V-Discs

V-Discs, Volume III

       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 Volume III feature selections by the bands of Boyd Raeburn, Count Basie, Duke Ellington, Les Brown (with Doris Day), Woody Herman, Lionel Hampton, and Bob Crosby.

Also featured are singers Jo Stafford, Ella Fitzgerald, Martha Tilton singing with Bob Crosby, and some sides by Bill Heathcock leading a studio band that included tenor saxophonist Bobby Dukoff, and his wife, singer Anita Boyer.

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

Track  selections: Late At Night, My Silent Love, P.S. I Love You, You're Not The Kind, Pack Up Your Troubles In Your Old Kit Bag, Tippin' On The Q. T., It Don't Mean A Thing, One Sweet Letter From You, Sweethearts On Parade, Dancing In The Dawn, Floatin', Deevil, Devil, Divil, Tone Poem By George Handy, I'll Always Be In Love With You, A-Tisket, A-Tasket, Baby, Won't You Please Come Home, Blue Moon. 

V-Discs, Volume III is $10 plus $2.50 shipping and handling. To order, send e-mail to jazzconnection@hotmail.com  

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