Unfortunately, they WERE. I was born far too late, I feel. I missed most of this! Still fascinated at their ability to scat (nobody ever did it better). Also the dead lookalike of the one on the right (your left) of the mic and the one who didn't survive. He with the flying fingers over the guitar.
The level of greatness going on here is absolutely off the charts incredible. First off the guy playing tenor guitar is absolutely killing it AND at the same time singing the low bass lines simulating a Bass guitar, plus he sings great. Then the tight lining up of all the vocals, great harmonies, bang on pitch, plus the guys also simulating Trumpet and trombone parts. If you had your eyes closed you’d swear there was a band there. This is perfect singing, notice how they don’t open their mouths ten feet wide like so many pop and rock singers these days (it’s no wonder most of them end up hurting their voices) dropping your jaw and opening wide and singing too loud is the kiss of death for vocalists. Look at also Roy Orbison, barely opened his mouth when singing, but always had the vocal goods. Killer stuff, the best vocal group of all time, absolutely no contenders.
This song "I Heard" and "How'm I Doing, Hey Hey" were both written by the great Donald Matthew Redman (July 29, 1900 - November 30, 1964). He was an American jazz musician, arranger, bandleader, and composer. Beginning by playing the trumpet at the age of three, Redman joined his first band at the age of six and by the age of 12 was proficient on all wind instruments ranging from trumpet to oboe as well as piano. In 1923, Redman joined the Fletcher Henderson orchestra, mostly playing clarinet and saxophones. He began writing arrangements, and Redman did much to formulate the sound that was to become swing. Redman formed his own band in 1931, gaining a residency at the Manhattan jazz club Connie's Inn. Redman signed with Brunswick Records and undertook a series of radio broadcasts. Redman and his Orchestra also provided music for the animated short 'I Heard', part of the Betty Boop series produced by Fleischer Studios and distributed by Paramount. Redman composed original music for the short, which was released on September 1, 1933. The Brunswick records Redman made between 1931 and 1934 were some of the most complex pre-swing hot jazz arrangements of popular tunes. Redman's band did not rely on just a driving rhythm or great soloists, but it had an overall level of arranging sophistication that was seldom heard by other bands of the period.
John Mills Jr. died January 23 1936. He was only 25. He was the eldest brother and the leader. He played on a ukulele and a 4 string tenor guitar and sang bass like a tuba.
I do absolutely love the Mills Brothers. What really amazes me is how well rehearsed they always are. Their songs are so tight you couldn't slip a knife in between those perfectly enunciated, perfectly in unison and in tune notes. Just love it!
Recorded with ONE microphone on ONE track in ONE take with no auto-tune, limiting or any other stupid garbage; just four people standing before the mic making real music with no artifice except for occasionally leaning into the microphone; that's it; nothing else.
@@WOKINTUSD This is another go at getting here: Who says it looks easy? It would have taken hours of practise and rehearsal and simple musical skill and they had that absolutely.
I wished the studio would have let them played this tune like the way they recorded it for Brunswick in which every brother was allowed to solo and then they finished the tune with great ensemble work.
In a movie they'd almost never give a song that much time if it was a dance number. I guess they figured the audience would get tired just watching singers if there wasn't some dancing going on.
When John Jr. died of TBC in 1936, they lost half of their act, I think. Playing guitar and singing the bass line takes great talent, and listen to his break at 1:10, this guy was also a swinging rhythm master.
@@cynthiapickett7403 True But you know what I like about How they sing? It is how Donald goes solo for a short bit and then harmony then Harry goes solo then harmony again. And Herbert keeps everyone in check in the background. You don't even realize what Herbert does until you stop and focus on him. Like he is the silent genius. Herbert sings solo on the song Blackbird. but he always gives his brothers the spotlight. What a class act.
