"I knew I couldn't sing over them, so I decided to sing under them. The more noise they made the more softly I sang. When they discovered they couldn't hear me, they began to look at me. Then they began to listen. As I sang, I kept thinking, 'softly with feeling.' The noise dropped to a hum; the hum gave way to silence. I had learned how to reach and hold my audience -- softly, with feeling."Peggy Lee
@@Laszlo-b8k Hi, Laszlo! I just released a new single on TH-cam. If you get a chance, check it out and let me know if you like it. Thanks! th-cam.com/video/P0OB94MRiE8/w-d-xo.html
@@AckzaTV I would have loved to tour with a big band in the '40s. I tour nursing homes today, singing the standards as opposed to my own songs. The audience's taste matters.
I can enjoy "feeling" the 1940s in the speakers, BUTT I don't think I'm being disrespectful wishing for a digitally "cleaned up" version. Had I been present in the room, I could have heard it "clean". B-)
@@amysunnar9018 Anita O'Day & June Christy were wonderful, Ella Fitzgerald was very influential as was Sarah Vaughan, and Dinah Washington was very popular. Billie Holiday had great success in the '40s, and even her lesser-known songs are worth listening to. "Mandy Is Two" is a favorite of mine from this era (1942).
Yeah, she was good. I like this and her "Ain't We Got Fun" the best.. I like her version of AWGF better than Doris Day's. But the Andrews Sisters are still my favorite vocalists!
I was born in this era and it was such a good time to hear music and lyrics that you could sing. and it is refreshing to know that, in this generation, many of you have found the joy in such wonderful music.
You should read Peggy’s biography. Benny didn't like sharing the stage with singers. Especially, the female singers. He thought they should only do instrumentals but the crowds liked the singers and that made him dislike them even more. He would make Peggy practice the same songs for up to 15 hours. She said the time with his band was the worst time of her career and life, for that matter.
Strange to hear that. I thought that Benny Goodman was actually interested in her, from the way that he looked and admired her. She would have been way too young for him. @@stardustmelody2709
So , from what my teacher passed down to me . Benny was a bit tipsy but always on point . Not sure if he had a drinking issue but he did mention in his younger years drinking a bit much . ❤ #PhilSobel
My Mom turned me on to this when I was really little. She was such a huge fan of both Benny Goodman and Peggy Lee. Outstanding memories. They don't make 'em like this anymoore.
This was GREAT AMERICAN music. As a kid in my own country and listening to Big Band Music I used to day dream about what life would be like in an America that had such great Bands and music. Today, after 50 years in the U.S.A. I come to TH-cam to listen to the BEST American music ever. The Swing & Jazz of the 40's.
I've seen quite a few South Korean women cover the Andrew Sisters. Life back then was still oppressive for women & mixed ethnicities like mine. I appreciate the music & fashion, but I'm not dreaming for that culture.
@@msjazzmeblues But we're talking about the Swing Era, which crossed between the late 30s and mid 40s 🙂 20s jazz is a great topic for a different video.
Valentin Spatariu I just read from the liner notes of the "Peggy Lee/Benny Goodman Recordings" cd where clearly admitted that at that time she was not at ease and very afraid to be in front of the audience.
@@unusualbydefault Why not? It could not have been any worse than what is going on now. I write and record music sans a set band. My musician friends drop into the studio and lay down tracks. Before you know it, it's a complete tune. Thanks for your reply and take care.
@@gwynnielsen5081 As much as I love the fashion and music, in reality there was as much dirt behind the scenes as there is today. Things looked glamorous on the surface, but Peggy likely dealt with incredible amounts of sexism that wouldn't fly with you at all. And that isn't touching the racism topic. If Judy Garland is a lesson in Hollywood abuse you hear about too late, there's always worse.
The 1940's Big Band sound was the first music I ever heard. My father had fought in WWII and my parents had these old vinyl records (which I still have BTW). I grew up at first only hearing this music. And though I love music of many decades, I still treasure this era the most.
My story is just the same. And then in my teens I grew up with Rock 'n' Roll, and I went on to learn and love other music genres, but I still love Big Band music, and I'm so grateful for my father raising me on this music.
Wow, Benny Goodman could really blow that clarinet, and Peggy Lee is wonderful! I've played in a few orchestras, but I've never heard a clarinet like that, just like I had never heard a trumpet like Harry James nor a sax player like Houston Person! There were some truly great musicians back then!! Peggy Lee has been a long-time favorite of mine, sultry and sexy voice, and pretty to boot!
There is no one that you've spoken of who isn't spectacular... but this is black derived and black-inflected music and this is the 40's! Have you heard Basie and Ellington and the countless black Big Bands playing at all the black venues around the country? It was a parade of Pre-, During, and Post- War extraordinary individual and ensemble musicians. I'm guessing you haven't or you wouldn't find it so easy to make summary, superlative judgments. Of course, Peggy Lee is incomparable ... but so were Lena and Billie and Ella, fronting bands and singing the hell out of the music in the same period. Thank God for vinyl and libraries.
Benny with his jazzing shoulders..his light fingered fabulous touch..and the fabulous Miss Peggy Lee with the song that brought her to fame..or should I say Flame!! Wow..listen to that claro soar..the wonderful timing..the altos..and baritone sax..trumpets...troms...b....h...What more could a jazz lover want!!. Swing it Benny Swing!!!1
My father was born in 1909... and he asbolutely LOVED Peggy Lee... he always said that in the early 40s "the boys" all thought Lee was "the most sultry and sexy singer going"... those GI's aren't shouting for Goodman :))) And the way she holds the word "do" at the close of those lines creating that tonality, well, in terms of musicality, just incredible... P
Peggy Lee, born as Norma Deloris Egstrom, in the small city of Jamestown, North Dakota. Grew up in the very tiny town of Wimbledon, North Dakota. There is a Peggy Lee museum in Wimbledon these days.
