The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

I have just watched a programme on the Sky Arts Channel entitled "Hitler's Jazz Band". Under the direct control of Goebbels the band, named Charlie and his Orchestra, played well known jazz and swing tunes to which Nazi propaganda lyrics were added. Using powerful radio transmitters originally built for the 1936 Berlin Olympics, the band's recordings were featured in radio broadcasts worldwide during WW2.
Although the Nazi party condemned jazz as degenerate they clearly accepted that it had a use for propaganda purposes.
The recordings are available on CD and were also reissued on vinyl LP, but I am curious to know whether anyone here has seen a 78.

Yes, I've had the dubious(?) experience of seeing one of these 78s and hearing it on a friend's EMG. A passable imitation of real jazz, and grimly fascinating. Said friend is sadly in poor health these days.

About 40 years ago, a work colleague - knowing my interest in old music and military history - gave me an old LP titled, "Hitler is On the Air!" Among the rantings (in German, of course), were marching songs and a few numbers by Charlie and His Orchestra. Naturally we played it at work for awhile, and my personal favorite was the interpretation of Cole Porter's You're the Top. I haven't heard that record since those far-off days (it's buried around here somewhere), but I remember a couple of the funny couplets:

You're the top;
You're a German flier;
You're the top;
You're machine gun fire...

"Inspiring" stuff. As propaganda goes, it was pretty sad, but it's an interesting historical document.

George P.

You can hear Charlie and his Orchestra on YouTube. There are many examples including the one George mention. A fine curiosity to listen to once or twice, but not anything you'll come back to over and over.

52089 wrote: Thu Dec 15, 2022 5:01 pm You can hear Charlie and his Orchestra on YouTube. There are many examples including the one George mention. A fine curiosity to listen to once or twice, but not anything you'll come back to over and over.

So, kinda like Wagner opera, eh? (Oops, pardon me, "music drama.")

Henry wrote: Fri Dec 16, 2022 2:28 pm

52089 wrote: Thu Dec 15, 2022 5:01 pm You can hear Charlie and his Orchestra on YouTube. There are many examples including the one George mention. A fine curiosity to listen to once or twice, but not anything you'll come back to over and over.

So, kinda like Wagner opera, eh? (Oops, pardon me, "music drama.")

Wagner was Hitler's favourite composer. In the 1930's he was often a guest of the Wagner family at the Bayreuth Festival.
After WW2 this association did Wagner's reputation no good at all. Some people have even speculated that his music dramas and anti-Semitic writings contributed to the creation of Nazi Germany.

Yes, Wagner is one of those historical personalities about whom the more you learn, the more the unsavory aspects of their characters are revealed. When one thinks of anti-Semites, think Martin Luther, Henry Ford, and, of course, Wagner, among many others.

Some of the recordings from Charlie & His Orchestra are available to listen to online at the WFMU website.

http://blog.wfmu.org

Just use the "search the blog" search box on the main page.

Keep in mind the original source and purpose of the recordings...content will be offensive to some.

-rob

One of these 78s is for sale on UK eBay now: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/394613868273

Orchorsol wrote: Fri May 26, 2023 8:27 am One of these 78s is for sale on UK eBay now: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/394613868273

The top photo shows a label marked "Chappell SA Paris." Is that the same Chappell discussed in a sister thread about Chappell sound effects records?