Oh, I heard, yes, I heard Though it wasn't told to me, I only heard Oh, I heard, yes, I heard Though it wasn't buzzed to me, I only heard Now he said that she said That she didn't know where she got it But he said that she said That the Law was gonna stop it Oh, I heard, yes, I heard Though it wasn't told to me, I only heard Oh, I heard (Whatd'ya hear, boy?) Yes, I heard (Gonna tell me somethin') Though it wasn't told to me, I only heard (Was it keyhole business?) Oh, I heard, yes, I heard Though it wasn't buzzed to me, I only heard (Now, whatd'ya hear now?) Now he said that she said That she didn't know where she got it But he said that she said That the Law was gonna stop it Oh, I heard (I understand), yes, I heard (Yeah) Though it wasn't told to me, I only heard Now, boy, you ain't heard nothin' I overheard the same conversation last night And it wasn't told to me, I only heard (Whatd'you hear, boy?) Well, you don't have to tell nobody Simply 'cause I overheard this And it wasn't told to me, I only heard (Tell us what you heard) Now he said that she said That she didn't know where to buy it And if it ever got out again, boy There'd be a terrible riot Oh, I heard, yes, I heard And it wasn't told to me, I only heard Oh, we heard, yes, we heard Though it wasn't told to us, we only heard Oh, we heard, yes, we heard Though it wasn't buzzed to us, we only heard Now he said that she said That she didn't know where she got it But he said that she said That the Law was gonna stop it Oh, we heard, yes, we heard Though it wasn't told to us, we only heard Wat-dee-no-wah, wat-dee-no-wah Wat-dee-no-wah-wah-wah-wah-wah Now, what you heard, boy Wat-dee-no-wah, wat-dee-no-wah Wat-dee-no-wah-wah-wah-wah-wah (Scatting till end)
My collection of Mills Brothers songs numbers roughly 200 and this song is in my top five….played repeatedly. As a listener notes below, for their enunciation and the best in harmony. Credit should go also to their songwriters and lyricists.
Wadden-de-nah-wah...... that right hand flashing so fast it's a blur. Perfect timing and harmony. What it must have taken to achieve perfection and blended voices. I think they're wonderful (were wonderful). Nobody did the guitar work so perfectly suited to the group. "Boys" was the word they used in those days but they were artists in the best sense.
I was checking The Mills Brothers' wiki only to find out that each member don't have a specific wiki page for them, also I was surprised to find out that John Jr., the one playing guitar, died in 1936 - which the wiki doesn't specify of what, they simply say he fell ill and died on early 1936.
Recorded with ONE microphone on ONE track in ONE take. If this was made now, everyone would have laid down a separate track (including the guitar) and there would have been compression, autotune and god-knows what the fuck else.
You can understand every word ... and they're worth hearing! Their trousers cover their backsides, they're clean, dapper, handsome gentlemen, they don't have to resort to profanity to get attention, they seem intelligent, articulate, and happy to be alive. The world has much to learn from the four lads from Piqua. Cheers for the upload!
Shame that John Jnr. died so young (1936) of pneumonia. They had others later but nobody could do it like he did it. They were all those things and more. I knew the Mills Bros. all my life but never took a great deal of notice until I discovered the early recordings like this, can't get enough. Perfect timing and harmony.
I think that's probably how they billed themselves, as it's the title of their only biography and one of their records. They probably were called that since they started their act as young children. I do think they were young at the time and then men in their 20's were still young "boys" so we'll assume he meant no harm. I was surprised that they would refer to themselves as "boy" given the use of that word....also consider how often women are called "girl" into their adulthood, and no one seems to care.
As an observation, over the years, l can imagine the bashing of the group not only for their singing, but the fact that in their younger days, they were very attractive as well.
The Mills Brothers started out when they were quite young, with the youngest being about seven when he began to sing with the group. Here, they are still quite young. I'm not sure when they started to use the tagline "Four boys and a guitar," but surely after John, Jr.'s death at twenty-six, it no longer applied.
@@GradyPhilpott The term 'boys' was a derogatory one applied in those racist days to African Americans. Not by any means the worst insult and disgraceful way they were treated, of course. I think this is used in the sense of the 1930s and later. Nobody would say that now.
This may have been originally recorded in the late 20's or early 30's before the demon weed known as Marijuana was still legal in the US. It didn't become a taxable thing until 1937. Listen closely to the lyrics and it will make even more sense. These guys were great!!
They are one of the greatest vocal groups ever!
Unfortunately, they WERE. I was born far too late, I feel. I missed most of this! Still fascinated at their ability to scat (nobody ever did it better). Also the dead lookalike of the one on the right (your left) of the mic and the one who didn't survive. He with the flying fingers over the guitar.
@@petertaylor3600 You are talking about Donald and John, Jr.; yes, they DO look a bit alike, don't they?
You got that right👏🏻👍🏻
@@cynthiapickett7403 They are brothers after all
The level of greatness going on here is absolutely off the charts incredible. First off the guy playing tenor guitar is absolutely killing it AND at the same time singing the low bass lines simulating a Bass guitar, plus he sings great. Then the tight lining up of all the vocals, great harmonies, bang on pitch, plus the guys also simulating Trumpet and trombone parts. If you had your eyes closed you’d swear there was a band there. This is perfect singing, notice how they don’t open their mouths ten feet wide like so many pop and rock singers these days (it’s no wonder most of them end up hurting their voices) dropping your jaw and opening wide and singing too loud is the kiss of death for vocalists. Look at also Roy Orbison, barely opened his mouth when singing, but always had the vocal goods. Killer stuff, the best vocal group of all time, absolutely no contenders.
