IT CAME FROM THE BOTTOM SHELF!

Attention music lovers, home video enthusiasts, and cultural historians, because Christmas has come early this year!

Did you know that in the early 1940s, over 1,800 three-minute musical shorts were produced to be projected within coin-operated jukeboxes with 17 x 22 inch movie screens? For a dime, you could watch one of these ancestors of music videos, known as “Soundies,” on a refrigerator-sized “Panoram” machine in your local bar, restaurant, or tavern. Happily, almost all of the Soundies survive, preserving performances by music legends such as Duke Ellington, “Fats” Waller, Nat King Cole, Hoagy Carmichael, Liberace, Spike Jones, The Mills Brothers, Les Paul, Doris Day, Cab Calloway, Dorothy Dandridge, and numerous forgotten performers (whose Soundies may be their only filmed appearances).

Kino Lorber’s new Blu-ray release, Soundies: The Ultimate Collection, is a precious gift, which shines a spotlight on this fascinating (nearly-forgotten) bit of entertainment history and provides a 10-hour sampling of these 3-minute musical shorts. The Soundies included in the collection encompass a wide variety of musical styles including big band (it was the 40s, after all), country-western, jazz, rhythm and blues, Latin, boogie-woogie, calypso, folk, and novelty songs. The set includes big hits, such as “Ain’t Misbehavin’” (“Fats” Waller), “Paper Doll” (The Mills Brothers), and “Is You Is or Is You Ain’t My Baby” (Ida James and the King Cole Trio). However, one of the greatest joys of the set is in discovering lesser-known earworms, such as “A Zoot Suit” (Dorothy Dandridge and Paul White) and “Ja Da” (The Dixieland Jazz Band). A full list of tracks and artists is provided below.

In addition to the Soundies being enormously fun, their historical and cultural significance is undeniable. Around one-fifth of the produced shorts starred African American performers and featured all-Black casts. While racial stereotypes occasionally appeared in the shorts, more often the Soundies contradicted the negative depictions of minorities found in Hollywood product of the day. The Soundies had to appeal to audiences in urban centers, where the Panorams were most prominent, so representations of Black people and other minorities had to be more realistic and positive. Not only did remarkably engaging and talented personalities, such as “Fats” Waller and Dorothy Dandridge, find a first-rate showcase in the Soundies; minority background performers were depicted positively in roles such as love interests, next-door neighbors, and workers for the war effort. Furthermore, the Soundies encompassed numerous musical styles, including folk music from diverse cultures, so overall, they displayed a greater representation of the American melting pot than other films of the time.

Another interesting aspect of the Soundies is that they were made outside the Hollywood studio system, and as such, they were not subject to the censorship of the Hays Production Code. Some of the shorts in this collection feature racier subject matter and costumes than was allowed on big screens at the time. The shorts in this collection include examples of mild striptease, gay subtext, and taboo subjects, such as domestic abuse.

Susan Delson did an excellent job curating this Blu-ray collection. The Soundies are arranged in chapters of eight films each, with introductions to put the films in cultural and historic context. Most of these chapters are thematic, focusing on a particular topic, musical style, or performer. However, four of the chapters present an eight-film Soundie reel in the way it was originally presented in the Panoram, so you can get an idea of the variety that was provided in each weekly musical review.

When viewing this collection, it is important to keep in mind that Soundies were meant to be disposable. Panoram owners changed out the 16mm film reels inside the machines weekly, so film producers had to provide eight new filmed songs every 7 days. The shorts had to be produced quickly and cheaply. Often, the sound recording of the song and the lip-synced performance to its playback were completed in a single day. Consequently, the visual and sound quality of the films weren’t great to begin with, and then the reels were run through the Panoram machines over and over again. We’re lucky these films survive at all. Consequently, the quality of the prints in Soundies: The Ultimate Collection vary widely, from sharp 35mm to dupey 16mm. However, it is obvious that every effort has been made to present the films in the best way possible. The Library of Congress and Kino Lorber should be lauded for their preservation efforts.

