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I was researching an article for my blog on Rudy Vallee, and I really learned a lot about him. He was more than just a nasally singer. I am really starting to appreciate his work:
Anyone else have an opinion of Rudy Vallee?
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He was certainly in the forefront in the early days. Fractionally ahead of Bing and just a bit older, but he didn't develop and, for my taste, he adopted a manner that was too ''soft'' and lacking definition. It could be that his style was influenced and maybe limited by his instrumental background. Bing was untrammeled by such an influence and possibly was more adventurous in consequence.
In the Savoy Havana Band Rudy was actually dissuaded from singing, apparently! I never liked the description ''crooner'' applied to Bing, but it suits Vallee very well.
The other major singer emerging in the same period was Russ Columbo, of course, which reminds me of the song ''Crosby, Columbo and Vallee'' sung here
There's a cartoon too
I mention the Savoy Havana Band. One of my other interests is the early bands. The Savoy outfits (The Savoy Havana and the Savoy Orpheans) both playing at the Savoy Hotel in London, were really great outfits. Rudy Vallee was with the Savoy Havana in 1924/5.
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Some of those early bands circa 1925 were so way ahead of the time. I agree with you Jarbie!
Rudy Vallee was okay but for my money I have developed an interest in Gene Austin. He was a hugely popular singer and his song My Blue Heaven I think was the biggest selling record until Bing came along - I think I read that some where.
There was a lot of talent in the mid 1920s...
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I enjoy Rudy's song 'There's a tavern in the town'. During the recording he is breaking up about something or other and the record nearly wasn't released, but they did and it was a big seller.
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I know this will anger Noel Cowarsd fans but I have always loved Rudy Vallee's version of Mad Dogs And English Men. Vallee was also fun to watch in "How To Succeed In Business Without Really Trying"(1967)