No arguments here.
Now that is for some 40 years they only mime to a track that was doctored by seversl producers and sound engineers
A brilliant observation, informative, entertaining and educational thank you. The Mills Bros were absolutely brilliant.
Im 26 n i lived mills bros since i was 13. First song i ever heard was lucy brown ❤️
Whoever said that there's nothing perfect, never saw these guys!
Wadden-di-nahwah......!
I'm so glad I found this! It has been a long while since I focused on the Mills Brothers. Time to do it again! Sheesh - they were good.
I believe in God now... marvelous.. the Mills brothers 4 ever!!!
I challenge anybody to watch this video without smiling.
I failed miserably.
:(
Not just their spectacular sound. But their relaxed sense of fun really delivers. It's pure pleasure hearing and seeing The Mills Brothers.
This song "I Heard" and "How'm I Doing, Hey Hey" were both written by the great
Donald Matthew
Redman
(July 29, 1900 - November 30, 1964).
He was an American
jazz musician,
arranger, bandleader, and composer.
Beginning by playing the trumpet at the age of three, Redman joined his first band at the age of six and by the age of 12 was proficient on all wind instruments ranging from trumpet to oboe as well as piano.
In 1923, Redman joined the Fletcher Henderson
orchestra, mostly playing clarinet
and saxophones.
He began writing arrangements, and Redman did much to formulate the sound that was to become swing.
Redman formed his own band in 1931, gaining a residency at the Manhattan
jazz club Connie's Inn. Redman signed with Brunswick Records and undertook a series of radio broadcasts. Redman and his Orchestra also provided music for the animated short 'I Heard', part of the Betty Boop series produced by Fleischer Studios and distributed by Paramount. Redman composed original music for the short, which was released on September 1, 1933. The Brunswick records Redman made between 1931 and 1934 were some of the most complex pre-swing hot jazz arrangements of popular tunes. Redman's band did not rely on just a driving rhythm or great soloists, but it had an overall level of arranging sophistication that was seldom heard by other bands of the period.
I never get tired of listening to the Mills Brothers.
John Mills Jr. died January 23 1936. He was only 25. He was the eldest brother and the leader. He played on a ukulele and a 4 string tenor guitar and sang bass like a tuba.
It’s like having 4 of the guy from police academy 😂 I love it
This is why technology is destroying humanity. No one with a cell phone has the discipline and focus to become this polished or sophisticated.
such... swag.
One word not usually heard in association with this vocal group, for some reason.
Real dope.
Life should always sound this good.
Besides the amazing singing, that is some snazzy guitar playing!
Brilliant
Hello Glenys, How are you doing?
This music reminds me there is more to live for in this sad and lonely world
Just unbelievable talent
Absolutely brilliant sound. Such a shame that the oldest brother died so young.
Absolutely magnificent!
I do absolutely love the Mills Brothers. What really amazes me is how well rehearsed they always are. Their songs are so tight you couldn't slip a knife in between those perfectly enunciated, perfectly in unison and in tune notes. Just love it!
They just make me smile.
Such a fine group. Will we ever see anyone with this much talent again? RIP.
Kings!
Every time i Come Back i Just got a big Smile on my face, always makes my Day better 😊😊😊
Hot Ginger and Dynamite!
Recorded with ONE microphone on ONE track in ONE take with no auto-tune, limiting or any other stupid garbage; just four people standing before the mic making real music with no artifice except for occasionally leaning into the microphone; that's it; nothing else.
singing looks easy in fact its really hard to do it. they are real good
Auto tune hasn’t been used in a decade
@@petercushingsexcrementnigh7250 Yes it has. Not at the level you're thinking about, but it gets used in just about every pop vocal track, PETER.
@@WOKINTUSD Who said it looks easy?. There must have been hours of practise and rehearsal to get perfect sound and blending like this.
@@WOKINTUSD This is another go at getting here: Who says it looks easy? It would have taken hours of practise and rehearsal and simple musical skill and they had that absolutely.
Imagine now all 5 are together The original 4 plus Dad and a back up Guitar Norman Brown. WOW that would be a sight !!!!!!!!!!!!
Yep!
The Mills Brothers in their prime!
Simply flawless!
I defy anyone not to tap their toes when listening to this fabulous group.
Really Really Good! and that's coming from a 21 year old dude, I love this stuff!
My Mother loved the Mills Brothers.
Sandra Shuler In my case it would be my grandparents' favorite; one of them anyway.