With 199* included songs, you may not connect with every track, but within three minutes, the Blu-ray set serves up something completely different to capture your attention. I found I loved almost all of the films, which range from wonderfully entertaining to unintentionally hilarious. It is truly a collection with something for everyone.

Soundies: The Ultimate Collection receives my highest recommendation. I doubt I will experience a more enjoyable home video release this year. My only complaint is I want more. While this is the largest collection of Soundies ever presented in a single home video release, it just scratches the surface of the 1,800+ films produced. I hope this Blu-ray set sells so well that it encourages Kino Lorber to produce a Volume 2, 3, 4… (well, you get the idea).

*I know the packaging states that the set includes 200 Soundies, but count them, and tell me I’m wrong. One of the chapters contains seven shorts instead of eight, which keeps the collection just under 200 tracks.

USA/B&W-600m./Dir: Various , including Josef Berne, William Forest Crouch, Arthur Leonard, Dudley Murphy, Robert Snody, Fred Waller/Wr: Various/Cast: Various (see listings above)

For Fans of: This set will be of most interest to fans of music of the 1940s. However, these films are so much fun, I can’t imagine them not appealing to everyone.

Video: The 4-disc Blu-ray set, Soundies: The Ultimate Collection, from Kino Lorber’s “Kino Classics” label, features new scans from the best available 35mm and 16mm prints preserved by the Library of Congress. Susan Delson does a nice job in her introduction explaining that most of the shorts only exist is battered 16mm prints. Some shorts are missing the original opening titles, and others end abruptly, due to missing the final few frames.

As expected, the image and sound quality varies from film to film. A handful of shorts, taken from 35mm elements, look near-pristine. However, most of the surviving elements are well-worn 16mm prints, containing numerous scratches and speckles. There are even a few skips, due to dropped frames, that appear in a small number of songs. None of these variances in quality should discourage you from purchasing this wonderful collection of rarities. The importance of the content is far more important than the variable state in which it exists.

Here’s what’s included:

DISC 1: INTRODUCING SOUNDIES 

Starting from Swing (Introduction by Susan Delson)

1. Jam Session (1942, Duke Ellington and His Orchestra)
2. Dipsy Doodle (1943, Larry Clinton and His Orchestra)
3. Airmail Special (1941, Count Basie & His Orchestra, featuring Jimmy Rushing)
4. Swing for Sale (1941, The Charioteers)
5. Jammin’ in the Panoram (1942, Stan Kenton and His Orchestra with Helen Huntley)
6. Let Me Off Uptown (1942, Gene Krupa and His Orchestra)
7. Take it and Git (1946, Thelma White and Her All-Girl Orchestra with Ellen Connor)
8. She’s Crazy with the Heat (1946, The International Sweethearts of Rhythm, featuring Anna Mae Winburn)

Powered by Dance (Introduction by Susan Delson)

1. Hot Chocolate (“Cottontail”) (1942, Duke Ellington and His Orchestra with Whitey’s Lindy Hoppers)
2. The Chool Song (1942, The Kingsmen with Collins and Collette)
3. Maharaja (1943, Hal and Betty Takier)
4. Breakfast in Rhythm (Introducing “Be Careful”) (1943, The Three Chefs)
5. Mi Rumba (1941, Nano Rodrigo and His Orchestra, featuring the Lola and Andre Dancers)
6. Going to the Barn Dance Tonight (1941, Carson Robison and His Buckaroos)
7. May I Have the Next Trance with You (1942, Grace Pogi and Igor)
8. Arthur Murray Taught Me Dancing in a Hurry (1942, The Three Murtah Sisters)

At the Piano (Introduction by Susan Delson)

