The Boswell Sisters: Collection, Vol.1 (1931-32)

Definitely the most talented and arguably the all-around best jazz vocal group of all time, the Boswell Sisters parlayed their New Orleans upbringing into a swinging delivery that featured not only impossibly close harmonies, but countless maneuvers of vocal gymnastics rarely equalled on record. Connee, Vet and Martha Boswell grew up singing together, soaking up Southern gospel and blues through close contact with the black community. They first performed at vaudeville houses around the New Orleans area, and began appearing on local radio by 1925. At first, they played strictly instrumentals, with Connee on cello, saxophone and guitar; Martha on piano and Vet on violin, banjo, and guitar. The station began featuring them in a vocal setting as well, with Connee taking the lead on many songs (despite a childhood accident that had crippled her and left her in a wheelchair). Word of their incredible vocal talents led to appearances in Chicago and New York, and the Boswell Sisters began recording in 1930 for Victor. By the following year, they'd moved to Brunswick and reached the Hit Parade with ‘When I Take My Sugar to Tea,’ taken from the Marx Brothers' film Monkey Business and featuring the Dorsey Brothers Orchestra in support. The trio continued to work with many of the best jazzmen in the field, and appeared in the 1932 film extravaganza The Big Broadcast with Bing Crosby and Cab Calloway. The Boswell Sisters hit the top of the Hit Parade only once, in 1935, with ‘The Object of My Affection’ from the film Times Square Lady. One year later however, both Martha and Vet retired from the group in favor of married life. Connee had already made a few solo sides for Brunswick as early as 1932, and continued recording into the '60s. This fantastic collection reissues, complete and in chronological order, 24 of the Boswells finest performances. With a supporting cast frequently including trumpeters Bunny Berigan and Manny Klein, trombonist Tommy Dorsey, and clarinetist Jimmy Dorsey, the sisters are heard at their best throughout this consistently exciting set. Highlights include ‘Roll on Mississippi, Roll On,’ ‘Shine on, Harvest Moon,’ ‘River Stay 'Way from My Door,’ 'Everybody Loves My Baby', 'I Found A Million Dollar Baby (In A Five And Ten Cent Store)', 'Shout, Sister Shout', 'An Evening In Caroline', 'What Does the Human Being to Do?', 'It's the Girl', 'Makin' Faces at the Man in the Moon', 'River, Stay Way From My Door', 'I Can't Write the Words', and ‘Put That Sun Back in the Sky’ . http://www.allmusic.com/
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Connie, Martha and Vet in a movie version (filmed for "The Big Broadcast") of one of their earliest commercial recordings, 'Heebie Jeebies':

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The Boswells singing 'Crazy People':