HMR Project: History of Music & Modern Recording

Victor Young

Birth of Jazz: Victor Young

Victor Young

Born on 8 August 1899 in Chicago, composer, arranger and bandleader, Victor Young, probably remains best-known for his soundtracks of which he wrote not a few. Playing piano at age six, he began his professional career in 1920 largely as concert violinist and conductor. Among his earliest compositions was 'Flowers and You' sung by Hardy Williamson on 25 May 1921 toward release on Edison 10" 80663. Young first appeared on record in 1926, adding violin to tracks by Russo and Fiorito's Oriole Orchestra in Chicago on March 12: 'I Don't Believe It' and 'Let's Talk About My Sweetie'. In December the same year he recorded several titles in a couple of sessions with Ben Pollack, also in Chicago for Victor: 'When I First Met Mary', 'Deed I Do', 'You're the One for Me' and 'He's the Last Word'. Tom Lord's discography doesn't show Young recording again until the summer of 1929 with Isham Jones, those unissued.

'Let's Talk About My Sweetie' Victor Young w Russo and Fiorito's Oriole Orchestra

Young's second recording to issue

12 March 1926 in Chicago Matrix 34592-6 Victor 19989 / HMV EA-68 (Europe)

Trumpet: Freddy Hulme / George Jernberg Trombone: Hal Matthews

Clarinet / various sax: Don Mangano / Mutt Hayes / Clayton Naset

Piano: Ted Fiorito Piano accordion: Frank Papile

Violin: Dan Russo / Jack Wuerl / Victor Young Banjo: Mark Fisher

Bass brass: Ralph Walker Tuba: Carroll Martin Drums: Charlie Puchta

Vocal: Mark Fisher Composition: Walter Donaldson / Gus Kahn

''Deed I Do' Victor Young w Ben Pollack and His Californians

17 Dec 1926 in Chicago Matrix 37219-6 Victor 20408

Cornet: Earl Baker / Harry Greenberg / Al Harris Trombone: Glenn Miller

Clarinet: Benny Goodman Alto sax: Gil Rodin Tenor sax: Fud Livingston

Piano: Wayne Allen Violin: Victor Young / Al Beller Banjo: John Kurzenknabe

Tuba: Harry Goodman Drums / vocal: Ben Pollack

Music: Fred Rose Lyrics: Walter Hirsch

Young's first recordings of 1929 to see release were with Jean Goldkette from a couple sessions in Chicago that summer, the second a radio broadcast with Goldkette's Eskimo Pie Orchestra. Young's first titles with Isham Jones to see issue were from a session in October yielding 'Song of the Blues' and 'Feeling the Way'. His next issues with Jones were 'Nina Rosa' and 'Your Smiles, Your Tears' from a session in February of 1930.

Heretofore grouped with other violinists, Young first recorded with Joe Venuti on 23 April 1931 while conducting the orchestra for the Boswell Sisters on 'Roll On, Mississippi, Roll On' and 'Shout, Sister, Shout'. Venuti and Young worked together numerously into 1935 both with the Boswells and backing each other's orchestras. Tracks by the Boswells below were presumably with the Brunswick house orchestra.