1. Tiger Rag (1943, Walter Liberace with Mildred Hughes and Cecilia Nielson)
2. Got a Penny Benny (1946, The King Cole Trio)
3. Ain’t Misbehavin’ (1941, “Fats” Waller)
4. Adventure in Boogie Woogie (1946, Robert Crum)
5. Jealous (1942, Stan Kenton and Hal Borne)
6. Harry the Hipster (1944, Harry Gibson)
7. Dispossessed Blues (1943, Lynn Albritton and the Four Knobs)
8. Grand Piano and Gals (1941, Dorothy Janice and the Mills Piano Quartette)

We’ll Drink to That (Introduction by Susan Delson)

1. Abercrombie Had a Zombie (1941, Liz Tilton and Lee Murray)
2. Clink! Clink! Another Drink (1942, Spike Jones and His City Slickers, featuring Mel Blanc)
3. Moonlight Cocktail (1942, The Murphy Sisters and Patricia Hall)
4. Moonlight Cocktail (1942, Buddy Clark and Dolly Mitchell)
5. Bottoms Up (1941, The Globe Trotters)
6. Cocktails for Two (1942, Bob Hughes and The Mellowaires)
7. Penthouse Party (1945, Gloria Parker)
8. Beer Barrel Polka (1941, The Elton Boys)

Outrageously Incorrect – and Sometimes Subversive (Introduction by Ina Archer & Susan Delson)

1. Ching Chong (1943, Maxine Conrad and Muzzy Marcelino)
2. Hong Kong Blues (1942, Hoagy Carmichael and Mi Chee)
3. Lazybones (1941, Hoagy Carmichael with Dorothy Dandridge and Peter Ray)
4. Ballet Dancer’s Nightmare (1941, The Slate Brothers with Vivien Fay)
5. Ruff and Tuff (1944, Mary Parker and Lou Leonard)
6. Operatin’ Rhythm (1943, The Three Heat Waves)
7. Sleep Kentucky Babe (1945, Day, Dawn, and Dusk)
8. Rigoletto (1945, Day, Dawn, and Dusk)

Straight from the Panoram #1: Soundies Miniature Review No. 1014, May 5, 1941 (Introduction by Susan Delson)

1. You Walk By (1941, Del Casino and His Orchestra with Betty Jane Smith)
2. Swingin’ at the Séance (1941, Johnny Long and His Orchestra, featuring Helen Young)
3. St. Louis Blues (1941, The Four King Sisters with Alvino Rey and His Orchestra)
4. Penthouse Serenade (1941, Johnny Downs and Gale Storm)
5. Don’t Cry (1941, Vincent Lopez and His Orchestra, featuring Sonny Skylar)
6. Swing for Your Supper (1941, Dorothy Dandridge and Cee Pee Johnson)
7. Sheherezade (1941, Dave Schooler and His Twenty-One Swinghearts)
8. Seven Beers with the Wrong Man (1941, Cindy Walker and Peter Buy Rey)

Bonus:

• “Inside the Panoram, Part 1: Birth of the Soundies,” a filmed interview with Mark Cantor, author of The Soundies: A History and Catalog of Jukebox Film Shorts of the 1940s
• “From the Vaults,” a filmed interview with Matt Barton (Curator of Recording Sound at the National Audio-Visual Conservation Center at the Library of Congress) and Mike Mashon (Head of the Moving Image Section of the Library of Congress)

DISC 2: LIFE IN THE SOUNDIES ERA

Going to War (Introduction by Ina Archer & Susan Delson)

1. We’ll Slap the Japs (Right into the Laps of the Nazis) (1942, The Four Sportsmen)
2. Paddy Callahan Has Joined the Army (1942, John Feeney with Charles Devlin)
3. G.I. Jive (1944, Louis Jordan and His Band)
4. K.P. Serenade (1941, The Hoosier Hot Shots)
5. Gee! The Jeep Jumps (1944, The Kimloo Sisters and Bobby Davis)
6. Johnny Zero (1943, The Song Spinners)
7. Goodbye Mama (I’m Off to Yokohama) (1942, Johnnie Johnston and Marvel Maxwell)
8. Hey! Tojo, Count Yo’ Men (1944, Bob Howard)