There are so many singes who wave their hands and bob and gyrate their bodies. Peggy doesn't need to do those things. She sings with just her smile and her facial expressions; the listeners are transfixed No one does it better.
What I like about this performance, in addition to the music and singing, is the number of smiles. Peggy is smiling as she walks to the microphone. The guitar player just behind them smiles. Benny smiles as he launches into his solo, during which, the drummer smiles and looks at the trumpet player who smiles. I count five. And I notice that I am smiling too. The rest of the guys are playing horns, so they can't smile. But it comes out in their music anyway. The guy on the bass fiddle. I don't see him smiling. Then again, the video is kind of blurry. Besides which, it's obvious he is having a whale of a time and probably thinking about how glad he is that he quit that factory job in Des Moines, if indeed, there were any factory jobs in Des Moines at the time. Who'd 've thunk? Something that entertains, and makes you feel good at the same time. You don't see much of that these days. Makes me feel like we might have lost something.
I was gratefully raised on this great music, and then I grew through my teens in the sixties on rock 'n' roll, and went on to learn and love other genres. I am disappointed that young people generally don't know about big band music and surprised that many don't even know about rock 'n' roll music. But hopefully TH-cam will continue to introduce more people to these great genres of music. 🎶
I noticed at the end that subconsciously my foot had been tapping through the whole song -- awwww -- the Big Band era, before my time but great music lasts an eternity!
So unassuming in stage presence yet commanding in vocal style and delivery, Miss Peggy Lee, truly a singer without equal.We are seeing her in one of her earliest performances. She had that ineffable something that was to see her remain widely popular for decades to come. And that song! She made it an American standard that has ensured it continues to be covered with its biting lyrics packing quite a punch nearly 80 years on : A woman giving that no-good man of hers a dressing down with an exhortation that he mend his ways and 'do right'. Love the line: "Get out of here/and get me some money too". Not a song for the pure romantic - and all the better for it. Thank you Peggy for the memories. Long may you win new fans who chance upon you on TH-cam.
Black blues genius Lil Green made this record in 1941. When Peggy was with Benny Goodman she would play this over and over in her dressing room. Benny finally said she must like it and he would make an arrangement for her. It was not only a million seller but the key record in which Peggy Lie established her sultry style.
So, basically, what you are saying is, that Peggy Lee copied Lil Green, so credit should go to Green for everything that Peggy Lee did. LOL. I've grown sick of hearing this crap. If it isn't one white performer, it's another being spit on in this way. Peggy simply liked the song, "Why Don't You Do Right", but I've never read anything written prior to all this revision b/s where Peggy said that she copied Lil Green, which nobody really knew. Peggy Lee had her own style, she did not copy anyone else. Her liking a song and recording her own version of it, does not mean she somehow idolized the person who may have recorded the song first or copied this person's way of singing.
No, that isn't what poetcomic1 said at all. That's just what you reinterpreted him as saying as a pretext for going off on your own polemic, which is reactionary, at best.
Have you heard Lil Green's version? Perfectly nice blues, not much more. Peggy is a genius. 90% of being a singing genius is knowing what to sing and how to swing it and Miss Lee did.
A guy called Gramophonedzie, in about 2009, did a house mix of this, sampling the 1942 studio recording. It went down real well with the youngsters at the clubs. He called it "Why Don't You?".
@@jeanhodgson8623 Just gave it a view...he almost had a nice electro swing version going, but the video was a bit silly and the staccato bump bump bump got old....he should have just used that to push into the song. I'm thinking Swingrowers or somebody should take it on.
Born in 1980, I am currently restoring a 1946 DeSoto Custom and I love listening to music of the era when bringing these classics back to life. Knowing that everyone in the video is long gone makes me wistful, an era that once was is now nothing but a memory. God what I wouldn't give to have experienced this place in our history. :'(
Migod she was brilliant. She’s one of those great artist that doesn’t look like she’s doing anything, until you realize, that you’re crying, laughing, swinging with it.
Man oh man i could've listen & watch for another 1 hour easily Benny Goodman had rhythm, just look at his sway Peggy Lee was gorgeous singing Doll I love hearing her "Love Letters"...exquisite Way before my time but that's the beauty of music / arts / media is archived & available Hot Cats Good post
I was gratefully raised by my father on the great Big Band music and his favorite was Benny Goodman. And then I grew up in my teens on Rock 'n' Roll music and my favorite group is the Righteous Brothers. Peggy Lee and the Righteous Brothers performed "Yes, Indeed!" on The Ed Sullivan Show in 1965 but I didn't see it until a couple of years ago when I got a cellphone. It's wonderful to have great music and the technology to preserve, learn about, and enjoy it. 🎶
The original and still best version of this song. Peggy in her prime and that Benny Goodman solo is to die for. He almost makes the clarinet wail and cry. Amazing.
She was so young, such a pure voice & beautiful delivery. But fast forward a few years to her performing this with the much jazzier Dave Barbour. Slower, sly, playful & utterly cool, she smoulders at the same time. Her delivery & the instrumental bridges are to die for. If you haven't heard the other version you are truly missing out. Mix yourself a Manhattan, turn down the lights & hang on. She & the quartet totally nail it.
Ha, ha! Benny was a superb clarinet player, and had the best dance band, but he was anything but kind. He was a real martinet to work for, as, also, was Tommy Dorsey.
Her body language is so superior. She is clearly in charge. For that time, something new. Even though she had to step back, because Benni had to show off his clarinet skills, she clearly stole the show.
Myself and is already almost 2020 and I love to listen to there instrument and singing.. Those are my parent they called it the olden days song and dancing..Such a beautiful thing..
