The Boswell Sisters
Definitely the most talented and arguably the all-around best jazz vocal group of all time, the Boswell Sisters parlayed their New Orleans upbringing into a swinging delivery that featured not only impossibly close harmonies, but countless maneuvers of vocal gymnastics rarely equaled on record. Connee (sometimes Connie), Helvetia (Vet), and Martha Boswell grew up singing together, soaking up Southern gospel and blues through close contact with the Black community. They first performed at vaudeville houses around the New Orleans area, and began appearing on local radio by 1925. At first, they played strictly instrumentals, with Connee on cello, saxophone, and guitar; Martha on piano, and Vet on violin, banjo, and guitar. The station began featuring them in a vocal setting as well, with Connee taking the lead on many songs (despite a childhood accident that had crippled her and left her in a wheelchair).
Word of their incredible vocal talents led to appearances in Chicago and New York, and the Boswell Sisters began recording in 1930 for Victor. By the following year, they'd moved to Brunswick and reached the Hit Parade with "When I Take My Sugar to Tea," taken from the Marx Brothers' film Monkey Business and featuring the Dorsey Brothers Orchestra in support. The trio continued to work with many of the best jazzmen in the field (including Eddie Lang, Joe Venuti, and Bunny Berigan), and appeared in the 1932 film extravaganza The Big Broadcast with Bing Crosby and Cab Calloway. The Boswell Sisters hit the top of the Hit Parade a second time in 1935 with "The Object of My Affection" from the film Times Square Lady. One year later, however, both Martha and Vet retired from the group in favor of married life.
Connee had already made a few solo sides for Brunswick as early as 1932, and she continued her solo career in earnest after the Boswell Sisters parted. She hit number one twice during the late '30s, with the Bing Crosby duets "Bob White (Whatcha Gonna Swing Tonight?)" and "Alexander's Ragtime Band," and continued recording into the '60s.
© John Bush /TiVo
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The Boswell Sisters 1931-1935
Jazz - Released by Saar srl on 24/07/2015
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
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Classic Recordings
Jazz - Released by Firefly Entertainment on 5/05/2008
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Golden Artists Of The USA, Vol. 28
Jazz - Released by Diamond Days on 5/05/2008
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Golden Artists Of The USA, Vol. 27
Jazz - Released by Diamond Days on 5/05/2008
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
It Don't Mean a Thing
Vocal Jazz - Released by Supreme Media on 30/10/2013
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
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I Surrender Dear
Jazz - Released by Classic Records on 22/11/2010
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
The Boswell Sisters Compilation (60 Tracks)
Pop - Released by Milestones Records on 30/09/2019
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
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Nothing Was Sweeter
Vocal Music (Secular and Sacred) - Released by PnR on 31/03/2011
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
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The Boswell Sisters, Vol. 2
Jazz - Released by Milestones Records on 20/04/2018
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
The Best of the Boswell Sisters
Vocal Jazz - Released by Greatest Hits on 5/11/2014
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
The Boswell Sisters, Vol. 3
Jazz - Released by Milestones Records on 20/04/2018
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
The Boswell Sisters, Vol. 1
Jazz - Released by Milestones Records on 20/04/2018
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
The Boswell Sisters 1932-34
Vocal Music (Secular and Sacred) - Released by PnR on 1/03/2011
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo