[Dixielandjazz] Blue Prelude

[Bill Haesler]

Dear Jim (and Listmates),
I researched “Blue Prelude” for you yesterday to which, it seems, almost everyone replied with information. 
And beat me to it. 
But, so far, no one has given credit to the composers of the tune. 
Without them we would not be having this discussion.
<big grin>.

“Blue Prelude” was written by Joe Bishop and copyrighted on 6 February 1933.
A second copyright was lodged on 17 April 1933 crediting Gordon Jenkins for the words.
On 9 May 1933 publication of the sheet music for the tune was registered by Isham Jones Inc.

Now for the related trivia bits:

Isham Jones (who played reeds and string bass) led his first dance band in Chicago from 1916, recorded extensively, and over the years established an enviable international reputation in the popular music field. He disbanded it for good in 1936. 

Joe Bishop played flugelhorn with Isham Jones Orchestra from 1930 until 1936 and contributed arrangements.

Gordon Jenkins was hired by Isham Jones as an arranger in the early 1930s. When the band broke up in 1936 he worked as a freelance arranger and songwriter, contributing to sessions Paul Whiteman, Benny Goodman and others. In 1938, Jenkins moved to Hollywood and worked for Paramount Pictures and NBC. We know the rest.

Woody Herman joined the Isham Jones band in late 1934 until it closed down in 1936 and used five key members of the orch to form the “Band That Plays The Blues’. Including Joe Bishop. TB forced Joe into musical retirement and he became Woody's staff-arranger, then freelanced.

Woody Herman adopted “Blue Prelude" as his orch’s theme in the 40s until the ASCAP/radio stations dispute pulled it off air and he replaced it with the unaffected “Blue Flame”. 

So far as tempo is concerned, Isham Jones Orchestra recorded “Blue Prelude” for Victor with arrangement by Gordon Jenkins on 6 April 1933
   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QdBT1FCNRXA
So we know how they envisaged it.

Chick Bullock recorded its first vocal version (slowly) for Banner on 25 May 1933.
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-QpRG7KHjXs

And the rendition by Adrian Rollini’s Orchestra (with vocal by Howard Phillips) for Columbia on 12 June 1933 also takes it slow and easy.
   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Eh2H8z3p44o

Which is not to say that this must be set in stone. 
For “Blue Prelude”, or any tune.
Cheers,
Bill.