Роман Иванов goodman's last performance,80 yrs.old?] the 3 n.y. newspaper reviewers all agreed to write a one word review....in giant letters ''MASTERFULL'' he died soon after i think. how many great bands would have a teenager fronting his band? ask lional hampton. anyway he lost peggy lee because goodman had a strict rule no fratenrization amoungst the band members. well peggy lee fell in love with the guitar player in vid. and goodman fired them. both, left i'm sure befor the ax. everyone wanted to play w goodman. they say he practiced 3 hrs. a day his whole life. listen to luis armstrong talk of goodman.
I Love Peggy Lee... and I believe she swings it Best with Benny. Look at Benny's moves... Ha! I get such a kick out of him. This is one of my All Time Favorite 78s. No visitor ever leaves my home without hearing it. This "stuff" will never be reproduced. Thanks for the post.
Thanks for introducing me to that Dave Barbour version. But It seemed like Peggy was getting as bored and sleepy as I was while struggling to get through it. You could see it, Especially in the shots where she's looking over toward Dave, looking like she couldn't wait for him to finish his anemic, lack-of-creative-spark solo bit. I always felt that music after '49 really began to go down the toilet. By the way, before I forget, The camera work in this film was just above High School kid, amateur, and they mostly focused above her waist, or breast... and it seemed they only had limited movement or positioning of their equpment, or maybe because there wasn't anything worth filming... in fact, there was hardly any movement from Anybody! NO One Even Cracked a Smile, except for Peggy. Maybe because she knew she was getting paid for it anyway. There was no "Swing" or Life to any of this number at all. It's was more like some Bohemian bar scene than a Live Performance. Look at this "Benny" number, Benny, Peggy, the Band, and the Audience are Swingin' Happy Cats! Any person with Any Life and/or Rhythm is going to have Fun with Benny's number... JUST Look at Benny! He IS the Quintessential Band Leader, Leading the whole Swinging Mess! Maybe that's why Benny Goodman is known as The KING OF SWING! And, You can see in Peggy's body language and hear it in her voice, that she agrees and is adoring her Fun with Him too. On a List of Top Ten Big Bands of All Time, where Votes came from Real Swing Loving, Band Knowing, People, Consistently, between the Top 2 Bands, The Benny Goodman Orchestra was #2 after Glenn Miller #1. Consistently. The Dave Barbour Band isn't on Any List, about Anything, Anywhere. Look at Dave in the Barbour version, jeeeze! he's not having any fun neither, and his sleepy one note picked off the simple scale guitar playing and solos are tired, droopy, weak, like he's annoyed with the whole project. That huge oversized guitar was way too much guitar for the work he was doing. Way, waaayyy too much tool for the simple job. Everybody around him looks Grumpy! The Piano Player seemed like the only one with life in him but I felt like he was holding back from what he really wanted to paste onto them 88's. Peggy looks like she's just remembering she forgot to feed the dog before she left the house. The Benny version, when played off my 78 RPM's lights up the room and the people in it, and makes 'em smile and laugh and say things like "they don't play 'em like that anymore"... I can play it over and over on my 1959 Telefunken Verdi Phonograph/Radio console (awesomely made in W. Germany) forever and people get a Kick out of it... If I wanted to impress anybody with an old 78 RPM record, and try to Promote the Music of the Golden Era, (like I do!) and to keep it from dying, "Hands Down"! I'd play the Benny version, and No Way At All, for Any reason would I play that boring, Golden Era Killing, Dave Barbour lullabye. "Get outta here, Give me some money too"
I just think of my mother listening to this in 1942 after the most heavy German bombing in England. These musicians kept up morale for the Allies during WW2.
My mom played this when I was growing up in the 50's...I fell in love with this song...thank you for posting...it brought back such sweet memories, and hope Mom is enjoying this as I play this one for her! Benny and Peggy Lee rock!
Peggy Lee has written many songs during her career, but not this one. "Why Don't You Do Right" was written in 1936 by Kansas Joe McCoy, an American blues singer, musician, and songwriter. Peggy Lee recorded this version with Benny Goodman in 1942 on a 78 RPM record under the Columbia label. Julie London is among many singers who have also recorded the song in succeeding years. Julie's recording was included in the song lineup on Liberty Records' "Whatever Julie Wants" 33-1/3 RPM LP album in 1961. Kansas Joe McCoy died of heart disease in Chicago at the age of 44 in 1950.
Benny Goodman's elfin charm and brilliant musicianship, along with Peggy Lee's sweet voice and beauty made this wonderful song come alive! Wonderful clip!!
That's what defined the generation - the Depression and the War. People were united in solving problems, helping each other, and especially in winning the War!
A truly great piece of jazz composition sung by a truly great singer. Young Peggy Lee was a singer with not only a fabulous voice but matchless style. How could anybody not love this?.
I LOVE BENNY GOODMAN MY DAD HAD AN AWESOME COLLECTION OF BIG BANDS ... Benny had The moves, Some Wicked Rythem! ... I love his shimmy, while he plays !!! .... I love this soft swing Jazzy playful music with a real defined message of Do Right !!! ... Words are Powerful tools .... And This amazing Benny's Paying with his Licorice STICK! .. American jazz and classical clarinetist, and bandleader ...
I love the song... I always did. ☺ Women during the 40's to me were the main character. WWII was there yes. But women were the narrators of the story. 💅
"I knew I couldn't sing over them, so I decided to sing under them. The more noise they made the more softly I sang. When they discovered they couldn't hear me, they began to look at me. Then they began to listen. As I sang, I kept thinking, 'softly with feeling.' The noise dropped to a hum; the hum gave way to silence. I had learned how to reach and hold my audience -- softly, with feeling."Peggy Lee
A really smart girl to figure that out.
That's better than Hedy Lamarr who found out that "All a girl has to do to be glamours is just stand still and look stupid."
And it was hard for her to look stupid, as she was a co-inventor of spread-spectrum radio, had a patent, and several inventions.
