Music From The Yiddish Radio Project

Amazon.com
The dual assault of TV and rock & roll in the 1950s caused many casualties, among them swing music, radio, and a vital Yiddish-American culture. This wonderful project (and its companion 10-part National Public Radio documentary series) celebrates a time when those three institutions joined together to form a powerful force of their own. Producers Henry Sapoznik and Yair Reiner re-create Yiddish radio's golden age of the 1930s through the 1950s with a combination of klezmer music, "Yiddish swing," and commercial jingles culled from vintage 78s as well as radio transcriptions (once the property of longtime TV host Joe Franklin). It's a fascinating story of a time when Jewish culture thrived in its new home, but within is buried a different story: one of assimilation. The once-beloved traditional klezmer sounds of Eastern Europe (represented here in the work of Dave Tarras and Naftule Brandwein) were slowly replaced by "Yiddish swing," a mostly successful attempt to update traditional Jewish pop and folk songs in the fashionable swing style--or, as Sapoznik puts it, "playing downtown Jewish music in an uptown style." The need (or perhaps desire) for acceptance is revealed in both performer names (the Bagelman Girls became the Barry Sisters) and in "nonethnic" product spots for essentially "ethnic" products. Tellingly, it was the Midwestern Andrews Sisters' 1937 hit reading of "Bei Mir Bist Du Schoen" (originally from a Yiddish play) that set off an explosion of Yiddish and American cultural cross-pollination. It represented the peak of Yiddish cultural influence in America--and as it turned out, the beginning of that culture's demise. For most, Music from the Yiddish Radio Project will be an endearing and enlightening history lesson, but for many others, it will be a bittersweet nostalgic journey through a time that remains so vivid in memories, yet feels like 1,000 years ago. --Marc Greilsamer

Music From The Yiddish Radio Project,Various Artists,Shanachie,Int'l & World Music,Jewish: Trad. & Klezmer,Pop,Soundtrack,World Music,Yiddish

Average customer rating: Yiddish Radio Project transported back in time Brings back my chlidhood Heaven Liquid Chicken Soup

Music From The Yiddish Radio Project Various Artists Manufacturer: Shanachie ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Jewish & Yiddish Music | Folk | Styles | Music Klezmer | Folk | Styles | Music General | International | Styles | Music General | Soundtracks | Styles | Music General | International | Indie Music | Stores | Music Similar Items: Yiddish Radio Project (Original Radio Broadcast) From Avenue A to Great White Way 1914-1950 The Barry Sisters - Their Greatest Yiddish Hits Greatest Shticks Now that Sounds Kosher ASIN: B000060P7J Release Date: 2002-03-12

Tracks:

1. Introduction to "Yiddish Melodies in Swing" - Sam Medoff and the Yiddish Swing Orchestra
2. The Bridgeroom Special - Sam Medoff and the Yiddish Swing Orchestra
3. Adler Shoes Commercial
4. Second Avenue Square Dance - Dave Tarras Orchestra
5. Oh Mama, I'm So in Love - The Barry Sisters with Sam Medoff and the Yiddish Swingtet
6. WEVD Station ID - Solomon Dingol
7. Die Goldene Khasene - Abe Ellstein Orchestra
8. Manischewitz Matzo Commercial - The Barry Sisters and Jan Bart with Sam Medoff and the Yiddish Swingtet
9. Samson and Delilah - The Barry Sisters and Jan Bart with Sam Medoff and the Yiddish Swingtet
10. Bei Mir Bist du Schoen - The Andrews Sisters
11. Hebrew National Meats Commercial
12. Joe and Paul Commercial - Paul Kofsky and Sholom Secunda
13. Joe and Paul - Barton Brothers
14. WEVD Station ID
15. Levine Mit Zayn Flying Machine - Charles Cohan
16. WVFW Station ID - Frank Daniels
17. Parkway Cafeteria Commercial - Rubin Goldberg and Hannah Hollander
18. Dona Dona - Moishe Oysher and Sholom Secunda
19. Stanton Street Clothier's Theme Song - Moishe Oysher
20. WBBC Station ID - Brett Childs
21. Wo Bistdu Gewesen Vor Prohibition - Naftule Brandwein Orchestra
22. Milady Frozen Fruit Products Commercial - Pincus Sisters
23. Ajax Commercial - Seymour Rechtzeit
24. Surrey Mitn Fringe Afn Top, Oy S'iz a Sheyne Fremorgn - Seymour Rechtzeit
25. Introduction to "Yiddish Melodies in Swing" - Sam Medoff and the Yiddish Swingtet
26. Yidel Mitn Fiedel - The Barry Sisters with Sam Medoff and the Yiddish Swingtet
27. WCNW Station ID
28. Turkish Yalle Ve Uve - Naftule Brandwein Orchestra
29. Gefilte Fish Commercial
30. Dayenu - Sam Medoff and the Yiddish Swingtet
31. Eastside Gluckstern's Restaruant Commercial - Pincus Sisters
32. Barbasol Commercial - Seymour Rechtzeit
33. Battle Hymn of the Republic - Seymour Rechtzeit
34. Sign-Off to "Yiddish Melodies in Swing" - The Barry Sisters with Sam Medoff and the Yiddish Swingtet

