[78-L] Hanshaw musings, for whatever they are worth

[Taylor Bowie]

Frankly (yes,  this is just me no judgment to be inferred about the taste of 
anyone else),  I've always been baffled by the adulation heaped upon Annette 
Hanshaw by record collectors.  To my ears,  she has an appealing  but 
limited range in her voice,  and in her musical concepts.  I'll play one or 
two sides of her at a time,  and then I'm ready to move on.

What she does,  she does well.   I have a lot of her records from 1927 to 
1933.   But she's static.  The early ones sound about the same as the late 
ones,  just with different orchestral accomp.  Other singers of the era 
seemed to "grow" over a period of time...a Ruth Etting record from 1932 does 
not sound like one from 1927,  and a Mildred Bailey record from 1931 sure 
does not sound like one from 1941 or 1946 (I'm thinking of those late sides 
she made for Majestic with Ellis Larkins which are so great,  e.g. Me and 
the Blues).

Maybe if Hanshaw had stuck with music she would have evolved as an 
artist...we'll never know.  I've listened to that interview with her and she 
seemed like a delightful and happy human being,  with few regrets about 
leaving show business.  That peace of mind might have been her greatest 
accomplishment.

Do any of you have Hanshaw sides which you think are her best?  My pick 
would be the Columbia of Big City Blues b/w That's You,  Baby.


Taylor




----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Julian Vein" <julianvein at blueyonder.co.uk>
To: "78-L Mail List" <78-l at klickitat.78online.com>
Sent: Thursday, March 15, 2012 9:59 AM
Subject: Re: [78-L] Mildred Bailey in the News!


> On 15/03/12 16:21, simmonssomer wrote:
>> I'll consider Annette Hanshaw as a more important pioneer than Mrs. 
>> Norvo.
>>
>> Al Simmons
>>
> ========================
> Which is more important, who do you like most, or who came first? Bear
> in mind that Annette Hanshaw didn't like the "little girl" image that
> was thrust upon her.
>
>      Julian Vein
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