Prettiest smack-down I ever saw.
Notice the super soft glance at here and there as if she singing just for you.... very brilliant. Perfect song forever
This was 1943 - Movie - Stage Door Canteen.My Dad was on 3rd alto. (Lenny Kaye)
Wow! That's Fantastic... I'm gonna go put Stage Door Canteen in my Netflix Queue right now. Thanks!
Bravo!
Your dad had an illustrious career, and you have every right to be proud!
Your dad had a fabulously long career in the music biz. Man the things he saw and arrangements he got to play. Wowzah!!! God bless Lenny!!
Bob Kaye, wow! You descend from musical history! Fantastic! I have always loved the sound of Benny's band.
Bob Kaye dope
Peggy was only about 22 years of age here, and already a solid pro! One of my favorite female singers for all time.
My mother sang with Peggy Lee on a local radio station in North Dakota. My mom was in college in Valley City. Mom was a couple years older than Peggy.
@@cheriebrantner5543 Wow that is so cool to be in a slice of history like that.
So sassy and alluring, besides being a great singer.
@@cheriebrantner5543that is so awesome
TWO VERSES OMITTED FROM THIS CLIP. LISTEN TO PEGGY SING ENTIRE SONG HERE: th-cam.com/video/4uTcw_A80Bo/w-d-xo.html
Peggy Lee at 23 years old.
Be still me heart. Gorgeous.
I believe she was 19
It is really great that this has over three million views. The good stuff never dies.
You got that right Gwyn
@@Laszlo-b8k Hi, Laszlo! I just released a new single on TH-cam. If you get a chance, check it out and let me know if you like it. Thanks! th-cam.com/video/P0OB94MRiE8/w-d-xo.html
Big potential in 1940s bars
@@AckzaTV I would have loved to tour with a big band in the '40s. I tour nursing homes today, singing the standards as opposed to my own songs. The audience's taste matters.
Thanks to Fallout :)
Our grandparents definitely had it goin' on back then, lol.
And we have access to Benny Peggy Mel Artie and Pharrell and I am so happy!
Most definitely
True
Of course, how else do you think our parents got here?
Benny looks like definitely agrees with you.
So shy, she looks at the camera just once. What a fresh, pretty face she was.
not many peeps see that,u r spot on
Peggy Lee puts Jessica Rabbit to shame.
She could express emotion without moving a muscle...never saw anyone who could do the same
I wonder what the directors/managers/tribesmen of Hollywood made her do to be a star...
Matt. She didn`t have to go thru that. Was spotted by Benny`s wife who advised him to sign her.
No one in 2023 can touch it.
God bless our predecessors x
2024 ❤
@@Henry-vu5sg Except maybe every respectful music artist within the Electro Swing community, like Caro Emerald 🤭
My dad's generation, but as a child of the 60's,,, I love this music.....Thanks dad...R.I.P.......
I'm with you
No auto-tune, no studio mixing, performed live and in one take. This is talent!!!
this is _skill_
I can enjoy "feeling" the 1940s in the speakers,
BUTT I don't think I'm being disrespectful wishing for
a digitally "cleaned up" version. Had I been present
in the room, I could have heard it "clean". B-)
No morons grabbing their own crotches with their pants half falling down and their hats on sideways!
You are so right, Mr. Judd, perhaps it should also be noted that Peggy Lee was an enchanting, alluring woman in addition to her talent as a singer.
Interestingly, I'm not sure it is one take. There are continuity errors between some cuts. Fantastic music though.
My 89 year old father just walked by me singing the first 2 lines of this song, so I asked him what it was, and here I am!
Is he still alive?
@@kelvinsurname7051 Seeing as the comment is 10 years old, I’m gonna say no.
Peggy Lee was one of the best Jazz singers of the 1940's. When the big band era was so popular.
John Baginski ' i wish i could find more
Billie Halliday was the best of the female jazz singers.
@@amysunnar9018 Anita O'Day & June Christy were wonderful, Ella Fitzgerald was very influential as was Sarah Vaughan, and Dinah Washington was very popular. Billie Holiday had great success in the '40s, and even her lesser-known songs are worth listening to. "Mandy Is Two" is a favorite of mine from this era (1942).
@@michaelmelen9062 ' wow' Thank you very much '
Yeah, she was good. I like this and her "Ain't We Got Fun" the best.. I like her version of AWGF better than Doris Day's. But the Andrews Sisters are still my favorite vocalists!
I was born in this era and it was such a good time to hear music and lyrics that you could sing. and it is refreshing to know that, in this generation, many of you have found the joy in such wonderful music.
The person who wrote this comment is likely dead now
Only because war...war never changes.
@@theironfox2756 *fallout theme plays*
I was gratefully raised by my father on the great Big Band Music, especially the great King of Swing Benny Goodman.
Me too!
I love how expressive Benny Goodman is. He looks so happy to be here, playing the clarinet and listening to Miss Peggy's heavenly voice.
You should read Peggy’s biography. Benny didn't like sharing the stage with singers. Especially, the female singers. He thought they should only do instrumentals but the crowds liked the singers and that made him dislike them even more. He would make Peggy practice the same songs for up to 15 hours. She said the time with his band was the worst time of her career and life, for that matter.
Strange to hear that. I thought that Benny Goodman was actually interested in her, from the way that he looked and admired her. She would have been way too young for him. @@stardustmelody2709
@@stardustmelody2709 Funny that you say that, because It looks like he likes her. Their eyes tell the story. But he is quite a bit older than her.
@@debra8883 stage presence. He was a professional, through and through.
So , from what my teacher passed down to me . Benny was a bit tipsy but always on point . Not sure if he had a drinking issue but he did mention in his younger years drinking a bit much . ❤ #PhilSobel
It almost shocks your ears to hear such a voice. So natural, so organic, and seemingly effortless.
