Cool thing is the singer in the middle his name is I think dick Powell he's their manger who signed them to a record deal thanks too his good friend Duke Ellington duke found the mills brothers while playing in a club n heard their act especially Harry's mouth trumpet, if you want to know the instruments their impersonating its, Herbert on left plays trumpet 1 low notes, Donald next to him plays trombone, Harry big guy plays trumpet 2 muted notes n their eldest brother who passed away early John Jr played tuba which was taken over by their father John sr later on, n if you notice the position they stood in they stood in the same positions till they was old because Harry said that's how they stayed in Harmony.
What a masterpiece. I wish people nowadays encouraged this sort of music more, with excellent singing, solid work on harmonization, true refinement and elegance in delivery...
John Mills Jr. died January 23 1936. He was only 25. He was the eldest brother and the leader. He played on a ukulele and a 4 string tenor guitar and sang bass like a tuba.
With John Jr. Singing bass and playing his 4 string tenor guitar. This is when they were at their peak. John Sr. filed in for a while after Jr. died but he couldn't play guitar so they added a guitarist to the act. So so talented these guys. No one better. Closest in modern times would be the brothers Gibb.
One of the best things about this is that it's not even one of the Mills Brothers' better songs. I can't believe their music has fallen out of fashion. It's timeless, like the music of Django Reinhardt.
troyahudson Not really; outside a stateside cult of gamers and/or aging baby boomers, they're probably more popular today outside the US. Donald's sons and a third member perform under the name today.
I think the majority of people out there have NO idea all this great music is out there waiting to be heard. Wait till they do. They will be blown away and have a great appreciation for it.
Kill them with kindness.. there's no right way I guess However looking at history I can see how the Mills Brothers did not fight for their rights. They fought for our hearts! That's what IMO makes them so special
The Mills Brothers were on of my grand father's favorite groups. Along with the Ink Spots and Nat King Cole. Dick Powell was a really talent man.
3 года назад
I really love these moments in old media with both black and white performers singing together in a time when racism was so strong. it's wholesome, beautiful, makes us dream of a better past that could've happened, even gives us some kind of love for humanity ...
Not only a rare opportunity to see the original line up of the Mills Brothers with the late, great John Mills Junior (who died in 1936; that's him with the guitar), but a summit meeting with Dick Powell (who is said to have raved incessantly about them for months after this recording was made), to boot. Absolute, utter, jaw dropping perfection.
yup they also got a crazy back story on how they met dick powell it was by the forefather of jazz duke ellington he heard them singing at a talent show n heard harrys trumpet n he got signed with dick powells music label n they became one of the first groups to have a gold record n the first african american act to have their own radio station they should be recognized more in music history because they were also predecessors to the ink spots. they are by far my favorite singing group the temptations before the temptations
@@malotonga4957 The Mills Brothers, the Ink Spots and Dick Powell all recorded for Decca/Brunswick at that time. But the Mills Brothers were pretty well established on record by 1931. I have pretty much all of their earliest records when John Mills Junior was still in the group. Sensational they were!
@@MikeBlitzMag yup theres a youtube channel with all their music my favorite is how im doin n in the mills brothers interviews they said duke n dick helped them get signed n their first record tiger rag was recorded 1928 when donald second tenor/trombone was 14 n when they were in europe on a tour in early 30s they said they heard about the ink spots using their style n making their name they said they had to come back but their older brother john was ill at the time n he passed away so their father took over since he knew all their songs n hes the only one the boys can trust with harmony,
Forgot to add that the different notes are made by putting your tongue to the roof of your mouth. By cupping your hands and varying the size, blowing into it like a humming and the tongue action, you can make some pretty cool music. Used to do that as a kid to entertain my friends. Had no money for an instrument and couldn't afford lessons even if I had one, so the next best thing, the hand horn.
This film is probably the best one to showcase the original four Mills Brothers outside the Fleischer Screen Songs: John, Jr. had great potential to be a prototype pre-rock guitar god.
