The Grammy Hall of Fame, part 1

Hello, my friends! I know that I haven’t had a new story post since the beginning of February. I meant to post earlier but then the pandemic came and I really wasn’t in the mood. I’ve had time to think about it more and I have decided that since most of us have to stay at home, it wouldn’t be a bad idea for me to offer you something pleasant to pass your time. So, a new unity begins today. There is also another, more ambitious unity that is ready to go. If you feel like it, I will get on with both.

The Grammy Hall of Fame was made to honor musical recordings of lasting qualitative or historical significance. Inductees are selected annually by a special member committee of eminent and knowledgeable professionals from all branches of the recording arts. It is compiled by The Recording Academy in the United States and was established in 1973. Recordings (singles and albums) in all genres are eligible for selection and must be at least 25 years old to be considered. If it pleases you, we will be listening to as many of the inductees as possible.

The eight original honorees were the following, in chronological order:

Rhapsody In Blue (1924) by Paul Whiteman’s Concert Orchestra featuring George Gershwin:

West End Blues (1928) by Louis Armstrong & His Hot Five:

Mood Indigo (1931) by Duke Ellington & His Orchestra:

I Can’t Get Started (1938) by Bunny Berigan & His Orchestra:

Carnegie Hall Jazz Concert (1938 – album released 1950) by Benny Goodman & His Orchestra. This is the whole album:

Body And Soul (1940) by Coleman Hawkins:

White Christmas (1942) by Bing Crosby:

The Christmas Song (1946) by Nat “King” Cole with The King Cole Trio:

We will complete today’s playlist with other classics from the pre-rock era that were inducted in later years. The older non-classical song to be honored was Nobody (1906) by Bert Williams:

Another standard – and a huge success at the time – is My Blue Heaven (1927) by Gene Austin:

Time for the Empress of the Blues: this is Empty Bed Blues (1928) by Bessie Smith:

The above song is the first of five songs in a row by black acts. This is Ain’t Misbehavin’ (1929) by Fats Waller:

Here’s One O’Clock Jump (1937) by Count Basie & His Orchestra:

Ella’s biggest hit was A-Tisket, A-Tasket (1938). It was credited to Chick Webb & His Orchestra featuring Ella Fitzgerald:

This is the heartbreaking Strange Fruit (1939) by Billie Holiday:

We certainly couldn’t leave out this classic Oscar winner, Over The Rainbow (1939) by the divine Judy Garland:

My favorite swing record is In The Mood (1939), by Glenn Miller & His Orchestra:

Walter Huston (father of director John Huston and grandfather of Anjelica Huston) was an Oscar-winning actor who also sang. His version of Kurt Weil’s September Song (1939) is one of the songs in our list:

The song that was at #1 in the first official US singles chart was I’ll Never Smile Again (1940) by Tommy Dorsey & His Orchestra featuring a young Frank Sinatra & the Pied Pipers:

Recordings of classical music were also inducted. Here’s one of my favorites. Bach: The Goldberg Variations (1955) by Glenn Gould:

That’s all for today. Next time, the list will include songs and albums from the 50s, 60s, 70s, 80s, and 90s. See you then!