I know. I’ve already watched on repeat about six times. Breathtaking.
No Autotune, no overdubs, no compression, and no overdubs.
Not even stereo...but wow!
Mechanical compression out the wazoo. The microphones back then squeezed the sound down by a lot.
Kacper Uminski especially on the lower end, I believe.
And no twerking :P
they called it hi-fi.
It's fairly unlikely that the performance and singing was recorded from what we see on screen.
So very grateful that this is still available. Love it. England, September, 2024.
I don't know how I got here but I'm glad I did..
Her voice, the clarinet, a masterpiece on its own. Amazing and lovely ❤️
My Mom turned me on to this when I was really little. She was such a huge fan of both Benny Goodman and Peggy Lee. Outstanding memories. They don't make 'em like this anymoore.
Peggy Lee just NAILS the vocal. One of my favorite songs from that era!
This was GREAT AMERICAN music. As a kid in my own country and listening to Big Band Music I used to day dream about what life would be like in an America that had such great Bands and music. Today, after 50 years in the U.S.A. I come to TH-cam to listen to the BEST American music ever. The Swing & Jazz of the 40's.
I've seen quite a few South Korean women cover the Andrew Sisters. Life back then was still oppressive for women & mixed ethnicities like mine. I appreciate the music & fashion, but I'm not dreaming for that culture.
Don't skip the 1920s! Just as great!
@@msjazzmeblues But we're talking about the Swing Era, which crossed between the late 30s and mid 40s 🙂 20s jazz is a great topic for a different video.
Love how quickly she got out of there like the cops were looking for her or something.
Valentin Spatariu I just read from the liner notes of the "Peggy Lee/Benny Goodman Recordings" cd where clearly admitted that at that time she was not at ease and very afraid to be in front of the audience.
Snake Straightener RUN BITCH! RUUUUUUN
Hahaha
If I was her, I would have been afraid Benny was going to get his paws on me. But he ended up marrying into the Vanderbilt family fortune.
She was just the "chirp" here for the band. But she got her wings and flew!
If I had a choice, I would've been a singer in their era rather than ours. These people had such class.
Trust me, you wouldn't...
@@unusualbydefault Why not? It could not have been any worse than what is going on now. I write and record music sans a set band. My musician friends drop into the studio and lay down tracks. Before you know it, it's a complete tune. Thanks for your reply and take care.
@@gwynnielsen5081 As much as I love the fashion and music, in reality there was as much dirt behind the scenes as there is today. Things looked glamorous on the surface, but Peggy likely dealt with incredible amounts of sexism that wouldn't fly with you at all. And that isn't touching the racism topic. If Judy Garland is a lesson in Hollywood abuse you hear about too late, there's always worse.
The 1940's Big Band sound was the first music I ever heard. My father had fought in WWII and my parents had these old vinyl records (which I still have BTW). I grew up at first only hearing this music. And though I love music of many decades, I still treasure this era the most.
My story is just the same. And then in my teens I grew up with Rock 'n' Roll, and I went on to learn and love other music genres, but I still love Big Band music, and I'm so grateful for my father raising me on this music.
She must have only been 22 here - wow! Such poise.
This was the youngest Peggy Lee I've seen on TH-cam. Not quite as sultry as when was was older, but she definitely 'had it' at this young age.
@@AndyZach She was 16 years old when Goodman's band made this film.
she was gorgeous!
@@588158 PEGGY LEE WAS A CUTIE.
I believe she was 19 or 20.
Wow, Benny Goodman could really blow that clarinet, and Peggy Lee is wonderful! I've played in a few orchestras, but I've never heard a clarinet like that, just like I had never heard a trumpet like Harry James nor a sax player like Houston Person! There were some truly great musicians back then!! Peggy Lee has been a long-time favorite of mine, sultry and sexy voice, and pretty to boot!
I love it when veteran musicians comment on these performances!
don't forget Gene Krupa fantastic drummer who seems like has his habit well have fun and literally fires the music!
Yes, wasn't this delightful.
There is no one that you've spoken of who isn't spectacular... but this is black derived and black-inflected music and this is the 40's! Have you heard Basie and Ellington and the countless black Big Bands playing at all the black venues around the country? It was a parade of Pre-, During, and Post- War extraordinary individual and ensemble musicians. I'm guessing you haven't or you wouldn't find it so easy to make summary, superlative judgments. Of course, Peggy Lee is incomparable ... but so were Lena and Billie and Ella, fronting bands and singing the hell out of the music in the same period. Thank God for vinyl and libraries.
Houston Person?! He's still alive and still playing!
Benny with his jazzing shoulders..his light fingered fabulous touch..and the fabulous Miss Peggy Lee with the song that brought her to fame..or should I say Flame!! Wow..listen to that claro soar..the wonderful timing..the altos..and baritone sax..trumpets...troms...b....h...What more could a jazz lover want!!. Swing it Benny Swing!!!1
In that session BG had not a Baritone Sax but a Bass Sax (Adrian Rollini?)
Her control over her own voice is incredible
Jazz shouldders like Marian Hutton.
@@garyfrancis6193 From Kalamazoo or not, she was "a real pip~aroo!"
Benny here in this one must be the coolest cat I have ever seen.
Marvelous. What a sound. Unbeatable.😊
My father was born in 1909... and he asbolutely LOVED Peggy Lee... he always said that in the early 40s "the boys" all thought Lee was "the most sultry and sexy singer going"... those GI's aren't shouting for Goodman :)))
And the way she holds the word "do" at the close of those lines creating that tonality, well, in terms of musicality, just incredible...
P
Patrick Kehoe :)
So true every word you said.
I wouldn't kick her out of bed that's for sure, both are babe's
Your father lived a great life!
So you born in 1940 right?
