Let Me Off Uptown

"Let Me Off Downtown" is a short film that is a 'Soundie'...an early sort of music video that was played on specially built jukeboxes from 1940-1947. These jukeboxers were unusual because they not only played music but video...like music videos of the modern era. And, if you are curious about this an other soundies, you might want to buy yourself a copy of "Soundies the Ultimate Collection"...a 4 disc set of about 200 of these films.

The biggest reason to watch this is because it features Gene Krupa and his band. In his day, Krupa was considered one of the greatest living drummers and there aren't a lot of filmed examples of his work. Well worth seeing and fun.

Gene Krupa leads his band in the title song, with trumpeteer Roy Eldredge featured.

It's one of more than two thousand "soundies" produced between 1939 and 1947, meant to be played on a device called a Panoram. For seven years they could be found in bars, night clubs, and other places where people would gather. Think of them as music videos, available for viewing at a dime a song.

Krupa was one of the leading drummers of the era, and like always when he gets into playing, he looks baked. His racially integrated band was unusual for the era, and it's on full display here in this song about going to Harlem where the hot night clubs were.

Just watched this Soundie on YouTube which begins with "The Ace Drummer Man" Gene Krupa playing his drums before singer Anita O'Day sings the title song which is accompanied by a couple of dancers with the male being dark-skinned and the female the opposite. Oh, and lots of scenes of the rest of the orchestra playing their parts, too. Once again, this was another enjoyable "music video" from the '40s that played on Panorams (film jukeboxes) in various restaurants, bars, and train or bus stations all over the country during this time. Quite infectious, this music from an era before I was even born. Since I'm near the 10-line requirement, I'll just say if you're as interested in this era like I am, you'll highly enjoy Let Me Off Uptown.