Search - Various :: The Way We Were in the 40s

The 1940s were certainly a decade of change. The whole world, it seemed, was going through a radical transformation, much of it brought into sharp focus by the effects of the War. Yet, surprisingly, popular music hardly changed at all. The styles, types and calibre of songs remained quite constant. There were ballads, Swing instrumentals, novelties and Latin-flavoured numbers. In retrospect, the 40s could be seen as the most productive decade in popular music's history. The 1940s was the age of the ballad singer. Singers who were destined to become 'household' names arrived and each left an indelible mark. Bing Crosby, whose pioneering work had laid the foundations of ballad singing, was already established and stylists such as the 'pretender to the throne' Frank Sinatra (I'll Never Smile Again) were widening the musical boundaries. In their wake followed Perry Como (Till The End Of Time); Dick Haymes (Laura); Doris Day (Sentimental Journey); and an artist who would become a potent force in the art of popular singing, Nat King Cole (Nature Boy). Let us not forget Judy Garland and her timeless anthem Over the Rainbow, and the great Al Jolson, who witnessed a twilight 'come back' thanks to two screen biographies, 'The Jolson Story' and 'Jolson Sings Again' Remember, these are all the original recordings from that era. To those of us who lived through it, this anthology should truly bring back a host of memories. For those who did not - perhaps you will appreciate why we hark back to those epoch-making days with such affection. Happy listening! To those of us who lived through the 40s, this carefully selected anthology of original recordings should truly bring back a host of memories. For those who did not - you will appreciate why the 40s were so musically epoch-making, and why they are regarded with such affection. Happy listening!