TTK's Happy Housewife Music Thread

[Teasing the Korean]

This is one of my favorite sub-genres of mood music: 1950s uptempo orchestral music with pizzacato strings, xylophones, and dizzying melodic runs, suggesting frantic shoppers, the bustling metropolis, well-dressed travelers and shiny new appliances.

I will post what I consider to be definitive examples in this thread.

Happy listening!

Henri Rene - "Roller Coaster" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=80w57V8bZSk

Edited November 13, 2022 by Teasing the Korean

[Chuck Nessa]

Include me out.

[Teasing the Korean]

This is probably the most famous example:

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SVvZ75b0rrI

And this is probably my favorite example: "Shooting Star" - Les Baxter

Edited November 13, 2022 by Teasing the Korean

[marcello]

Include me out.

[JSngry]

What's taht one that goes

bop

bop-bop

bop-ba-bah-ba-ba bop-ba-bah-bah

and then repeats over a IV chord, then a V chord, then circle-of-fourths out...and then slows down for the bridge?

They used to play it a lot during intermissions at the movies. I thought it was called "Intermezzo", but it's not.

[Noj]

This is probably the most famous example:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SVvZ75b0rrI

Hahahaha, I read your description and I was about to post that song.

How 'bout this one? Nicely employed in film Sexy Beast:

[Teasing the Korean]

That's a regular in my DJ sets, but how is that related to the genre?

JSngry, I don't know the tune you're talking about. What beat does the first "bop" fall on?

[Noj]

I don't really have an ear for this sort of categorization, I guess. The strings are so lush and lovely that I thought it sounded...well, like happy ladies shopping.

[JSngry]

JSngry, I don't know the tune you're talking about. What beat does the first "bop" fall on?

Square on the one.. 1 _ _& 3_ _& 1& 2& 3& 4e&-

[Teasing the Korean]

JSngry, I don't know the tune you're talking about. What beat does the first "bop" fall on?

Square on the one.. 1 _ _& 3_ _& 1& 2& 3& 4e&-

It sounds like Mozart.

[Teasing the Korean]

And here is another favorite, "Starfire" by Bob Thompson, with cold-war era introduction:

Edited November 13, 2022 by Teasing the Korean

[JSngry]

And here is another favorite by Bob Thompson, with cold-war era introduction:

The one I'm trying to remember is not a whole lot unlike this one.

[JSngry]

Ok, I found the song, it's called "Vanessa". I have a Chet Atkins version, but there's definitely some Happy Housewife version of it that was omnipresent at the dawn of the Space Age.

Here's the Atkins version:

BINGO!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aMBDwFvyWw4

Forgot about that waltz part (it's been several decades since last heard)...but Happy Housewifes dreamed of waltzing too, I'm sure.

Edited December 1, 2012 by JSngry

[The Magnificent Goldberg]

I always liked this bit of Laurie Johnson - it was a big hit over here - the theme from some spy TV series in the early 60s. There's a trumpeter in thie who wants to blister but gets cut short.

MG

[Teasing the Korean]

Thanks MG and JSngry! I will have to add that Hugo W tune to my collection.

And now, another all-time favorite, "Bargains Galore" by Crombie and Berry:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_G4QutIo6xs

Edited November 13, 2022 by Teasing the Korean

[JSngry]

How about Happy Secretaries who yearned to be Happy Housewifes?

[Teasing the Korean]

Absolutely! Don't forget, many of those happy secretaries worked in the bustling metropolis!

[The Magnificent Goldberg]

There was a programme on the radio Sunday nights in the fifties - 'In town tonight' - interviews with various performers (or celebs of some kind) visiting London. I remember it was hosted by Vic Oliver, an elderly (in those days) comedian and had a wonderful theme; all sort of traffic-ish but anthemic, too. I'll see if I can pick it up.

MG

[The Magnificent Goldberg]

Right, here it is - The Knightsbridge march by Eric Coates. The actual bit used on the radio begins at 1:18. As I recollect, there was all sorts of traffic noises, which aren't in this recording. And at the end, someone yelled 'STOP!!!!'

MG

[Teasing the Korean]

Very nice! I am such a sucker for that kind of stuff.

There are a number of tunes in this subgenre that evoke traffic, such as "Rush Hour" by Marty Gold:

Edited November 13, 2022 by Teasing the Korean

[The Magnificent Goldberg]

In fifties Britain, this sort of stuff was always called 'light music'. I think it meant 'light classical music'. It was the main musical fare on the BBC, as I recollect. Leroy Anderson was a great favourite on the BBC. They always used to announce the tunes adding, 'by Leroy Anderson', as if it were impossible for an American to write such stuff. (I always thought he was black, until I got a computer and could look things up occasionally.)

MG

[Teasing the Korean]

"Gay Spirits" by David Rose:

Edited November 13, 2022 by Teasing the Korean

[Teasing the Korean]

"Workaday World" by Jack Beaver:

Edited November 13, 2022 by Teasing the Korean

[A Lark Ascending]

In fifties Britain, this sort of stuff was always called 'light music'. I think it meant 'light classical music'. It was the main musical fare on the BBC, as I recollect. Leroy Anderson was a great favourite on the BBC. They always used to announce the tunes adding, 'by Leroy Anderson', as if it were impossible for an American to write such stuff. (I always thought he was black, until I got a computer and could look things up occasionally.)

MG

There's been quite and industry collecting these sort of things onto albums over the last couple of decades. This is the first of a series on Hyperion:

Lots of things you half-recall (well, you might actually recall!) from radio and TV theme tunes.

The one that always throws me back into a Kenneth More world is:

http://youtu.be/XczVq3ZS5gs

I think this set uses the original recordings:

Edited December 2, 2012 by A Lark Ascending

[sidewinder]

Is jazz dead? Can't believe we are discussing this stuff !

Edited December 2, 2012 by sidewinder