Man, I just want someone to look at me the way Benny looks at Peggy... :P
I look at my girl everyday just like Benny looks at Peggy, but it's called love. Lust got lost along the way, but lust pops with good DVDs.
Josh C I just watched it again but I saw Benny and died of laughter
Josh C Lol
Natch, he was just admiring her vocal skills ;)
The thing is, the game was rigged from the start.
Peggy Lee, born as Norma Deloris Egstrom, in the small city of Jamestown, North Dakota. Grew up in the very tiny town of Wimbledon, North Dakota. There is a Peggy Lee museum in Wimbledon these days.
She was so animated and didn't have to move. The Blues were never sexier!
There are so many singes who wave their hands and bob and gyrate their bodies. Peggy doesn't need to do those things. She sings with just her smile and her facial expressions; the listeners are transfixed No one does it better.
What I like about this performance, in addition to the music and singing, is the number of smiles.
Peggy is smiling as she walks to the microphone.
The guitar player just behind them smiles.
Benny smiles as he launches into his solo, during which, the drummer smiles and looks at the trumpet player who smiles. I count five.
And I notice that I am smiling too.
The rest of the guys are playing horns, so they can't smile. But it comes out in their music anyway.
The guy on the bass fiddle. I don't see him smiling. Then again, the video is kind of blurry. Besides which, it's obvious he is having a whale of a time and probably thinking about how glad he is that he quit that factory job in Des Moines, if indeed, there were any factory jobs in Des Moines at the time.
Who'd 've thunk? Something that entertains, and makes you feel good at the same time.
You don't see much of that these days. Makes me feel like we might have lost something.
You're right. I watched it again and then I started smiling too.
We Have lost something . . . . more and more every day!
You're right
The guitar player is her first husband, Dave Barbour.
I noticed the same thing, and I was smiling all along!
This IS the best rendition of this song. Benny Goodman, he was so cool. Just look at the way he grooves to the rhythm.
So sad that this wonderful music is not popular anymore, but I'll always love it!! thanks for sharing!
IT IS popular, you can see by Reading lovely comments🌺🌺🌺
My mother shared it with me, I share it with mine. Don't you worry
I was gratefully raised on this great music, and then I grew through my teens in the sixties on rock 'n' roll, and went on to learn and love other genres. I am disappointed that young people generally don't know about big band music and surprised that many don't even know about rock 'n' roll music. But hopefully TH-cam will continue to introduce more people to these great genres of music. 🎶
I'm listening to day( 9-5-2024), i like it 👍🌹🌹❤️❤️
I noticed at the end that subconsciously my foot had been tapping through the whole song -- awwww -- the Big Band era, before my time but great music lasts an eternity!
Hello Julie, How are you doing?
Oh how far we have strayed from this fantastic type of music...
nailed it
Amen!
Check ou the videos by Sant Andreu Jazz Band.
the beginning of this song was used as a sample in the song “Benny Goodman” by saint motel
Incredible still
Hey itsblitzzz, didn’t expect to see you here, love your channel!
LOVE THE SONG
true definition of a master piece, time has no effect on it.
J adore :-))! 🥂
Some of these women vocalist need to be watched.
So unassuming in stage presence yet commanding in vocal style and delivery, Miss Peggy Lee, truly a singer without equal.We are seeing her in one of her earliest performances. She had that ineffable something that was to see her remain widely popular for decades to come. And that song! She made it an American standard that has ensured it continues to be covered with its biting lyrics packing quite a punch nearly 80 years on : A woman giving that no-good man of hers a dressing down with an exhortation that he mend his ways and 'do right'. Love the line: "Get out of here/and get me some money too". Not a song for the pure romantic - and all the better for it. Thank you Peggy for the memories. Long may you win new fans who chance upon you on TH-cam.
Well said...
I have thought all of these things many timed while listening to this
I can't stop watching this, it keeps popping up! Men inspire women, but boy do women inspire men!!!
She had a golden voice. Stunning.. ❤❤❤
Black blues genius Lil Green made this record in 1941. When Peggy was with Benny Goodman she would play this over and over in her dressing room. Benny finally said she must like it and he would make an arrangement for her. It was not only a million seller but the key record in which Peggy Lie established her sultry style.
So, basically, what you are saying is, that Peggy Lee copied Lil Green, so credit should go to Green for everything that Peggy Lee did. LOL. I've grown sick of hearing this crap. If it isn't one white performer, it's another being spit on in this way. Peggy simply liked the song, "Why Don't You Do Right", but I've never read anything written prior to all this revision b/s where Peggy said that she copied Lil Green, which nobody really knew. Peggy Lee had her own style, she did not copy anyone else. Her liking a song and recording her own version of it, does not mean she somehow idolized the person who may have recorded the song first or copied this person's way of singing.
No, that isn't what poetcomic1 said at all. That's just what you reinterpreted him as saying as a pretext for going off on your own polemic, which is reactionary, at best.
Have you heard Lil Green's version? Perfectly nice blues, not much more. Peggy is a genius. 90% of being a singing genius is knowing what to sing and how to swing it and Miss Lee did.
A guy called Gramophonedzie, in about 2009, did a house mix of this, sampling the 1942 studio recording. It went down real well with the youngsters at the clubs. He called it "Why Don't You?".
@@jeanhodgson8623 Just gave it a view...he almost had a nice electro swing version going, but the video was a bit silly and the staccato bump bump bump got old....he should have just used that to push into the song. I'm thinking Swingrowers or somebody should take it on.
Born in 1980, I am currently restoring a 1946 DeSoto Custom and I love listening to music of the era when bringing these classics back to life. Knowing that everyone in the video is long gone makes me wistful, an era that once was is now nothing but a memory. God what I wouldn't give to have experienced this place in our history. :'(
I love how she steps aside for the clarinet so he can just blast that solo in their faces haaha
Can't stop watching this, it's mesmerising.