The Home Front (Introduction by Susan Delson, which also includes the introduction for “On the Job”)

1. I Shut My Mouth for Uncle Sam (1942, Frances Faye)
2. Keep Smiling (1943, The Four Ginger Snaps)
3. When Hitler Kicks the Bucket (1943, Toni Lane)
4. Plant  Little Garden in Your Own Back Yard (1943, The Song Spinners)
5. Ration Blues (1944, Louis Jordan and His Orchestra)
6. Take It Off (1943, The Pretty Priorities)
7. Defend America (1941, The Patriotairs)
8. When Johnny Comes Marching Home (1943, The Four Ginger Snaps)

On the Job

1. Rosie the Riveter (1943, The Smoothies and Cappy Bara’s Harmonica Boys)
2. Don’t Be an Absentee (1943, Patti Ryan)
3. On Time (1943, Carolyn Ayres)
4. Stop That Dancing Up There (1944, Kay Starr and Jimmy Dodd)
5. The Blacksmith Song (1942, Spike Jones and His City Slickers)
6. Frim Fram Sauce (1945, The King Cole Trio)
7. Struttin’ to Sutton Place (1942, Mary Jane Walsh)
8. A Little Jive is Good for You (1941, Martha Tilton with the Slate Brothers)

City Life (Introduction by Ina Archer)

1. Take the ‘A’ Train (1941, The Delta Rhythm Boys)
2. Take Me Out to the Ball Game (1945, The Kimloo Sisters)
3. Tenement Symphony (1942, Bob Carroll)
4. The Joint is Jumpin’ (1941, “Fats” Waller)
5. The Kerry Dance (1942, Kay Lorraine)
6. Give Me Some Skin (1946, The Delta Rhythm Boys)
7. Navy Yard (1943, Toni Lane)
8. Good-Nite All (1943, Johnny Taylor and Drucilla Drew)

…And City Fashion (Introduction by Ina Archer)

1. Gorgeous (1941, Michael Loring)
2. Down, Down, Down (1943, Louis Jordan and His Band)
3. Beautiful Clothes (Make Beautiful Girls (1941, Harry Langdon)
4. Jack, You’re Playing the Game (1941, The Delta Rhythm Boys)
5. A Zoot Suit (1942, Dorothy Dandridge and Paul White)
6. Glamour Girl (1943, Gale Storm)
7. After a While (1945, Danny O’Neil)
8. Emily Brown (1943, Bob Parish and Chinky Grimes)

Straight From the Panoram #2: Soundies Miniature Revue No. 1061, March 30, 1942 (Introduction by Susan Delson)

1. Deep in the Heart of Texas (1942, Van Alexander and His Orchestra with Lew Hearn and Phyllis Kenny)
2. As Mabel Goes So Goes the Navy (1942, Mary Jane Walsh)
3. Where Has My Little Dog Gone (1942, Claude Thornhill and His Orchestra with Martha Wayne and Buddy Stewart)
4. Two Pairs of Shoes (1942, Jean Porter and Larry Stewart)
5. The Skunk Song (1942, Cab Calloway and His Orchestra)
6. Frankie and Johnny (1942, Moore and Revel with the Dixieland Jaz Band)
7. Farewell Blues (1942, Tommy Reynolds and His Orchestra wth Sunnie O’Dea)
8. Drink to Me with Only Thine Eyes (1944, Ginger Harmon and Harry Barris)

Bonus: “Inside the Panoram, Part 2: Inside the Panoram,” a demonstration of a Panoram machine with Mark Cantor

DISC 3: MUSICAL EVOLUTIONS

Stirring Up the Melting Pot (Introduction by Ina Archer)

