The 1942 AFM recording ban

A little history lesson for today. In August 1942, the American Federation of Musicians (AFM) started a strike. The issue was a fee to fund the union to compensate out-of-work musicians and for special projects. The strike would last over two years and had an enormous impact on popular music of the forties and the music industry as a whole.

Of course I'll play a lot of music that was released in that time despite the ban, including a historical V-disc, and I will show why there is a striking parallel between what AFM chairman Petrillo stood for, and the current developments in the music industry.

Transcript

Playlist

1. Charlie Barnet & His Orchestra - Washington Whirligig
2. Andy Kirk and His Clouds of Joy - Take It And Git
3. Bea Booze - See See Rider Blues
4. Dinah Washington - Evil Gal Blues
5. Lucky Millinder & His Orchestra - Apollo Jump
6. Erskine Hawkins - Bear Mash Blues
7. Duke Ellington & his Orchestra - Things Ain't What They Used To Be
8. Gus Gibson & Will Chastain - Milk Cow Blues
9. James P. Johnson - Backwater Blues
10. Lionel Hampton And His Orchestra - Flying Home
11. Louis Jordan - Five Guys Named Moe
12. Charlie Parker - Cherokee
13. Dinah Washington - Salty Papa Blues
14. Dinah Shore - Memphis Blues

• Wild Bill Moore Sextette - Bongo Bounce

• Kirk Kirkland - The Saxaphone Rag
• Duke Ellington & His Famous Orchestra - Bojangles
• Charlie Spivak & His Orchestra - Let's Go Home
• Jimmy Dorsey & His Orchestra - Sorghum Switch