They were first organized in Sheboygan, Wisconsin in 1946. The original members of the group were Janet Ertel (1913-November 4, 1988), Carol Bushman (her sister-in-law), Dorothy Schwartz, and Jinny Osborn (or Lockard) (April 25, 1927-May 19, 2003). In 1952, Lynn Evans replaced Schwartz, and in 1953, Margie Needham replaced Osborn (who was having a baby), though Osborn later returned to the group. Nancy Overton also was a member of the group at a later time. Originally they sang folk music in the style of The Weavers, but eventually changed to a harmonizing style of the type known as barbershop harmony. Part of this change seems to be influenced by Osborn's father.
Jinny Osborn was born in Seattle, Washington. She was born Virginia Cole, the daughter of O. H. "King" Cole, who was president of the Barbershop Harmony Society (then known as SPEBSQSA), and Katherine Flack.
After performing locally in Sheboygan, they went on Arthur Godfrey's radio program, Talent Scouts in 1949.They went on to feature status on Godfrey's daily program, and then went on to make a number of recordings for Columbia Records.
In 1953, Godfrey's music director and orchestra leader, Archie Bleyer, founded Cadence Records. He signed a number of Godfrey regulars and former regulars, including the Chordettes, who had a number of hit records for Cadence.
Their biggest hit was Mr. Sandman in 1954. Archie Bleyer himself is on that record along with the group, Bleyer stripping the sound down the better not to clutter the girls' voices. They also hit the top twenty with 1958's "Lollipop," and also charted with a vocal version of the themes from television's Zorro (1959) and the film Never on Sunday (1961). Other hits for the girls included "Eddie My Love," "Born to Be With You," and "Lay Down Your Arms" in 1956 and "Just Between You and Me" in 1957.
Janet Ertel married Bleyer in 1954. Her daughter Jackie married another Cadence recording star, Phil Everly of The Everly Brothers. She died of cancer in 1988.
The Chordettes appeared on American Bandstand August 5, 1957, kicking off the first episode of the show over the ABC Television Network.
In 1961, Jinny Osborn left the group, and they were unable to find a replacement with whom they were happy, leading to a breakup.
The group was inducted into the Vocal Group Hall of Fame in 2001.
Jinny Osborn (by that time Jinny Janis) died in 2003
Basin Street Blues
The Chordettes Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
To the Mississippi
We'll take a boat to the land of dreams
Steam down the river, down to New Orleans
The band's there to meet us
Old friends there to greet us
Where all the proud and elite folks meet
Basin Street is the street
Where the best folks always meet
In New Orleans, land of dreams
You'll never know how nice it seems,
Or just how much it really means
Glad to be, oh yes-sirree
Where welcome's free and dear to me
Where I can lose, lose my Basin Street Blues
Basin Street, oh Basin Street
Is the street, mama
New Orleans, land of dreams
The lyrics to The Chordettes' song Basin Street Blues paint a vivid picture of a journey down the Mississippi River to the city of New Orleans, where the best folks always meet on Basin Street. The song is a celebration of the vibrant culture that has made New Orleans famous throughout the world.
The opening lines of the song invite the listener to come along for the journey to the Mississippi, where they will take a boat to the land of dreams. The lyrics suggest that this journey is not just a physical one, but a journey of the imagination, as the boat carries the listener to a place of magical possibilities. When they arrive in New Orleans, the band is there to meet them and old friends are there to greet them. The lyrics suggest that Basin Street is a place where the proud and elite folks meet, and where one can find heaven on earth.
The chorus echoes the sentiment of the opening lines, stating that Basin Street is the street where the best folks always meet in New Orleans, the land of dreams. The lyrics suggest that the listener will never know just how nice it seems or how much it really means to be in this special place on earth. The final lines of the song express the singer's joy at being on Basin Street, where welcome is free and dear to them and where they can lose their Basin Street Blues.
Line by Line Meaning
Won't you come along with me
Do you want to join me?
To the Mississippi
We will travel to the Mississippi River
We'll take a boat to the land of dreams
We will travel by boat to the wonderful land of dreams
Steam down the river, down to New Orleans
The boat will steam down the river to New Orleans
The band's there to meet us
A band will be present to meet us when we arrive in New Orleans
Old friends there to greet us
We will be welcomed by old friends
Where all the proud and elite folks meet
This is a place where the affluent and influential people of society gather
Heaven on earth, they call it Basin Street
Basin Street is referred to as a paradise or heaven on earth
Basin Street is the street
Basin Street refers to a specific street in New Orleans
Where the best folks always meet
Basin Street is where the most outstanding people always gather
In New Orleans, land of dreams
New Orleans is a fantastic land of dreams
You'll never know how nice it seems
Unless you experience it, you will never grasp how incredible it is
Or just how much it really means
The importance of New Orleans and Basin Street cannot be underestimated
Glad to be, oh yes-sirree
I am delighted to be here
Where welcome's free and dear to me
I am fond of and appreciate the warm and free hospitality shown to me
Where I can lose, lose my Basin Street Blues
This is where I can forget all my troubles and be carefree
Basin Street, oh Basin Street
Basin Street, how wonderful you are
Is the street, mama
As announced previously, Basin Street is a street in New Orleans
New Orleans, land of dreams
New Orleans, where dreams come true
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Rodolfo Perez
Sigue siendo un placer escuchar este privilegiado grupo de chicas. Tambien es de notar la dirección artistica a cargo de Archie Bleyer (sensacional orquesta) Gracias a Juan Pardo
hamtool
wonderful song
John Benn
WOW WOW WOW !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
From a mad keen 74yo Aussie fan.
Rosie
Hey, no dislikes! Congratulations!