Perfect
Wonderful
Amazing vocalizations! 😀
Just WOW!❤❤❤
I wished the studio would have let them played this tune like the way they recorded it for Brunswick in which every brother was allowed to solo and then they finished the tune with great ensemble work.
In a movie they'd almost never give a song that much time if it was a dance number. I guess they figured the audience would get tired just watching singers if there wasn't some dancing going on.
AWESOME !!!!!!
The best
THE MILLS BROTHERS AND THE INK SPOTS BEGAN THE VOCAL GROUP ERA THAT LATER LED TO THE DOO WOP ERA.
When John Jr. died of TBC in 1936, they lost half of their act, I think.
Playing guitar and singing the bass line takes great talent, and listen to his break at 1:10, this guy was also a swinging rhythm master.
I am SO glad i'm not the only whohas said/thought this--and Iam a NEW fan!
And John, Jr, definitely would have eventually gone electric, as such guitars were just beginning to be used in big bands at the time.
People don't know or realize that the eldest brother was at the time the undisupted leader of the vocal group.
@@cynthiapickett7403 True But you know what I like about How they sing? It is how Donald goes solo for a short bit and then harmony then Harry goes solo then harmony again. And Herbert keeps everyone in check in the background. You don't even realize what Herbert does until you stop and focus on him. Like he is the silent genius. Herbert sings solo on the song Blackbird. but he always gives his brothers the spotlight. What a class act.
That's not a guitar he's playing it's a ukulele made by the martin guitar company
A class act!
You know what that is? The end? it is HARMONY SCAT!!! Scatting in harmony? Unbelievable!!!
LOVE THESE GUYS ❤
Uffff
WOW
Smooth and effortless!
this was a GEM of watching the young Mills Brothers in this 34 movie clip! thank you for sharing Four Boys & a Guitar! Great scats at the end!
The Mills Brothers are awesome!!!!
Oh, I heard, yes, I heard
Though it wasn't told to me, I only heard
Oh, I heard, yes, I heard
Though it wasn't buzzed to me, I only heard
Now he said that she said
That she didn't know where she got it
But he said that she said
That the Law was gonna stop it
Oh, I heard, yes, I heard
Though it wasn't told to me, I only heard
Oh, I heard (Whatd'ya hear, boy?)
Yes, I heard (Gonna tell me somethin')
Though it wasn't told to me, I only heard
(Was it keyhole business?)
Oh, I heard, yes, I heard
Though it wasn't buzzed to me, I only heard
(Now, whatd'ya hear now?)
Now he said that she said
That she didn't know where she got it
But he said that she said
That the Law was gonna stop it
Oh, I heard (I understand), yes, I heard (Yeah)
Though it wasn't told to me, I only heard
Now, boy, you ain't heard nothin'
I overheard the same conversation last night
And it wasn't told to me, I only heard
(Whatd'you hear, boy?)
Well, you don't have to tell nobody
Simply 'cause I overheard this
And it wasn't told to me, I only heard
(Tell us what you heard)
Now he said that she said
That she didn't know where to buy it
And if it ever got out again, boy
There'd be a terrible riot
Oh, I heard, yes, I heard
And it wasn't told to me, I only heard
Oh, we heard, yes, we heard
Though it wasn't told to us, we only heard
Oh, we heard, yes, we heard
Though it wasn't buzzed to us, we only heard
Now he said that she said
That she didn't know where she got it
But he said that she said
That the Law was gonna stop it
Oh, we heard, yes, we heard
Though it wasn't told to us, we only heard
Wat-dee-no-wah, wat-dee-no-wah
Wat-dee-no-wah-wah-wah-wah-wah
Now, what you heard, boy
Wat-dee-no-wah, wat-dee-no-wah
Wat-dee-no-wah-wah-wah-wah-wah
(Scatting till end)
Thank you
I recently heard:
"Rumours does not work without a name...."
;)
But she said that he said... :D :D
Just wow..Bring it back
Rip legends now they sing in heaven❤
My collection of Mills Brothers songs numbers roughly 200 and this song is in my top five….played repeatedly. As a listener notes below, for their enunciation and the best in harmony. Credit should go also to their songwriters and lyricists.
Wadden-de-nah-wah...... that right hand flashing so fast it's a blur. Perfect timing and harmony. What it must have taken to achieve perfection and blended voices. I think they're wonderful (were wonderful). Nobody did the guitar work so perfectly suited to the group. "Boys" was the word they used in those days but they were artists in the best sense.
they were Annointed by the Holy spirit
Another gem by The Mills Brothers.
This one's golden in all it's brilliance!
