Gene Krupa

 

"Murder," He Says

Gene Krupa

Photograph: Robert Parent

Colombia Records CL 753

1955

From the back cover: Gene's bands were always noted for their drive and enthusiasm, and they invariably had fine soloists and section men as well. This collection concentrates primarily on the period when Anita O'Day sang with the band, including the time when Roy Eldridge was blowing trumpet.

Anita O'Day's vocals were something special in that period of the Krupa band. She was pretty much in a class by herself as a band singer at that time; her energy and inventiveness communicated songs were off-beat novelties, often with jazz "hip talk" as their foundation. She even had a song without words (for most of the lyric, anyway) written especially for her by Kay and Sue Warner: That's What You Think.

However, it was in recordings like Let Me Off Uptown that Anita (in collaboration, in this and other performances with Roy Eldridge) helped popularize jazz slanguage. Kids of the day (1941) knew what you were talking about tif you said, "Blow-ho, Roy!" And if you had to ask where uptown is, you were tabbed as a square (This still goes!).

After You've Gone

"Murder," He Says

Tuxedo Junction

Drum Boogie

Disc Jockey Jump

Massachusetts

Let Me Off Uptown

Slow Down

Boogie Blues

That's What You Think

Knock Me A Kiss

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