The bandleader had for some time included Bob Crosby-style big-band Dixieland in his book, probably in an attempt to recognize the popularity of the Dixieland revival that began in the 1940s. That movement had room for such rediscovered musicians as Kid Ory and George Lewis, as well as the Chicago school of Bud Freeman and others and such revivalist bands as Turk Murphy.
Anthony himself has a credible Dixie solo on the first tune, "Darktown Strutters' Ball," with phrasing reminiscent of Louis Armstrong and Bobby Hackett. "When the Saints Go Marching In" adopts a quasi-live ambiance most likely created in the studio with a dubbed-in audience. Anthony himself leads the singing - or, more accurately, shouting - of the lyrics.
While bands such as Anthony's tried to co-opt the Dixieland style, the musicians also tended to look down on Dixieland ensembles, so they tended to kid the Dixie style at the same time as they tried to capitalize on its popularity. This can be heard on "Spaghetti Rag," where pianist Eddie Ryan uses what sounds like a tack piano, which is associated with the corniest versions of the style, later giving rise to such phenomena as "Crazy Otto" and his ilk, with the bowler hats and sleeve garters. Yikes.
Anthony would go on to record an entire Big Band Dixieland LP in 1955, including a remake of the "When the Saints Go Marching In."
This EP is a companion to a post on my main blog of Anthony's 1951 LP Houseparty Hop.
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| "Thanks, Fred, for congratulations" (?) - a 1954 Billboard ad |