'Roll On, Mississippi, Roll On' Victor Young conducting for the Boswell Sisters

23 April 1931 in NYC Matrix E-36654-A Brunswick 6109

Trumpet: Manny Klein Trombone: Tommy Dorsey

Clarinet: Jimmy Dorsey Piano: Arthur Schutt Violin: Joe Venuti

Guitar: Eddie Lang

Bass: Joe Tarto Drums / vibes: Chauncey Morehouse

Composition: Dave Ringle / Eugene West / James McGaffrey

'Shout, Sister, Shout' Victor Young conducting for the Boswell Sisters

23 April 1931 in NYC Matrix E-36655-A Brunswick 6109

Trumpet: Manny Klein Trombone: Tommy Dorsey

Clarinet: Jimmy Dorsey Piano: Arthur Schutt Violin: Joe Venuti

Guitar: Eddie Lang

Bass: Joe Tarto Drums / vibes: Chauncey Morehouse

Composition: Alexander Hill / Clarence Williams / Tim Brymn

Tom Lord's discography, citing Bozy White's 'The Miracle Man of Swing' addressing Bunny Berigan, has Young first recording as a leader on May 19, 1931, per 'Two Little Blue Little Eyes' sung by Smith Ballew along with 'Building a Home for You' and a second take of 'Two Little Blue Little Eyes' sung by Dick Robertson. With Berigan, Tommy Dorsey and Bennie Krueger thought to be in what was probably the Brunswick house orchestra, the first track by Ballew was issued on Melotone 12191 credited to Ed Loyd (or Lloyd) and his Orchestra. (DAHR lists the Art Kahn Orchestra with vocal by Ballew as Ross Colby. Art Kahn was a pianist whose orchestra was sometimes pseudonymously credited with recordings concerning which he had naught to do.) Ed Loyd was a pseudonym for Ed Kirkeby which was applied to others as well. Kirkeby also recorded as Ted Wallace and would become a manager for both the Pickens Sisters and Fats Waller. The second and third tracks by Robertson were issued on Brunswick 6126 credited to the Jesse Stafford Orchestra. (DAHR lists the Art Kahn Orchestra.) Jesse Stafford was a trombonist who had assumed leadership of the Herb Wiedoeft Orchestra upon the latter's fatal auto accident in 1928, then to become the Jessie Stafford Orchestra.

Young's first recordings per Lord specifically crediting the Brunswick Orchestra were also with the Boswell Sisters on 22 May 1931, yielding 'I Surrender Dear' and 'Stardust'. A second session that day saw to releases of 'Sing a Little Jingle' and 'I Found a Million Dollar Baby', also with the Boswells. Young would back the Boswells numerously, especially Connie, to as late as 1941.

'Sing a Little Jingle' Victor Young conducting for the Boswell Sisters

25 May 1931 in NYC 1st of 2 takes on matrix E-36825-A Brunswick 6128 A

Trumpet: Manny Klein / Bob Effros Trombone: Tommy Dorsey

Clarinet / sax: Jimmy Dorsey Piano: Arthur Schutt Violin: Joe Venuti

Guitar: Eddie Lang

Bass / tuba: Joe Tarto Drums / vibes: Chauncey Morehouse

Music: Harry Warren Lyrics: Mort Dixon

To direct the Brunswick Orchestra was to direct the ARC Studio Band of the American Record Corporation which manufactured discs for numerous labels such as Columbia, Banner and Pathe. The ARC was itself the child of CFI (Consolidated Film Industries). Warner Brothers Pictures had paid $10,000,000 for Brunswick in April of 1930 in what was calculated to have been an $8,000,000 loss involving transfer of management to CFI in December 1931. Warner Brothers had purchased Brunswick in too a rush, soon changing its mind about being in the record business. (Plates cost 75 cents each at record shops at the time, while a dime got you into a movie.) Having paid too much for a record company that it couldn't unload except at great cost, Warner Bros. negotiated a deal by which the ARC would control the Brunswick Record Corporation while Warner Bros. maintained ownership. Brunswick itself had been founded in 1916, had purchased Vocalion (founded 1916) in 1925 and had begun to issue Melotones in 1930. Warner Bros. finally sold Brunswick along with Vocalion and Melotone to Decca Records in May of 1941 for only $350,000.

Other big name vocalists with whom Young worked include Bing Crosby in 1931, 1932 and later in the forties. He often backed Chick Bullock from 1932 into 1933. Come Mae West on 7 February 1933 for two takes of 'I Like a Guy What Takes His Time' and 'Easy Rider'.

'A Shine On Your Shoes' Victor Young directing for Dick Robertson (vocal)

17 Sep 1932 in NYC Matrix 12312-A Brunswick 6382

Trumpet: Bunny Berigan / Manny Klein Trombone: Tommy Dorsey

Alto sax: Jimmy Dorsey Alto or C melody sax: Bennie Krueger

Piano: Fulton McGrath? Guitar: Dick McDonough?

