DAN LAUGHEY

Jazz and Popular Song by Mass Observation, 1938-42

Some themes of MO’s study

What is jazz? (jazz versus popular ‘hits’)Public opinion of pop stars (Gracie Fields, Al

Bowlly)Popular music press and fan culture (Melody

Maker)Revival of mass dancing – Mecca chainEffects of war on music industries (instrument

making, record / gramophone production)AND...Jazz as alternative / urban / youthful / ‘hot’Popular songs as misfiring tools of propaganda

Hawkins at Phoenix Theatre, London

Colossal impression of energy. Some of the other playing had been vivid and impressive but Hawkins seemed to outshine them all, in Obs opinion, by virtue of the forcefulness of his playing…The rasping sound which he produced from the instrument – probably, Obs thinks, due to the very force of his blowing. This tended in Obs opinion to detract from the artistic merit of the performance.The deep breaths which he took. This accompanied by a drawing up of his shoulders and erection of his body to full height. As he exhausted his breath he sank down. Bent his knees when forcing the notes as his breath nearly exhausted. Timed him and he held his breath on an average of five counts for six seconds (AH, April 1939).

Coleman Hawkins at Gig Club, London

Loud cheers greet the end of each number and the Hawk stands beaming down on the crowd round the foot of the stand. He looks the same as at the concert, playing with great vigour. Turns and looks at the individual members of the band as he plays and signals them to do solos by nodding to them. When they are playing he stands with his arm swinging, right hand on the sax. Smiles when a player gets particularly ‘hot’ (AH, April 1939).

Propaganda songs

Tom Harrisson (MO co-founder) calls for MOI/BBC to fund and promote British-made compositions

Need for timely public connection: songwriters ‘using the emotional appeal at the moment needed and disguised as entertainment’

Songs must be filled with optimism and not about the negative effects of war

Public morale v. commercial imperative (TH)

…a conference could be held in the morning, say, on the reluctance to evacuate women and children from big cities. The same evening a song would go over the air, sung, for example, by the typical ‘Strube’s little man’, to his wife and kiddies, expressing humour and courage at the temporary parting and breaking up of their home, instead of as at present, a nostalgic longing to be re-united, a sad separation and frustration song in the language of purely immediate ‘commercial success’, as the publishers demand it (August 1941).