V-Discs

V-Discs Charlie Barnet and his Orchestra 1994

       V-Disc was a record label produced during the World War II era by special arrangement between the United States government and various private U.S. record companies. The records were produced for use of United States military personnel overseas. 

Many popular singers, big bands and orchestra of the era recorded special V-Disc records. These 12-inch, 78 rpm gramophone recordings were created between 1943 and 1949. The "V" stands for "Victory."

The V-Disc project actually began in June 1941, as a way to improve moral. By 1942, the Armed Forces Radio Service (AFRS) sent 16-inch, 33 rpm shellac transcription discs to troops. Meanwhile, the American Federation of Musicians, under the leadership of James Caesar Petrillo, were involved in a major recording strike against the four major record companies.

Thanks to the efforts of Lieutenant George Robert Vincent, on Oct. 27, 1943, Vincent convinced Petrillo to allow his union musicians to record sides for the military, as long as the records were not offered for purchase in the United States. From that moment on, artists who wanted to record now had an outlet for their productivity  -  as well as a guaranteed, receptive, enthusiastic worldwide audience of soldiers and sailors.

The collected V-Disc recordings on Charlie Barnet and his Orchestra 1944 feature selections by the pulsating saxophonist from transcription recordings from 1941 and radio broadcasts from 1942 and 1944 that eventually were pressed on to V-Discs.

Also featured are three selections by Barnet's female band vocalist, Kay Starr.

V-Disc recordings are rare and offer a unique musical retrospective of the American home front during World War II.

Track  selections: Uptown Blues, Caravan, Cotton Tail, Washington Whirlagig, Redskin Rhumba, Pompton Turnpike, Sharecroppin' Blues, Smiles, Nobody Knows The Trouble I've Seen, I Can't Get Started, I Like To Riff, Keep The Home Fires Burning.

V-Discs Charlie Barnet and his Orchestra 1944 is $10 plus $2.50 shipping and handling. To order, send e-mail to jazzconnection@hotmail.com  

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