Bass: Artie Bernstein Drums: Larry Gomar

Music: Arthur Schwartz Lyrics: Howard Dietz

Numerous of Young's recordings performed well on the popularity charts (Billboard, Cashbox, et al). His first to rise to a Top Ten position was 'Who's Afraid of the Big Bad Wolf?' backed by 'The Last Round-Up' on Brunswick 6651 which reached #3 in 1933. 'Who's Afraid of the Big Bad Wolf?' was from Walt Disney's animated film, 'The Three Little Pigs' recorded on 13 September 1933. 'The Last Round-Up' was composed by Billy Hill for the Ziegfeld Follies and sung by The Songsmiths on the same date. Young placed twelve titles in the Top Ten from 1933 to 1954 including 'She's a Latin from Manhattan' sung by Hal Burke & the Tune Twisters which topped the charts at #1 in 1935. His final Top Ten release was 'The High and the Mighty' which TsorT indicates to be Young's most successful issue overall after reaching #4 on Cashbox and #6 on Billboard in July and August of 1954. Young's Top Ten issues per Music VF and TsorT:

   Who's Afraid of the Big Bad Wolf?   #3   1933   Brunswick 6651
   The Last Round-Up   #3   1933    Brunswick 6651
   Flirtation Walk   #10   1934   Decca 279
   The Old Spinning Wheel   #10   1934
   This Little Piggie Went to Market   #6   1934   Brunswick 6747
   About a Quarter to Nine   #3   1935   Decca 418
   Ev'ry Day    #7   1935   Decca 350
   She's a Latin from Manhattan   #1   1935   Decca 418
   Way Back Home   #6   1935
   It's a Sin to Tell a Lie   #5   1936   Decca 751
   Mona Lisa   #7   July 1950   1/58
   The High & The Mighty   #4 Cashbox   #6 Billboard   1954

'Last Roundup' Victor Young & His Orchestra backing the Songsmiths

13 Sep 1933 in NYC Brunswick 6651

Composition: Billy Hill for Ziegield Follies

Young supported vocalist, Lee Wiley, on several occasions from 1933 into 1937. Come Johnny Mercer on 24 August 1934 toward 'Lord, I Give You My Children' and 'The Bathtub Ran Over Again'.

'Lord, I Give You My Children' Victor Young & His Orchestra backing Johnny Mercer

24 Aug 1934 in NYC Matrix 38417-A Decca 142 / MCA MCFM2598 (Europe)

Trumpet: Sterling Bose Trombone: Jack Teagarden

Piano: Fulton McGrath Guitar: Dick McDonough

Bass: Hank Wayland

Composition: Bernie Hanighen / Mercer

'The Bathtub Ran Over Again' Victor Young & His Orchestra backing Johnny Mercer

24 Aug 1934 in NYC Matrix 38419-A Decca 142 / MCA MCFM2598 (Europe)

Trumpet: Sterling Bose Trombone: Jack Teagarden

Piano: Fulton McGrath Guitar: Dick McDonough

Bass: Hank Wayland

Composition: Mercer / Michael Cleary

'About a Quarter to Nine' Victor Young & His Orchestra backing Hal Burke

21 March 1935 in NYC Matrix 39441 Decca 418 B

Music: Harry Warren Lyrics: Al Dubin For the film 'Go Into Your Dance'

'She's a Latin from Manhattan'

Victor Young & His Orchestra backing Hal Burke & the Tune Twisters

21 March 1935 in NYC Matrix 39442 Decca 418 A

Music: Harry Warren Lyrics: Al Dubin For the film 'Go Into Your Dance'

Young moved to Hollywood in 1935 to compose for films. His first of above 300 film scores is thought to have been 'Anything Goes' released by Paramount in 1936. On 28 January of 1942 he backed Frances Langford in Los Angeles on 'Baltimore Oriole' issued on Decca 15063. He supported Helen Forrest in a couple of sessions in Los Angeles in June 1944 and May 1945. Come Jeri Southern in New York City on 3 April 1952 for titles like 'A Mighty Pretty Waltz' and 'Call Me Tonight'. Per 'When I Fall In Love' below, the first that this was heard was at the premiere of the film, 'One Minute to Zero', on 21 July 1952. That was an instrumental titled 'Theme from One Minute to Zero'. That received lyrics while the movie was in delayed production and was first recorded as 'When I Fall In Love' by Southern on 3 April of 1952. That was soon followed with another rendition by Doris Day on 5 June 1952. 'When I Fall In Love' quickly became a popular standard sung by countless artists including Nat King Cole.