I remember this song in a Betty Boop cartoon ❤ Now I can finally hear the whole song
One of my favorite Mills Brothers songs!
I was checking The Mills Brothers' wiki only to find out that each member don't have a specific wiki page for them, also I was surprised to find out that John Jr., the one playing guitar, died in 1936 - which the wiki doesn't specify of what, they simply say he fell ill and died on early 1936.
He contracted either tuberculosis or pneumonia after their gig in the UK. He fell ill when they returned and he shortly passed away thereafter.
Love this ❤
yes i heard
Always on point! Thats ageless talant!
WOW! Just incredibly great!
thank you, sir
Fantastic
Perfection!
Amazing!!! These guys have changed my whole musical outlook
Wonderful!
Recorded with ONE microphone on ONE track in ONE take.
If this was made now, everyone would have laid down a separate track (including the guitar) and there would have been compression, autotune and god-knows what the fuck else.
Pure talent!
Amazing!!!
Thank you very very much!!!
check out herbert and donald during 1:20 - 1:24. perfectly executed voice-led parts.
howardstern666 ..and also in contrast to their later period.
I love the Mills Brothers! Thanks for uploading this, it's really great to see them actually performing this song.
thank you so much for posting and contributing to these successes!
love it so!!!!!! true talent raw and pure
Fajne
Thank you for posting.
-------Ellen
Great stuff!
Coool!
I love it, one of their best!
The original Mills Brothers at their most badass period.
You can understand every word ... and they're worth hearing! Their trousers cover their backsides, they're clean, dapper, handsome gentlemen, they don't have to resort to profanity to get attention, they seem intelligent, articulate, and happy to be alive. The world has much to learn from the four lads from Piqua. Cheers for the upload!
Absolutely. It's refreshing to see. D**g shame the way things seem to be going.
Keep in mind that in the 1930's, not even derelicts wore sagging pants; that was unheard of.
shuuuuut the fuck up
Too bad Piqua treated them like shit.
Shame that John Jnr. died so young (1936) of pneumonia. They had others later but nobody could do it like he did it. They were all those things and more. I knew the Mills Bros. all my life but never took a great deal of notice until I discovered the early recordings like this, can't get enough. Perfect timing and harmony.
“I should have slapped Mrs. Teasdale when she told it to me”
Groucho Marx
anyone notice 2 genius events? a guitar player playing guitar,while using his mouth to sound out the bass,
what did they hear ??
Eventually paving the way for electric guitars(including bass) in the coming decades.
WOW...my favorite by the Mills Brothers...Never thought I'd see a video of It...Thank you soooo much
GREAT!!!!
Correction, Four men and a guitar.
Wayne Hackney Albeit still very young at the time.
THEY even call each other "boy" throughout the song.
BullToTheShit Yeah, but thats conditioning.
I think that's probably how they billed themselves, as it's the title of their only biography and one of their records. They probably were called that since they started their act as young children. I do think they were young at the time and then men in their 20's were still young "boys" so we'll assume he meant no harm. I was surprised that they would refer to themselves as "boy" given the use of that word....also consider how often women are called "girl" into their adulthood, and no one seems to care.
@@samaraisnt They were billed as such at least p to the early 1940s on their 78 rpm records of the period.
As an observation, over the years, l can imagine the bashing of the group not only for their singing, but the fact that in their younger days, they were very attractive as well.
AN EARLY TREASURE!!! THX
❤👍😊
Boys??? GIANTS!
You mean GIANT BOYS.
The Mills Brothers started out when they were quite young, with the youngest being about seven when he began to sing with the group. Here, they are still quite young. I'm not sure when they started to use the tagline "Four boys and a guitar," but surely after John, Jr.'s death at twenty-six, it no longer applied.
@@GradyPhilpott The term 'boys' was a derogatory one applied in those racist days to African Americans. Not by any means the worst insult and disgraceful way they were treated, of course. I think this is used in the sense of the 1930s and later. Nobody would say that now.
Judge Judy would say "That's hearsay"!
This may have been originally recorded in the late 20's or early 30's before the demon weed known as Marijuana was still legal in the US.
It didn't become a taxable thing until 1937.
Listen closely to the lyrics and it will make even more sense.
These guys were great!!
Couldn’t it also have been a reference to alcohol re:18th Amendment?
El coro: aguanten agua, aguanten agua.... Jajajaja
Der Anfang der üblen Nachrede.!
Came here because of Maurice Gibb
The Mills Bros. were a big influence on many artists of the rock 'n roll era, including the Bee Gees.
The brothers early group photo also appears in one of several YT featurettes about African Americans with Native American heritage.