One of the saddest thing about our move from records to tapes to CDs to digital is that so many great singers, songs and songwriters have gotten lost in the shuffle. Sure, you can find most things now with a quick Googling, an online swipe of the credit card, and voila! But as a music lover, there is a certain thrill of the chase that has been lost, and unfortunately, the recordings that didn’t manage to make the leap into the digital future are even harder to come by these days.
And so, one of the things I love most about Janet Klein & Her Parlor Boys is that they’ve brought so many great songs of the roaring twenties kicking and screaming (and sounding amazing) into the new millennium. These are incredibly talented modern musicians doing fantastic renditions of songs that might not otherwise be heard anymore. Hooray!
Case in point: the fantastically naughty “How Could Red Riding Hood (Have Been So Very Good)” from their album ‘Janet Klein’s Scandals: Living In Sin’. Recordings of this song are hard to find, even via the internet, and it’s a shame, because it is fabulous. And filthy! In a fantastic way. First published in 1926, it was one of the first songs to be banned from radio play due to its suggestiveness. And… um… no wonder:
Father and Mother… she had none. So where in the world did the money come from? Please let me ask it : who filled her basket? The story books, they never tell…. Now they say that she found a great big wolf in Granny’s bed… And he had a great big sunbonnet pulled down over his head… …but you know and I know what she must have found instead! How could Red Riding Hood have been so very good And still keep the wolf from the door?
Ahem.
So yes, I’m a big fan of all of Janet Klein’s albums, both for her song selections (and there are COUNTLESS gems, seriously, it is like a nonstop gem factory) and the music itself: she plays a mean ukelele, and is backed by incredible musicians. Their albums are wonderful all by themselves, but they’re also the perfect gateway to lesser-heard music of the 20s and 30s: an ideal way to discover new songs and create a jumping off point to search out original artists and recordings.
This post includes one or more affiliate links. If you purchase something after clicking through, we may receive a small commission from the designer, retailer or shop (thanks!) More info here.
A couple things become immediately clear from this Bonwit Teller ad (pulled from a 1929 issue of Vogue Magazine). First of all, there is no downside to the drama of a long, gorgeous cap veil. Even with (maybe especially with) the sleek lines of a 20s style wedding dress. Secondly, can we bring back “gowned” …
I came across an original copy of this charming 1920s Wrigley’s ad (for sale here on Amazon) and I have to say, it is pretty adorable…. Look at that beautifully dressed, round-faced, gum-loving couple! Definite style tips to be found here (groom’s look is ON POINT). Maybe not so much with the married-life tips (“we …
Love this elegant ad from La Presse (Montreal), dated May 26th, 1928. Titled “Pour Le Grand Jour” (“For The Big Day”) it features a collection of illustrated bridal looks, including a drop-waist gown, gorgeous cap veils and a variety of hats, all set against a classic geometric deco green and yellow color scheme. Magnifique!
Music is a vital part of any wedding, but vintage themed weddings in particular benefit from the perfect soundtrack. Luckily, the ’20s and ’30s offer an embarrassment of riches on the musical front! If you’re anything like me, the problem will be narrowing the playlist. If you don’t have a collection of 1920s/30s music already, …
1920s Music | Janet Klein + Her Parlor Boys
One of the saddest thing about our move from records to tapes to CDs to digital is that so many great singers, songs and songwriters have gotten lost in the shuffle. Sure, you can find most things now with a quick Googling, an online swipe of the credit card, and voila! But as a music lover, there is a certain thrill of the chase that has been lost, and unfortunately, the recordings that didn’t manage to make the leap into the digital future are even harder to come by these days.
And so, one of the things I love most about Janet Klein & Her Parlor Boys is that they’ve brought so many great songs of the roaring twenties kicking and screaming (and sounding amazing) into the new millennium. These are incredibly talented modern musicians doing fantastic renditions of songs that might not otherwise be heard anymore. Hooray!
Case in point: the fantastically naughty “How Could Red Riding Hood (Have Been So Very Good)” from their album ‘Janet Klein’s Scandals: Living In Sin’. Recordings of this song are hard to find, even via the internet, and it’s a shame, because it is fabulous. And filthy! In a fantastic way. First published in 1926, it was one of the first songs to be banned from radio play due to its suggestiveness. And… um… no wonder:
Father and Mother… she had none.
So where in the world did the money come from?
Please let me ask it : who filled her basket?
The story books, they never tell….
Now they say that she found a great big wolf in Granny’s bed…
And he had a great big sunbonnet pulled down over his head…
…but you know and I know what she must have found instead!
How could Red Riding Hood have been so very good
And still keep the wolf from the door?
Ahem.
So yes, I’m a big fan of all of Janet Klein’s albums, both for her song selections (and there are COUNTLESS gems, seriously, it is like a nonstop gem factory) and the music itself: she plays a mean ukelele, and is backed by incredible musicians. Their albums are wonderful all by themselves, but they’re also the perfect gateway to lesser-heard music of the 20s and 30s: an ideal way to discover new songs and create a jumping off point to search out original artists and recordings.
This post includes one or more affiliate links. If you purchase something after clicking through, we may receive a small commission from the designer, retailer or shop (thanks!) More info here.
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I came across an original copy of this charming 1920s Wrigley’s ad (for sale here on Amazon) and I have to say, it is pretty adorable…. Look at that beautifully dressed, round-faced, gum-loving couple! Definite style tips to be found here (groom’s look is ON POINT). Maybe not so much with the married-life tips (“we …
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Love this elegant ad from La Presse (Montreal), dated May 26th, 1928. Titled “Pour Le Grand Jour” (“For The Big Day”) it features a collection of illustrated bridal looks, including a drop-waist gown, gorgeous cap veils and a variety of hats, all set against a classic geometric deco green and yellow color scheme. Magnifique!
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Music is a vital part of any wedding, but vintage themed weddings in particular benefit from the perfect soundtrack. Luckily, the ’20s and ’30s offer an embarrassment of riches on the musical front! If you’re anything like me, the problem will be narrowing the playlist. If you don’t have a collection of 1920s/30s music already, …