'The Call of the Prairie'

Victor Young & His Orchestra backing Dick Robertson as Donald King

26 March 1936 in NYC Matrix 60946 Decca 751

Composition: Tot Seymour / Vee Lawnhurst

'You Are My Sunshine' Victor Young & His Orchestra backing Bing Crosby

8 July 1941 in Los Angeles Matrix DLA 2515 Decca 3952 A

Composition: Jimmie Davis / Charles Mitchell

'When the White Azaleas Start Blooming'

Victor Young & His Orchestra backing Bing Crosby

26 Jan 1942 in Los Angeles Matrix DLA 2845 Decca 18391

Composition: Bob Miller

'Samson and Delilah' Victor Young directing the Paramount Symphony Orchestra

Soundtrack Suite Film directed by Cecil B. DeMille released 21 Dec 1949

Starring Hedy Lamar & Victor Mature

Music by Victor Young

'My Mother' Victor Young directing the Paramount Symphony Orchestra

From the film 'The Quiet Man' directed by John Ford released 6 June 1952

From the 1933 short story by Maurice Walsh Starring Maureen O'Hara & John Wayne

Music by Victor Young

'Pinned to the Wall' Victor Young directing the MGM Studio Orchestra

From the film 'Scaramouche' directed by George Sidney released 27 June 1952

From the 1921 novel by Rafael Sabatini Starring Stewart Granger & Eleanor Parker

Music by Victor Young

'Theme from One Minute to Zero' Victor Young directing unidentified orchestra

From the RKO Pictures film 'One Minute to Zero' directed by Tay Garnett

Starring Ann Blyth & Robert Mitchum Released 21 July 1952

Music by Victor Young

'When I Fall In Love' (aka 'Theme from One Minute to Zero')

Victor Young & His Orchestra backing Jeri Southern

3 April 1952 in NYC Matrix 82610 Decca 28224

Music: Victor Young Lyrics: Edward Heyman

'When I Fall In Love' (aka 'Theme from One Minute to Zero')

Victor Young & His Orchestra backing Doris Day

5 June 1952 Columbia 39786

Music: Victor Young Lyrics: Edward Heyman

'Shane' Victor Young directing unidentified orchestra

Soundtrack Suite Film directed by George Stevens released 23 April 1953

Starring Jean Arthur & Alan Ladd

Music by Victor Young

Young's initial titles with Peggy Lee had arrived on 13 February 1953 in Los Angeles per 'How Strange' and 'Where Can I Go Without You?'.

'Baubles, Bangles and Beads' Victor Young & His Orchestra backing Peggy Lee

16 Sep 1953 in Los Angeles Matrix L7362 Decca 28890

Composition: Robert Wright / George Forrest for the Broadway musical 'Kismet'

'The High and the Mighty' Victor Young & His Singing Strings

6 June 1954 in Los Angeles Decca 29203

From the film 'The High and the Mighty' directed by William A. Wellman

Whistling by Muzzy Marcellino

Composition: Dimitri Tiomkin / Ned Washington

Among Young's last recordings was the soundtrack to Walt Disney's animated 'Lady and the Tramp going down on 6 December 1954. The LP, 'Songs from Walt Disney's Lady and the Tramp', was released in 1955 with Peggy Lee. Other of Young's later recordings include 'Take Back Your Mink' and 'My Time of Day' which saw session on 13 December 1955 toward the album 'After Dinner Music' on Decca DL 8350. Young's soundtrack to 'Around the World in 80 Days' which won a posthumous Oscar premiered in New York City on 17 October 1956. He died three weeks later of cerebral hemorrhage at only age 56 in Palm Springs, California, on 10 November 1956.