THE VOCAL GROUP HARMONY WEB SITE

(Week of 4/26/03 - 5/2/03)

SPOTLIGHT ON BABS AND HER BROTHERS/THE SMOOTHIES... PART TWO!

"A Little Bit Independent"
by Babs And Her Brothers
on Decca 634 A
released in 1936 "Double Trouble"
by Babs And Her Brothers
on Decca 518 B
released in 1935 "Let's Swing It"
by Babs And Her Brothers
on Decca 505 A
released in 1935

Sheet Music-Playmates-Smoothies Close-up Of One Brother Close-up Of Babs Close-up Of Other Brother

Above: Cover of sheet music for "Playmates" featured by Hal Kemp And The Smoothies (originally known as Babs And Her Brothers). Hal Kemp was an orchestra leader. This song was a hit in 1940. The trio at this time was Arlene "Babs" Johnson, Charlie Ryan and Little Ryan. This line-up performed on the radio show "Time To Shine" with Hal Kemp. The first Smoothies, with "Babs" Ryan, had performed on radio with Fred Waring's Pennsylvanians Orchestra in the mid-1930's.
NOTE: There were several different "Babs" over time. On Decca, she was Blanche Redwine (billed as "Babs Ryan"). Almost all of the Bluebird releases, including "Playmates," had Arlene Johnson. A final Bluebird session in 1940 had Rosalind Stuart. There were probably other later "Babs" as the group continued until at least 1947 (ref. Apollo 1015).

Decca Label-A Little Bit Independent-1936

Above: Label images for (Left) Decca 634 A and (Right) Decca 518 B.
Listen to this week's selections:
A) Click on an option below to listen to Babs And Her Brothers/The Smoothies using Streaming Windows Media Player.
"A Little Bit Independent" - Babs And Her Brothers - Decca 634 A - 1936
"Double Trouble" - Babs And Her Brothers - Decca 518 B - 1935
"BOTH SONGS" NOT FUNCTIONAL!
B) Click on an option below to listen to Downloading Windows Media Player.
"A Little Bit Independent" - Babs And Her Brothers - Decca 634 A - 1936 (file size=433KB)
"Double Trouble" - Babs And Her Brothers - Decca 518 B - 1935 (file size=449KB)

[Above left photo is from CD "Babs And Her Brothers - Recordings From Old Gold And Ford Radio Broadcasts (1933-1935)" available at "Fred Waring's America".]
Above: (Left) Photo of Babs And Her Brothers. (Right) Label Image of Decca 505 A.
Click on an option below to listen to "Let's Swing It" by Babs And Her Brothers using Windows Media Player.

Streaming Play
Download Play
(file size=363KB)
"ALL THREE OF THIS WEEK'S SONGS" streamed in sequence
"ALL FIVE OF BOTH WEEK'S SONGS" streamed in sequence

CLICK HERE FOR PART ONE OF "SPOTLIGHT ON BABS AND HER BROTHERS/THE SMOOTHIES".

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