Benny Fields and his Minstrel Men / The Minstrel Men

[shimp scrampi]

This is an old late 1950s Colpix LP to keep your eye out for! I picked this one up on ebay cheap, and I'm really enjoying it. It can be found under either title, I have the reissue that is just "The Minstrel Men".

Benny Fields, Jack, George Burns, Milton Berle, and Phil Silvers do a great revue of a bunch of standards "By the Light of the Silvery Moon", "Yes Sir, that's My Baby", "Hello My Baby" etc. Amazing energy and it's been making many repeat visits to my turntable.

I didn't quite know what to expect and was fearing it might be tacky or offensive. But aside from the connotations of the word "Minstrel", I didn't find anything objectionable in it at all, no dialect, drawls, or obnoxious lyrics.

It's a raucous, rousing performance from all of them. Heck, even Milton Berle sounds amazing singing in this.

I was reminded of the story in Joan Benny's book about the aged and "unhip" Benny Fields and Blossom Seely being invited out of politeness to perform at one of her teenage parties, and blowing away the whole crowd. I came away from listening to this a Benny Fields fan! Great voice. I wish there was more of his work preserved.

[Gerry O.]

This is an old late 1950s Colpix LP to keep your eye out for! I picked this one up on ebay cheap, and I'm really enjoying it. It can be found under either title, I have the reissue that is just "The Minstrel Men".

Benny Fields, Jack, George Burns, Milton Berle, and Phil Silvers do a great revue of a bunch of standards "By the Light of the Silvery Moon", "Yes Sir, that's My Baby", "Hello My Baby" etc. Amazing energy and it's been making many repeat visits to my turntable.

I didn't quite know what to expect and was fearing it might be tacky or offensive. But aside from the connotations of the word "Minstrel", I didn't find anything objectionable in it at all, no dialect, drawls, or obnoxious lyrics.

It's a raucous, rousing performance from all of them. Heck, even Milton Berle sounds amazing singing in this.

I was reminded of the story in Joan Benny's book about the aged and "unhip" Benny Fields and Blossom Seely being invited out of politeness to perform at one of her teenage parties, and blowing away the whole crowd. I came away from listening to this a Benny Fields fan! Great voice. I wish there was more of his work preserved.

I have that album and I LOVE it! (I bought it at an estate sale...and it's in great shape!)

I love hearing Jack playing "My Honey's Lovin' Arms" on the violin....complete with his "breaks" and George Burns' comments! Yes, Colpix packed a lot of great entertainment in that LP!

[Jack Benny]

Do either of you have the ability to tranfer this to MP3? You could share it with the Benny library, then we could all enjoy it!

[shimp scrampi]

I don't have the equipment or skills, but if there's a digital whiz IJBFC member out there who is good with that kind of thing, I might be persuaded to loan the LP out for the good of the library! Send me a PM.