My dad loved Peggy Lee. I wonder why.
Listen I'm only 4 months old but I'm wise beyond my years plus I've been eating strained veggies since birth that dame wears the songs she sings.
"that dame wears the songs she sings"
Ha! I Love that!
Straight out of Raymond Chandler
gregory sullivan h
no one cares how old you are maan
I am an embryo but I really like this kind of music.
Look at Benny Goodman grooving continuously to the music :))
I love all kinds of music from different eras, but I believe that the music of the Big Band era represents the peak of American popular music.
I share your opinion. Popular music was GOOD and Good music was popular. We haven't had much of that lately have we?
Migod she was brilliant. She’s one of those great artist that doesn’t look like she’s doing anything, until you realize, that you’re crying, laughing, swinging with it.
I was born in 1942 the year this was recorded. As a toddler I heard and appreciated the last of the forties music. I was there for the duller fifties.
I love how he kept his eyes on her as she sang, even as he transitioned into playing his clarinet mid song.
Man oh man i could've listen & watch for another 1 hour easily
Benny Goodman had rhythm, just look at his sway
Peggy Lee was gorgeous singing Doll I love hearing her "Love Letters"...exquisite
Way before my time but that's the beauty of music / arts / media is archived & available
Hot Cats
Good post
What a wonderpil world
The BEST JAZZ BAND EVER! Young Peggy Lee, what a knock out!
She was smooth as silk and sexy to the full.
I was gratefully raised by my father on the great Big Band music and his favorite was Benny Goodman. And then I grew up in my teens on Rock 'n' Roll music and my favorite group is the Righteous Brothers. Peggy Lee and the Righteous Brothers performed "Yes, Indeed!" on The Ed Sullivan Show in 1965 but I didn't see it until a couple of years ago when I got a cellphone. It's wonderful to have great music and the technology to preserve, learn about, and enjoy it. 🎶
The original and still best version of this song. Peggy in her prime and that Benny Goodman solo is to die for. He almost makes the clarinet wail and cry. Amazing.
My favorite version
Not the original (that would be th-cam.com/video/oavQY5V0xpg/w-d-xo.html), but still a treat!
@@hanslub3180 This was the original performance of the song sung by Peggy Lee at the Canteen.
@@vickib3981this is NOT the original. The original was sung by Lil Green and is much better than Peggy Lee’s version.
I am so grateful for this recording. Now I know why my dad had a crush on Peggy Lee. He served in Guam, Saipan and Iwo Jima.
Brilliant performance from the band, the soloist and the singer.
She was so young, such a pure voice & beautiful delivery. But fast forward a few years to her performing this with the much jazzier Dave Barbour. Slower, sly, playful & utterly cool, she smoulders at the same time. Her delivery & the instrumental bridges are to die for. If you haven't heard the other version you are truly missing out. Mix yourself a Manhattan, turn down the lights & hang on. She & the quartet totally nail it.
masterpiece
So wonderful to hear a special, unique voice with quality tone. I love this.
Benny Goodman was my neighbor in the 70's near my eastside NY apartment. he was brilliant and a kind musician and Ms Lee yeah
Ha, ha! Benny was a superb clarinet player, and had the best dance band, but he was anything but kind. He was a real martinet to work for, as, also, was Tommy Dorsey.
Wonderful lovely combination Benny and the sultry voice of Peggy Lee you can't bet it,
Hello Sanita, How are you doing?
Her body language is so superior. She is clearly in charge. For that time, something new. Even though she had to step back, because Benni had to show off his clarinet skills, she clearly stole the show.
Myself and is already almost 2020 and I love to listen to there instrument and singing.. Those are my parent they called it the olden days song and dancing..Such a beautiful thing..
Hello, How are you doing?
This lady was singing with Benny Goodman when she was 21 years old. Puts us millennials all to shame.
I Love this word and can't wait to use it: "millennials". I like what you had to say about Peggy as well. Thanks.
@@demetrios4699 Day of the Pillow soon, Boomer.
@@John-Adams All hail the gen z overlords
Just no words...masterpiece
Роман Иванов goodman's last performance,80 yrs.old?] the 3 n.y. newspaper reviewers all agreed to write a one word review....in giant letters ''MASTERFULL'' he died soon after i think. how many great bands would have a teenager fronting his band? ask lional hampton. anyway he lost peggy lee because goodman had a strict rule no fratenrization amoungst the band members. well peggy lee fell in love with the guitar player in vid. and goodman fired them. both, left i'm sure befor the ax. everyone wanted to play w goodman. they say he practiced 3 hrs. a day his whole life. listen to luis armstrong talk of goodman.
One of my favourite Peggy Lee pieces.
Mne too, masterpiece.
My grandmother was a singer and had the sheet music for this song that’s come to me. Hearing it sung is a fun surprise.
Absolutely wonderful ! My new favourite record is 78 years old !
Try and find talent like that today not a chance , when music was music
Hello Carole, How are you doing?
ah... you gotta try a bit harder and not focus on MTV?
lot's of very talented people doing great stuff. Just not in X Factor and such
I don't even like big band especially. But the artistry here transcends boundaries. Simply wonderful.
I Love Peggy Lee... and I believe she swings it Best with Benny. Look at Benny's moves... Ha! I get such a kick out of him. This is one of my All Time Favorite 78s. No visitor ever leaves my home without hearing it. This "stuff" will never be reproduced. Thanks for the post.
Thanks for introducing me to that Dave Barbour version. But It seemed like Peggy was getting as bored and sleepy as I was while struggling to get through it. You could see it, Especially in the shots where she's looking over toward Dave, looking like she couldn't wait for him to finish his anemic, lack-of-creative-spark solo bit. I always felt that music after '49 really began to go down the toilet.
