V-Discs

V-Discs, Volume V

       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 V feature selections by the bands of Major Glenn Miller's AAFTC Band, Eddy Howard, Johnny Bothwell, Harry Cool, Tommy Dorsey with Al Jolson, and Freddy Martin with the Four King Sisters.

Also featured are "Der Bingel"  -  Bing Crosby with Eddy Duchin and John Scott Trotter's orchestra, the Les Paul Trio, the Mills Brothers, Betty Hutton, Andy Russell, and Patsy Kelly.

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

Track  selections: Songs My Mother Taught Me, Why Do I Love You?, Sweet Georgia Brown, 'Way Down Yonder In New Orleans, April Showers, Call Me Darling, Call Me Sweetheart, Call Me Dear, Yah-Ta-Ta, Yah-Ta-Ta, Till Then, Lazy River, I'm Gonna Hang My Hat On A Tree In Brooklyn, Deery Derry Dum, Just The Other Day, My Old Flame, From The Land Of The Sky Blue Water, Spring Will Be A Little Late This Year, You're The Dream, I'm The Dreamer, Negra Consentida, Stuff Like That There, In The land Of Beginning Again, Let It Snow!, Shoo-Fly Pie, Back To Donegal, One More Dream, Sioux City Sue.

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

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