Larry Elgart was born in 1922 in New London, Connecticut, four years younge… Read Full Bio ↴Larry Elgart was born in 1922 in New London, Connecticut, four years younger than his brother, Les. Their mother was a concert pianist; their father played piano as well, though not professionally. Both brothers began playing in jazz ensembles in their teens, and while young Larry played with jazz musicians such as Charlie Spivak, Woody Herman, Red Norvo, Freddie Slack, and Tommy Dorsey.

In the mid-1940s, Les and Larry started up their own ensemble, hiring Nelson Riddle, Bill Finegan, and Ralph Flanagan to arrange tunes for them. Their ensemble was not successful, and after a few years they scuttled the band and sold the arrangements they had commissioned to Tommy Dorsey. Both returned to sideman positions in various orchestras.

In 1953, Larry met Charles Albertine and recorded two of his experimental compositions, "Impressions of Outer Space" and "Music for Barefoot Ballerinas". Released on 10" vinyl, these recordings became collector's items for fans of avant-garde jazz, but they were not commercially successful at the time. Larry and Albertine put together a more traditional ensemble and began recording them using precise microphone placements, producing what came to be known as the "Elgart sound". This proved to be very commercially successful, and Larry enjoyed a run of successful albums and singles in the 1950s.

In 1954, the Elgarts left their permanent mark on music history in recording Albertine's "Bandstand Boogie," for the legendary television show originally hosted by Bob Horn, and two years later, Dick Clark. Clark took the show national, to ABC-TV, in 1956 and remained host for another 32 years. Variations to the original surfaced as the show's theme in later years. Les and Larry reunited in 1963, but it would not last long; soon after, Les retired from performing altogether, while Larry continued to perform and record regularly for decades.

Larry's biggest exposure came in 1982, with the smash success of a recording called "Hooked on Swing". The instrumental was a medley of swing jazz hits - "In the Mood", "Cherokee", "American Patrol", "Sing, Sing, Sing", "Don't Be That Way", "Little Brown Jug", "Opus #1", "Zing Went the Strings of My Heart", and "String of Pearls" - that became so popular it even cracked the US Billboard Pop Singles chart (at #31) and Adult Contemporary chart (#20). Billed as "Larry Elgart and His Manhattan Swing Orchestra", the LP from which the tune was taken hit #24 on the US charts. The follow-up, Hooked on Swing 2, debuted at #89 on the album charts, and soon after Larry was back to the jazz touring circuit. He continued to tour internationally and record into the 2000s.

Don't Get Around Much Anymore
Les and Larry Elgart Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Missed the Saturday dance
Heard they crowded the floor
Couldn't bear it without you
Don't get around much anymore

Though I'd visit the club
Got as far as the door
They'd have asked me about you

Don't get around much anymore

Darling, I guess my mind's more at ease
But nevertheless why stir up memories?

Been invited on dates
Might have gone but what for?

Awf'lly diff'rent without you
Don't get around much anymore

Overall Meaning

In Les and Larry Elgart's song "Don't Get Around Much Anymore," the main character expresses their regret over not being able to attend a dance on a Saturday night. The character admits that they had heard the dance was quite crowded, but they couldn't bear to go without their loved one. They went as far as the door to the club, but they knew the people inside would ask about their partner and this made them feel uneasy. The character then muses that although their mind is at ease, it's still difficult to stir up memories of the past. They admit to being invited on dates, but they reject the invitations because it wouldn't feel the same without their partner by their side.

The song conveys a sense of longing and nostalgia for a lost love. The singer can't bear the thought of being in a place where they shared happy memories with their partner, so they choose to stay away. The lyrics also highlight the difficulty of moving on after a relationship has ended, and how it's even harder when everything around you reminds you of the past. The song has a melancholy tone, but there's also a sense of acceptance that things will never be the same again.

Line by Line Meaning

Missed the Saturday dance
I didn't go to the Saturday dance

Heard they crowded the floor
I heard the dance floor was crowded

Couldn't bear it without you
I couldn't stand being there without you

Don't get around much anymore
I don't go out much anymore

Though I'd visit the club
I thought about going to the club

Got as far as the door
But I only made it to the door

They'd have asked me about you
People would have asked about you

Darling, I guess my mind's more at ease
I feel more relaxed without you

But nevertheless why stir up memories?
But why bring up old memories?

Been invited on dates
I have been asked out on dates

Might have gone but what for?
I could have gone, but what would be the point?