By the way, before I forget, The camera work in this film was just above High School kid, amateur, and they mostly focused above her waist, or breast... and it seemed they only had limited movement or positioning of their equpment, or maybe because there wasn't anything worth filming... in fact, there was hardly any movement from Anybody! NO One Even Cracked a Smile, except for Peggy. Maybe because she knew she was getting paid for it anyway. There was no "Swing" or Life to any of this number at all. It's was more like some Bohemian bar scene than a Live Performance.
Look at this "Benny" number, Benny, Peggy, the Band, and the Audience are Swingin' Happy Cats! Any person with Any Life and/or Rhythm is going to have Fun with Benny's number... JUST Look at Benny! He IS the Quintessential Band Leader, Leading the whole Swinging Mess!
Maybe that's why Benny Goodman is known as The KING OF SWING! And, You can see in Peggy's body language and hear it in her voice, that she agrees and is adoring her Fun with Him too.
On a List of Top Ten Big Bands of All Time, where Votes came from Real Swing Loving, Band Knowing, People, Consistently, between the Top 2 Bands, The Benny Goodman Orchestra was #2 after Glenn Miller #1. Consistently.
The Dave Barbour Band isn't on Any List, about Anything, Anywhere.
Look at Dave in the Barbour version, jeeeze! he's not having any fun neither, and his sleepy one note picked off the simple scale guitar playing and solos are tired, droopy, weak, like he's annoyed with the whole project. That huge oversized guitar was way too much guitar for the work he was doing. Way, waaayyy too much tool for the simple job.
Everybody around him looks Grumpy! The Piano Player seemed like the only one with life in him but I felt like he was holding back from what he really wanted to paste onto them 88's. Peggy looks like she's just remembering she forgot to feed the dog before she left the house.
The Benny version, when played off my 78 RPM's lights up the room and the people in it, and makes 'em smile and laugh and say things like "they don't play 'em like that anymore"... I can play it over and over on my 1959 Telefunken Verdi Phonograph/Radio console (awesomely made in W. Germany) forever and people get a Kick out of it...
If I wanted to impress anybody with an old 78 RPM record, and try to Promote the Music of the Golden Era, (like I do!) and to keep it from dying, "Hands Down"! I'd play the Benny version, and No Way At All, for Any reason would I play that boring, Golden Era Killing, Dave Barbour lullabye.
"Get outta here, Give me some money too"
@@ClassyOldMusic 👍
I just think of my mother listening to this in 1942 after the most heavy German bombing in England. These musicians kept up morale for the Allies during WW2.
Preciosa P Leé y excelente Orquesta de Benny Goodman !❤ Encanta !
Oh man, this Benny guy really knew how to swing it!! He's the King!
My mom played this when I was growing up in the 50's...I fell in love with this song...thank you for posting...it brought back such sweet memories, and hope Mom is enjoying this as I play this one for her! Benny and Peggy Lee rock!
Жаль, что такие таланты тоже умирают. Но в своих песнях Пегги Ли будет жить вечно.
Peggy Lee has written many songs during her career, but not this one. "Why Don't You Do Right" was written in 1936 by Kansas Joe McCoy, an American blues singer, musician, and songwriter. Peggy Lee recorded this version with Benny Goodman in 1942 on a 78 RPM record under the Columbia label. Julie London is among many singers who have also recorded the song in succeeding years. Julie's recording was included in the song lineup on Liberty Records' "Whatever Julie Wants" 33-1/3 RPM LP album in 1961. Kansas Joe McCoy died of heart disease in Chicago at the age of 44 in 1950.
Was fortunate to have enjoyed this magical period of music and increditably thought it would always be.
Always have and always will love Benny Goodman. Peggy Lee has an amazing voice.
Benny Goodman's elfin charm and brilliant musicianship, along with Peggy Lee's sweet voice and beauty made this wonderful song come alive! Wonderful clip!!
Une voix douce. Une gueule d’ange et un sourire.........diabolique.
Just love how Benny Goodman looks at Peggy like a little boy looks at a piece of candy.☺️
I loved seeing Benny enjoying her and band.
Oh the coolness in this clip.
The 30's 40's and 50's. The best decades in my view.
Except the war and the depression of course.
That's what defined the generation - the Depression and the War. People were united in solving problems, helping each other, and especially in winning the War!
yeah baby!
@@peace-yv4qd And racism.
JonEccentric are you so sure it’s any better today? Yes, legally it is, but it seems we are more racially divided now than we’ve ever been.
Peggy Lee, one of the Best Voices to come out of that era . . . . and there are so many to choose from.
Classic and legendary music. Thank you Peggy and Benny. You live for ever.
I always loved that voice and her too!!
It's still strange to me that a clarinet player would be the leader of an orchestra. What a different world we've had for the past 70 years.
Incredible performance by Peggy Lee and a pretty job by Benny Goodman on the clarinet.
A truly great piece of jazz composition sung by a truly great singer. Young Peggy Lee was a singer with not only a fabulous voice but matchless style. How could anybody not love this?.
I LOVE BENNY GOODMAN MY DAD HAD AN AWESOME COLLECTION OF BIG BANDS ...
Benny had The moves, Some Wicked Rythem! ... I love his shimmy, while he plays !!! ....
I love this soft swing Jazzy playful music with a real defined message of Do Right !!! ...
Words are Powerful tools .... And This amazing Benny's Paying with his Licorice STICK! ..
American jazz and classical clarinetist, and bandleader ...
I love her🥰 Its fun to imagine her on the Voice today 💓
~~~ You know I remember seeing Benny Goodman play in a small place when I was in the service.. That was a good night it was....
I'm always in awe of really good musicians. Love that 1940s big band sound.
Hello Jean, how are you doing?
I love the song... I always did. ☺ Women during the 40's to me were the main character. WWII was there yes. But women were the narrators of the story. 💅