Will Bradley Orch w/Ray McKinley 1941 Radio Transcriptions

Here's a mint condition out of print Circle LP featuring the great, swingin' Will Bradley Orch with Ray McKinley. Sound quality is amazing for a 1941 session. The band recorded some hit sides for Columbia including "Celery Stalks at Midnight," "Beat Me Daddy, Eight to the Bar," "Fry Me Cookie with a Can of Lard," etc. McKinley and Bradley parted ways in 1942 allegedly because Bradley wanted to play more ballads, but McKinley hoped to ride the boogie woogie craze as long as it lasted.

SOLID says "Bradley continued to record under his own name during the war, using studio musicians, on the Signature label. Ironically, considering the cause of his orchestra's break-up, in 1944 he released material on the Beacon/Celebrity label as Will Bradley and His Boogie Woogie Boys. In 1947 he also recorded with vocalist Anita O'Day on Signature, and in the 1950s he released three albums, which included one RCA collection of boogie woogie songs."




Most reading this will know that Bradley's real name was Wilbur Schwictenberg - which would be a great name if he played polkas. As Will Bradley he left the road and settled in recording studios, radio, movie & eventually TV work for the remainder of his long career, including the Tonight Show band. He died in 7/15/89. One source says in passed in 1978, but I bellieve that's incorrect.

The sides were for Lang-Worth 1/22/41 and feature sidemen:

Trumpet: Steve Lipkin, Joe Wiedman, Al Mitchell; Trombone: Will Bradley, Bill Corti, Jim Emert; Saxes: Artie Mendelsohn, Joe Huffman, Peanuts Hucko, Sam Sancella; Piano: Freddie Slack; Guitar: Steve Jordon: Bass Doc Goldberg; Drums: Ray McKinley. Vocalist: Jimmy Valentine.

1. Three Ring Ragout (Bradley - arr. by Leonard Witney)
http://www.mediafire.com/?zg3wvqsv373x5nc
2. Chicken Gumboogie (Bradley/McKinley arr. by Witney
http://www.mediafire.com/?dvwndbjc12rvsnl
3. Dark Eyes (arr by Bradley)
http://www.mediafire.com/?f3dvfgo47bffagu
4. Whatcha Know, Joe? (Trummy Young)
http://www.mediafire.com/?1qs5p40kdyxxf80
5. Perfidia (Dominguez/Leeds)
http://www.mediafire.com/?lmc61u8bnyeicez
6. Jeannie w/the Light Brown Hair
http://www.mediafire.com/?en0j8n8ta1ncemx
7. Bugles in the Sky (Leonard Whitney)
http://www.mediafire.com/?1yavqak6rdkibtr
8. High on a Windy Hill (Joan Whitney/Alex Kramer) vc. Valentine
http://www.mediafire.com/?3o76yib7b7brbuk
9. This Little Icky Went to Town (Bradley arr. by Whitney)
http://www.mediafire.com/?tukolnb9wlkcb87
10. O Sole Mio (DiCapua)
http://www.mediafire.com/?a2n9048stfivuze

The 9/7/41 dates featured:
Trumpet: Tommy DiCarlo, Ralph Muzillo, James Grimes; Trombone: Bradley, Corti, Don Ruppersburg; Saxes: George Koenig, Mahlon Clark, Pete Mondello, Arthur Rollini, Larry Molinelli; Piano: Billy Maxted; Guitar: Frank Werrill; Bass Felix Giobbe; Drums: McKinley.
11. I'm Coming Virginia (Heywood/Cook)
http://www.mediafire.com/?e2z22g22rmhcvn3
12. Booglie Wooglie Piggy (Roy Jacobs) vc. McKinley & Valentine
http://www.mediafire.com/?m3c7m2064e6lgaq