Baby what are you out for Baby what am I in for Is my baby out for no good Is my baby got rhythm Tell me is it hot rhythm Is my baby out for no good Mister Moon why does he wink at every star In the park in the dark Why do we park a car What's an eight o'clock date for What do we stay out late for Is my baby out for no good Cause I could do you good If my baby is out for no good Is my baby out for no good Cos I could do you good If my baby is out for No good No good No good No good
I have always wished Dick Powell wouldn't look so darned pleased with himself continually. Good as he was, and he became a good actor after this, it's not a good look.
Actually, Dick Powell was from Arkansas; like Bing Crosby, he cared little about the racial politics of the era. At the time, everyone was in love with the Mills Brothers.
Suddenly, dutch invasion. Ah well. Haven't heared this song in ages, thought about it recently but couldn't remember the name or bits of the lyrics until a few minutes ago. Sounding good as always.
I wish Dick Powell would sing in this manner more often. He didn't need to wail in high notes to be effective. He also could keep up with the Mills Brothers when it came to scat signing. It's also sad that John Jr. passed away from an early age not long after this was made. It took awhile before John Sr. replaced John Jr. to round out the quartet.
A kid much older than I lived around the corner on Spokane St. named Porky. He was one of two kids who played Dick Powell's sons in a movie called Mrs. Mike in 1949. Evelyn Keys was Mrs. Mike.
DeltaXygo All I know is that Powell had these two sons from a previous marriage and his second wife had to meet them. You can find out more on You Tube.
Yes, that's why Ruby Keeler couldn't sing with him; she couldn't harmonize so she had to keep shifting her own register around since she was an alto. Alice Faye (w/Powell in "On The Avenue") was also a tenor so there it was a lot easier.
SatanMadeMe The horn sound is made by cupping your hands over your mouth and making a kind of nasal blowing sound or modulate your vocal chords, sort of like a kazoo. You can imitate a couple of different instruments. The sounds can be quite pleasant and really resonate if you get into a room, like a bathroom with tile or shower even.
@SatanMadeMe The Mills Brothers were known for making sounds like a horn etc to add to the music. Probably came out of not having money to purchase instruments. At any rate, pretty damn good, eh?
Thanks for the scene from Twenty Million Sweethearts with Dick Powell and the Fabulous Mills Brothers (from Piqua, OH, near Dayton). Love the brothers harmonizing by imitating instruments. How neat was that?
Interesting trivial fact: Also a manufacturer of radios, Brunswick Records was owned by Warner Bros. in the 1930's. This is why the Mills Brothers were one of several artists featured in WB films of the period .
This song was written lyrics by Al Dubin and music by Harry Warren. Here is the original version on vinyl. ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-3M4Ub9jR3Bs.html
I love the Mills Brothers, this Powell guy is kind of cramping their style... His scat could use some ruffing up aswell. it's fairly plain compared to the Brothers' other stuff imo.
In reference to Satchmo Sings' comments: Yes, and those guys came from the days when folks KNEW music. Listen to the vocal counterpoint, and the chord changes. It's very good technical music as opposed to the simple I-IV-V simpleton stuff embraced by today's musicans who wouldn't know a half-diminished chord from a minor chord, and have never heard of a triton substitution. Hats off to this video.
Sounds to me that your point, counterpunctually speaking, is that today's musicians play their chords half-diminished. Doesn't that mean that they do know a half-diminished chord? I'm referring to the minor musicians.
Recorded with ONE microphone on ONE track in ONE take with no auto-tune, limiting or any other stupid garbage; just five people standing before the mic making real music with no artifice except for occasionally leaning into the microphone; that's it; nothing else. Oh, there is something else; Dick Powell was from ALABAMA.
That's because back in the day you really had to be talented. You had to live your music and practice it till it was right. Once that happened, it was like effortless, second nature. Like you said, no BS to make you sound better than you really are. These guys really DO sound like this!