Amazon.com

The dual assault of TV and rock & roll in the 1950s caused many casualties, among them swing music, radio, and a vital Yiddish-American culture. This wonderful project (and its companion 10-part National Public Radio documentary series) celebrates a time when those three institutions joined together to form a powerful force of their own. Producers Henry Sapoznik and Yair Reiner re-create Yiddish radio's golden age of the 1930s through the 1950s with a combination of klezmer music, "Yiddish swing," and commercial jingles culled from vintage 78s as well as radio transcriptions (once the property of longtime TV host Joe Franklin). It's a fascinating story of a time when Jewish culture thrived in its new home, but within is buried a different story: one of assimilation. The once-beloved traditional klezmer sounds of Eastern Europe (represented here in the work of Dave Tarras and Naftule Brandwein) were slowly replaced by "Yiddish swing," a mostly successful attempt to update traditional Jewish pop and folk songs in the fashionable swing style--or, as Sapoznik puts it, "playing downtown Jewish music in an uptown style." The need (or perhaps desire) for acceptance is revealed in both performer names (the Bagelman Girls became the Barry Sisters) and in "nonethnic" product spots for essentially "ethnic" products. Tellingly, it was the Midwestern Andrews Sisters' 1937 hit reading of "Bei Mir Bist Du Schoen" (originally from a Yiddish play) that set off an explosion of Yiddish and American cultural cross-pollination. It represented the peak of Yiddish cultural influence in America--and as it turned out, the beginning of that culture's demise. For most, Music from the Yiddish Radio Project will be an endearing and enlightening history lesson, but for many others, it will be a bittersweet nostalgic journey through a time that remains so vivid in memories, yet feels like 1,000 years ago. --Marc Greilsamer

Customer Reviews:

Yiddish Radio Project.......2007-01-04

Charming, delightful, and surprising, it evokes and energizes dim memories and resurrects the full emotional impact of memories still fresh. And LEVINE MIT DEIN FLYING MACHINE was startling in its evocation of a time when Jews were desperate for acceptance, and went to great efforts to memorialize the accomlpishments of Jewish Americans in song and otherwise, no longer content to remain outside looking in. I bought several CD's and gave them as gifts, which were big hits with all.

transported back in time.......2006-03-09

Fantastic CD. Really takes you back in time. Not only good music but great fun and had me chuckling away. Wish there was a series of them. Highly recommended

Brings back my chlidhood.......2003-04-21

Listening to this make me feel 12 years old again.

Heaven.......2002-07-25

This swing and klezmer collection combines many forms of mastery, not least the kitschy commercials and jingles. Between numbers, listeners are enticed (in Yiddish, as they would have been on an hour-long Yiddish radio show) to buy everything from Adler's elevator shoes and Manischewitz Matzo to Joe and Paul's clothing and Ajax. Of course, many products and stores hawked here have long since bit the dust. But the music is timeless right down to a couple of Chasidic niguns--nonsensical words sung as prayer--one doubling here as a station identification. --"Ya ba ba, ya ba ba bye, WBVD."

My favorite piece is Dave Tarras' rendition of Second Avenue Square Dance, a piece of divine klezmer, braiding alto and soprano clarinets into musical silk. But Abe Ellsteins's Orchestra rendition of Die Goldene Khasene comes a close second. And one cannot but smile at the Barry and Andrews Sisters' jazzy but melodious harmonies.

Each of the 34 cuts on this disc offers a kind of elegance, whether peddling the most pedestrian products or gliding through a Naftule Brandwein serenade. Treat yourself to a small piece of heaven. Alyssa A. Lappen

Liquid Chicken Soup.......2002-07-24

I am Scotch/Irish and love Klezmer music, and I have a dear adopted "mom" I love also. She was feeling a little stressed one day, and I put the new CD on. The far-away look in her eyes, the way she started dancing a little as she sat in her chair, the joy in her face as she laughed and listened and translated the Yiddish into English for me and laughed some more--listening to that album together really was "liquid chicken soup"-- both for her and for me. Like she said to me, "There's nothing on TV to watch that isn't filthy, and people don't sing today-- they scream and you can't understand them-- but this! This is music!"

I agree completely! :)

It was also a great pleasure to hear Klezmer favorites that are performed by our local "The Best Little Klezmer Band in Texas" in the "originals".. to hear the continuity l'dor v'dor. :)

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