V-Discs

V-Discs Louis Jordan his his Tympani Five, 1943 -1945

       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 Louis Jordan and his Tympani Five, 1943 - 1945 feature selections by the bouncy saxophonist/vocalist and Rhythm & Blues pioneer from special V-Disc recording sessions

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

Track  selections: I'm Gonna Move To The Outskirts Of Town, I've Found A New Baby, Is You Is Or Is You Ain't My Baby, Knock Me A Kiss, Five Guys Named Moe, Jumpin' At The Jubilee, You Can't Get That No More, The End Of My Worry, Deacon Jones, I Like 'Em Fat Like That, How High Am I?, Hey Now, Let's Live, Bahama Joe, Nobody But Me.

V-Discs Louis Jordan and his Tympani Five, 1943 - 1945 is $10 plus $2.50 shipping and handling. To order, send e-mail to jazzconnection@hotmail.com  

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