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SPOTLIGHT ON THE GINGER SNAPS
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"The Shrimp Man"/ |
"Juke Box Joe"/ |
"I Left My Heart In Mississippi"/ |
"There's A Big Rock In The Road"/ |
"Low Down River Blues"/ |
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Above: The Ginger Snaps from the 10/27/45 issue of Billboard, (Top L-R) Leona Hemingway, Ethel Harper, (Bottom L-R) Charles Ford, and Ruth Christian.Click HERE for an article about The Ginger Snaps by Marv Goldberg.
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[From Morning Herald, Uniontown, PA, dated 10/28/46.] |
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EXTRA AUDIO (Windows Media Player):
"Muddy Water" was recorded in mid-1945, but not released until January 1947. Both of The Ginger Snaps' two records on the University label were issued at the same time. The Billboard, September 15, 1945: Two New Firms Try Disking Biz, HOLLYWOOD, Sept. 10— ....The other new disk outfit is headed by Jimmie Richards, the band leader. Richards has a duo deal whereas his record firm will push tunes of his newly formed BMI publishing house. Both the recording and publishing outfits are called University. Richards has already recorded a batch of stuff by Red Nichols' band, the teenagers ork from Hoagy Carmichael's radio show, the Ginger Snaps and by his own Southerners crew....
The Billboard, September 29, 1945: Coinmatic To Handle Distrib On Uni Disks, HOLLYWOOD, Sept. 22—University Records, headed by Jimmie Richards, has named Coinmatic Distributors its national distributors. Recording company will issue a full line of records of popular, ballad, fox trot, blues and race tunes. University is readying releases by Teen Agers Orchestra, Red Nichols And His Five Pennies, the Ginger Snaps, Jimmie Richards And His Southerners, Ted Madison, Penny Parker, and Kay Kotten.
The Billboard, November 17, 1945: RCA VICTOR PLANS, HOLLYWOOD, Nov. 12— ....On the Ginger Snaps, their deal with University Records was prior to their signing with RCA Victor and was only for four sides. However, if Victor doesn't come out with Ginger Snaps "sides within a reasonable length of time," their paper is nixed... and University is said to be plenty interested in having them disk some more....
Listen to "Muddy Water" - The Ginger Snaps - University K509 - 1947.
Listen to "You've Got My Heart" - The Ginger Snaps - University K509 - 1947.
Above: Still shots from the 1943 Ginger Snaps Soundie "Keep Smiling" (L-R) Ethel Harper, Ruth Christian, Charles Ford, and Leona Hemingway. This is the first of three of their Soundies, all issued in 1943. Click HERE for John Kirby And Orchestra's 1942 version of "Keep Smilin' (Keep Laughin', Be Happy)" on Victor Records.
Listen to "Keep Smiling" - The Ginger Snaps - Soundie - 1943.
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In 1944, the Ginger Snaps appeared on the G.I. Journal Radio Show, hosted by George Burns and Gracie Allen, to sing "The Shrimp Man."
Listen to "The Shrimp Man" - The Ginger Snaps - G.I. Journal Radio Show - 1944.
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[Recording and release dates are from Ferdie Gonzalez' Disco-File.]
The Billboard, May 8, 1943: The Ginger Snaps (Reviewed at Hopkins Rathskeller, PA), sepia foursome, are composed of a girl trio and a male member at the piano. The gals, all lookers, can sing individually and collectively. Arrangements are all geared along the highly rhythmic lines, yet remain highly commercial and do not violate the inherent melody of the songs. Voices blend well, with the piano adding a fourth part harmony in parts. Gals have plenty of polish in their pipes and singing style, running the gamut from boogie woogie to the soft and sentimental ballad favorites. In addition to the high quality of their voices, gals have plenty on the ball when it comes to showmanship and appearance. Gals include Ethel Harper, Leona Hemingway and Ruth Christian, with Charles Ford a potent piano pounder. Will add class to the smarter spots.
The Billboard, July 27, 1946: Don Metz Club Casino, Pittsburgh
Strongest turn seen in a Pittsburgh nitery this year is on tap at Metz's. They are three gals (with an accompanist) who call themselves the Ginger Snaps. Played this same spot last year and are back in for three times the dough and certainly worth it.
Outfit opened with I'm Gonna Love That Guy and followed with There You Are and Amen, which had the whole room rocking with applause. Gals couldn't beg off so they just stayed on for about 30 minutes with every song receiving a terrific mitt. The Ginger Snaps have just returned from the coast where they tested for 20th Century-Fox and are now waxing on Victor records. All have striking appearance, wear smart wardrobe and click solidly.The Billboard Review (11/3/45):
THE GINGER SNAPS - VICTOR 20-1735....
Tico Tico/The Shrimp Man—Familiar voices along musical bar and nitery lanes, the Ginger Snaps, Negro foursome of three gals and a guy, make their bow on platters an attention-rater. With a fine flair for the rhythm harmony singing and possessing good voices obviously well tutored, the quartet blends its pipings in a highly acceptable commercial style, altho their choice of chants leaves much to be desired. For "Tico Tico," the Ginger Snaps lose much of the song's flavor when setting it in a forthright rhythmic pattern. "The Shrimp Man" is a song specialty—a Dixie street song of the shrimp-selling man. Nonetheless, their harmonies, heightened by the Russell Case musical backgrounds, make for pleasant platter spinning even if it never reaches any exciting pitch. Either of these sides are worth a test spin in the music boxes, their singing providing a nickel's worth.
(NOTE: As shown on the label, they are backed by the James Mundy Orchestra, not Russell Case.)The Billboard Review (11/2/46):
THE GINGER SNAPS - VICTOR 20-1960....
I Left My Heart In Mississppi/Too Many Irons In The Fire—There is nothing in the vocal blend or harmonizing style of this fem foursome that makes for any attraction on the waxes. Totally lacking in color and expression, particularly since their harmonies are close. The Ginger Snaps stagger along for a lively tempoed "Mississippi," contrasting the slow ballad with the bright rhythm tempo for "Irons In The Fire." Studio band provides toe-tapping support, but no zing in the sing.
(NOTE: So is it "lively tempoed" or "slow ballad"?)The Billboard Review (3/29/47):
THE GINGER SNAPS - VICTOR 20-2170....
There's A Big Rock In The Road/Turnpike Turn—No distinction in the rhythmic blend of these female voices, with their singing and styling leaving much to be desired for any sort of disking. Moreover, the selections are entirely out of character for their chanting. "Big Rock" is Fred Rose's hillbilly spiritual and "Turnpike Turn" is also from the Western folios. Spin both at a lively pace with full studio orchestra accompanying. Nothing in this needling to attract.
Listen to this week's selections featuring The Ginger Snaps:
[Audio restoration by Dave Saviet.]
