Category Archives: Big Band-Swing

Big Band Standards and Swing Music from 1940’s – 1950’s

American Patrol

Accordion Player Pat Posted on by

American Patrol was always one of my absolute favorites to play in Big Band. We had the Glen Miller Version and there is nothing better than to play a great song with 16 other instruments. Our sax section really burned back in the day. I tried to follow the big band version in my accordion presentation. OK, not perfect, but fun. “American Patrol” is a popular march written by Frank White (F.W.) Meacham in 1885. Glenn Miller’s Orchestra recorded a swing version of the march arranged by Jerry Gray in 1942 which was released as a 78 single on Victor Records.… Read the rest

The Way You Look Tonight

Accordion Player Pat Posted on by

Another old favorite of mine. Great song to dance to. Wished I had a voice to sing the beautiful lyrics. “The Way You Look Tonight” is a song from the film Swing Time that was performed by Fred Astaire and composed by Jerome Kern with lyrics written by Dorothy Fields. It won the Academy Award for Best Original Song in 1936. Fields remarked, “The first time Jerry played that melody for me I went out and started to cry. The release absolutely killed me. I couldn’t stop, it was so beautiful.” Thanks to Pixaby for the wonderful, free photos used in my video. I hope you enjoy it. I loved playing it.… Read the rest

Those Were The Days

Accordion Player Pat Posted on by

Those Were the Days. A Facebook friend shared a wonderful recording of his version of the song. I enjoyed it so much I decided to look up the music. I started playing it and had so much fun that I made a video. It is a little newer song from 1968 written by Gene Raskin. Thank You to the great artists at Pixeby for the free graphics. I felt like I was in a time warp working with them. I found some wonderful sounds on the Roland for the song. I hope you enjoy it. I had fun playing it.… Read the rest

Green Door

Accordion Player Pat Posted on by

Green Door. Brandy Cox Hughes DePhillip posted a list of songs from 1956. I immediately thought of THE HIT PARADE. My favorite was Green Door. So I looked up the music today in my fake books and found it. “The Green Door” (or “Green Door”) is a 1956 popular song with music composed by Bob “Hutch” Davie and lyrics written by Marvin Moore. I usually practice my pieces quite a bit, but had such fun playing it – I thought I would wing it and just have fun. I am sure I had more fun making it than anyone will have watching it. I do hope that it might bring a smile to your face. … Read the rest

Winchester Cathedral

Accordion Player Pat Posted on by

Winchester Cathedral was published in 1966 and the composer was Geoff Stephens. It was a fun song and I remember hearing it in 1966. The guys during lunch time played it on my first job out of college. Everyone whistled, sang and swayed. Those were the days! If you can remember them. Thanks to the talented artists at Pixabay for the great free graphics.… Read the rest

Dream a Little Dream of Me

Accordion Player Pat Posted on by

This is a fun song. Be happy song. I am trying to get more bass to record in my songs. This was an effort to boost the bass and chords. They sound loud when playing in a room, but the bass seems to disappear when recording. Hope you enjoy. The bass man had fun. LOL

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Lillie Marlene

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I have always loved this song. I thought it was from WWII and I was right, but it was written in the 1930’s. The Germans used it as a theme in their broadcasts to their troops. The Allies also listened. When the British finally got the upper hand, they adopted Lillie Marlene as their song. Great songs.

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