farewell, my dear
Time to hit the road to dreamland
It's time to go to sleep and enter the land of nod
You're my baby
You are my beloved
Dig you in the land of nod
I hope you have a good night's sleep
Hold tight baby
Hold on and enjoy the ride
We'll be swinging up in dreamland
We'll experience pleasant dreams
All night baby
We'll be in dreamland for the whole night
Where the little cherubs trot
Where angels roam
Look at that knocked out moon
Observe the peaceful and tranquil moon
Been a-blowing his top in the blue
It has been shining brightly in the sky
Never saw the likes of you
I have not met someone like you before
Don't cry baby
Please don't shed any tears
It was divine but the rooster has finally crowed
Although it was wonderful, it's now time to wake up
Time to hit the road
It's time to leave
Well it was divine but the cuckoo has finally crowed
Although it was an amazing experience, it's now time to wake up
Time to hit the road Time to hit the road Time to hit the road.
It's time to leave, time to leave, time to leave.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Harold Arlen, Johnny Mercer
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@dariawells7438
Dean Martin recorded a lovely version of this song for his wonderful 1958 "Sleep Warm" album.
@johnfisher7599
Quite unlike Slack's signature boogie woogie sound.