Ukulele chanteuse Janet Klein's 2004 most hotsy totsy CD release entitled "JANET KLEIN'S SCANDALS" vivaciously evokes the mischievous music of 1910-30s nightclubs, clip joints and dance halls with a simmering selection of ... more »early jazz tunes. Most of these 22 songs are originally from burlesque, Vitaphone short films, dance hall and movie musicals of the 1920s and 30s, many of which originally not intended for radio or records. In the vein of naughty comedy singers like Sophie Tucker, Eddie Cantor, Fannie Brice and Chico Marx, Janet renders these clever tunes with a loving flare like no other sweet spunky gal can. The captivating Janet Klein and Her Parlor Boys have a knack for bringing to life great forgotten music, in a fresh and irresistible way. The title and evocative cover of the CD is a play on images and words from the original 1930's George White Scandals variety show and follies. They ably represent the CD's saucy thematic contents as the band delivers their own musical follies show complete with naughty comic tunes, Burlesque patter, hot dance hall numbers and some sweet and soulful songs to round things out. The first six titles can give you an idea of what's going on here: "Hollywood Party, Good Little Bad Little You, You Keep Me Living in Sin, How Could Red Riding Hood? My Bluebirds Are Singing The Blues, Don't Take That Blackbottom Away." The CD features inspired performances by Parlor Boy notables: Ian Whitcomb (of 1960's pop fame), Tom Marion and Robert Armstrong (of Robert Crumb's Cheap Suit Serenaders), 91 year old Bob Mitchell (of Bob Mitchell's Boys Choir, featured in over 110 movies) and Dan Levinson horn player for Leon Redbone. It's produced by Robert Loveless of the innovative groups: Scenic, 17 Pygmies and Savage Republic. This is Janet's 4th CD release and as in her former releases, great care has been taken to produce a quality package with exquisite design well representative of its red-hot jazz musical contents.« less
Ukulele chanteuse Janet Klein's 2004 most hotsy totsy CD release entitled "JANET KLEIN'S SCANDALS" vivaciously evokes the mischievous music of 1910-30s nightclubs, clip joints and dance halls with a simmering selection of early jazz tunes. Most of these 22 songs are originally from burlesque, Vitaphone short films, dance hall and movie musicals of the 1920s and 30s, many of which originally not intended for radio or records. In the vein of naughty comedy singers like Sophie Tucker, Eddie Cantor, Fannie Brice and Chico Marx, Janet renders these clever tunes with a loving flare like no other sweet spunky gal can. The captivating Janet Klein and Her Parlor Boys have a knack for bringing to life great forgotten music, in a fresh and irresistible way. The title and evocative cover of the CD is a play on images and words from the original 1930's George White Scandals variety show and follies. They ably represent the CD's saucy thematic contents as the band delivers their own musical follies show complete with naughty comic tunes, Burlesque patter, hot dance hall numbers and some sweet and soulful songs to round things out. The first six titles can give you an idea of what's going on here: "Hollywood Party, Good Little Bad Little You, You Keep Me Living in Sin, How Could Red Riding Hood? My Bluebirds Are Singing The Blues, Don't Take That Blackbottom Away." The CD features inspired performances by Parlor Boy notables: Ian Whitcomb (of 1960's pop fame), Tom Marion and Robert Armstrong (of Robert Crumb's Cheap Suit Serenaders), 91 year old Bob Mitchell (of Bob Mitchell's Boys Choir, featured in over 110 movies) and Dan Levinson horn player for Leon Redbone. It's produced by Robert Loveless of the innovative groups: Scenic, 17 Pygmies and Savage Republic. This is Janet's 4th CD release and as in her former releases, great care has been taken to produce a quality package with exquisite design well representative of its red-hot jazz musical contents.
CD Reviews
Wild Abandon
J. Quinn | 07/05/2005
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Yes! You will dance round the kitchen floor in wild abandon when you play this one! This is a truly great showcase for pure joy, energy and enthusiastic musicality. The best I've heard of its type, and I listen to as much as I can. Janet Klein's lilting vocals can reduce one to tears in an instance, whether from laughter or sentimentality. And what can be written about Ian Whitcomb (Janet's No 1 Parlor Boy) that hasn't already been written? He is the jewel in Queen Janet's crown. Don't miss this one or you'll deprive yourself of a little piece of Happiness Heaven."
Janet Klein and her Parlor Boys slyly serenade
Laurel Ann Bogen | Los Angeles, California | 02/15/2005
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Janet Klein's Scandals or Living in Sin is the perfect introduction for the unitiated into the mysteries of the ukulele diva/chanteuse and her ultra-hip retro band The Parlor Boys. A critical fave in the L.A. literary/art/music scene -- Klein is accomplished in several media -- the band plays naughty songs from early in the previous century, and does so with suave aplomb. I noted the prior reviewer's unfavorable review of the work on this cd. I, however, found the songs to be more of an homage than a facsimile. From Hollywood Party (everything you might imagine), the almost giddy rendition of Baby O' Mine to Ballin' the Jack, that timeless song to which countless kids in tap classes learned the old shuffle ball change, Klein interprets songs in her own way. Klein does not, nor should she, mimic the work of others on Scandals, the Betty Boop quality to her voice is in reality her natural voice, as one who has attended her concerts and interviewed her can attest. Trust me, this CD is a Real Keeper."
Perfect for any 1920's party!!!
tHAT WAH WHA Gal | WAH WAH WAH A GAL | 03/18/2005
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Not just for a Hollywood Party, but this cd is for any 1920's flapper get together. We have the greatest ragtime pianist of our time Brad Kay on piano and trumpet(no that's not Bubber Miley). And Klein dishing out the Ruth Etting style vocals, and an array of talented string players(ukulele, guitar, banjo), many celebrities like Ian Whitcomb(accordian and ukulele), and Miss Klein plays some uke too! If you like obscure 1920's tunes and campy 1920's style hot jazz, novelty dance band music, and vaudeville music, then this is for you, everything from Sophie Tucker style dialogue singing to Eva Taylor style blues squeeling, however mostly high piutche dRuth Etting imitiations. GREAT CD!!!"
Oh, Janet! You're Perfectly Swell!
Kyle R. Crew | Elsewhere, USA | 12/17/2007
(4 out of 5 stars)
"Indulging my fondness for music of days gone by, I took a chance on Ms Klein's "Living in Sin". I'm ever so glad I did. The collection captures the sense and sound of the 20's and 30's, and yet is as immediate as a clean shave. Wonderful and playful, and packaged in beautiful artwork that invokes the yesteryear of the source material. Every track is a gem, and I was particularly delighted to find Ms Klein had covered "Everyone Says, I Love You", which I knew from Horsefeathers, the Marx Bros movie.
If you're tempted, get it.
(Confidential to Miss Klein: Please cover Ada Jones's "The Yama Yama Man", circa 1907, soon!)"
Good music
Gary Ruiz | Sonoma, CA | 05/12/2007
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Another great selection of songs from an era yet untouched by excessive sampling and covers. Refreshing to hear fresh music....ironic it is 80-90 years back. The players are obviously into the genre for real...well worth a listen...it grows on you."
Track Listings (22) - Disc #1