Search - George Olsen :: Beyond the Blue Horizon

Must-have for fans of 1920s music!

Steven Phillips | Ada, OK United States | 01/13/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"George Olsen (originally from Oregon) went from being drum major of the University of Michigan marching band to leading successful pit orchestras for some of the most famous Broadway musical productions of the 1920s. He appeared in numerous Ziegfield follies, George White scandals, etc. His orchestra began recording for Victor records in 1924 and soon became a rival to the top-rated orchestras of Paul Whiteman and Fred Waring. Olsen's most successful recording was the 1925 smash hit, Who?, and was followed by many others including, Lucky Day, Do Do Do, Varsity Drag, and Doin' the Racoon. Olsen appeared in the Eddie Cantor talking picture, Whoopee, in 1930. He also was Jack Benny's first orchestra leader when Benny began his weekly show on radio in 1931.



Olsen's recordings were generally up-tempo renditions of Broadway or other popular tunes. The arrangements were complex, musically "busy", and featured a rotation of lead instruments on repetitions of the main theme, driven by a relentless rhythm section of the "boom-chick" variety. The music reflects and embodies the carefree spirit and hyperactivity of the "jazz age". The vocals are remarkably good and surprisingly understated, for the period. The lead singer was usually Fran Frey who had an unpolished-but-effective-and-charming, relaxed, baritone delivery. (Frey was later musical director for the Ice Capades.) Other songs were tastefully and satisfactorily performed by a vocal trio. Several songs on this CD were sung by Olsen's wife, Ethel Shutta, who had an almost angelic, etherial, soprano voice.



Although Olsen's popularity waned in the 1930s, he continued leading some form of orchestra until he retired in 1951. In his later years, he was a successful restaurateur in Paramus, NJ. His popular restaurant, Olsen's, featured his 1920s and 1930s recordings as background music. He remained active until his death in the early 1970s.



The British label, ASV, has an extensive catalogue of reissued recordings from the 1910s into the 1950s. I have at least twenty ASV releases and all of them are of excellent quality. These Olsen recordings are a pleasure to hear. If you like 1920s music, you will find this CD to be indispensable!"

Great twenties/thirties music!

Jmark2001 | Florida | 10/25/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"George Olsen had a HUGE hit with "Doin' the raccoon." It is an infectious little number celebrating the raccoon coat fad with the college crowd back in the twenties. There was more to this band than just a novelty number, however. They played fantastically, had a great lead singer, and knew how to mix the then-new jazz beat with some melodic dancing music. This is a fun band and the cd is well worth getting."

Nobody Does It Better

M. G. McTigue | New York | 01/03/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"For music of the 20's nobody does it better than George Olsen and his Orchestra. "A Precious Little Thing Called Love" is done so well. In fact his wife sings the chorus, Ethel Shutta, and if I am not mistaken sang the song "Broadway Baby", in the original Sondheim show "Follies", when she was well into her 70's. Again, a thank you to Living Era Records in England for putting all the "older" music on CD."