I Dreamt I Dwelt in Harlem

The Delta Rhythm Boys sing a nice, swingy version of the title song in this soundie.

Soundies were short films, about three minutes in length. The were meant to be played on a machine called a Mills Panoram, a video jukebox that was typically to be found in bars, lounges, and similar venues. You put a dime in and got a performance from the ten on the machine. The movies would be changed weekly, and from 1940 through 1946, Mills and other companies produced more than two thousand soundies.

Although not well remembered, the Delta Rhythm Boys were important in crossover music in the era. Listen to this and you'll understand why.