1. I’m an Old Cowhand (1941, Gus Van)
2. Ta Ha Wa Hu Wa (1943, Lani McIntyre and His Orchestra)
3. Pete the Piper (1941, Susan Miller and Danny Hoctor)
4. Kabek (1944, Yasha Davidoff with Simeon Karavaeff, Lalla Zapipskaya, Nadia Veralle, Russian Balalaika Orchestra)
5. Willie Willie (1943, Sam Manning and Belle Rosette)
6. There’s Nothing Like the Smile of the Irish (1941, Lanny Ross)
7. Swinging in a Harem (1942, Marian Lawrence and Her Dancers)
8. Dance, Baby, Dance (“Tantze Babele”) (1945, The Mel-Tones)

Hillbilly to Country Western (Introduction by Ina Archer & Susan Delson)

1. I Wanna Go Back to West Virginia (1942, Slim Andrews and The Fashionaires with Sybil Rae)
2. There’s a Hole in the Old Oaken Bucket (1941, Florence Gill, Redd Harper, and The Sells)
3. Pass the Biscuits, Mirandy (1943, Spike Jones and His City Slickers)
4. Back in the Saddle Again (1942, Dick Thomas)
5. Montana Plains (1944, Emerson’s Mountaineers)
6. Along the Navajo Trail (1945, John “Shadrach” Horace and Johnny Moore’s 3 Blazers)
7. Why Did I Fall for Abner (1945, Merle Travis and Carolina Cotton)
8. Horse Hairs (1942, Ginger Dulo)

Latin to Staten Island (Introduction by Susan Delson)

1. Rumba New York (1945, Caridad Garcia with Gerald Marks and His Orchestra)
2. Dark Velvet Night (1943, Sergio De Karlo with Patricia Hall)
3. Pumpa Pumpa (1945, The DeCastro Sisters)
4. Paran-Pan-Pan (1941, Maya’s Pan-American Orchestra with Carlos and Zedra)
5. Chi-Chi Castenango (1947, Marilyn Hare and The Paragons)
6. Havin’ a Time in Havana (1942, Marvel Maxwell)
7. Cielito Lindo (1941, The Four King Sisters with Alvino Rey and His Orchestra)
8. He’s a Latin from Staten Island (1941, Ricardo Montalban)

Heading Toward Rock ‘n’ Roll (Introduction by Ina Archer)

1. Wham (1943, The Four Ginger Snaps)
2. Rock It for Me (1943, Maurice Rocco)
3. Opus 12EEE (1944, Harry Gibson)
4. Shoo Shoo Baby (1944, The Les Paul Trio and Carolyn Grey)
5. Four or Five Times (1941, Lucky Millinder and His Orchestra featuring Sister Tharpe)
6. The Lonesome Road (1941, Lucky Millinder and His Orchestra featuring Sister Tharpe)
7. Jumpin’ at the Jubilee (1944, Lois Jordan and His Band)
8. 47th Street Jive (1944, June Richmond with Roy Milton and His Band)

Latin Boogies & Other Hybrids (Introduction by Susan Delson)

1. Rhumboogie (1944, Maurice Rocco and His Rockin’ Rhythm)
2. Hula Rumba (1947, Gloria King and Bernie Kaai with Kuaana’s Dream Islanders)
3. Jive, Little Gypsy, Jive (1941, Bobby Sherwood’s Orchestra, The Three Cheers, Diana Castillo)
4. Jitterbug Senorita (1941, Vincent Lopez and His Orchestra, featuring Anne Barrett)
5. Rhumba Swing (1947, Leona Fredericks and Irving Fields Trio)
6. Yodel (1943, Rosalie Allen)
7. Cowboy Calypso (1946, The Cactus Cowboys and Bobby Gregory)
8. Cow Cow Boogie (1942, Dorothy Dandridge)

Straight From the Panoram #3: Soundies Parade of Hits No. 1137, October 11, 1943 (Introduction by Susan Delson)

1. Au Reet (1943, Jimmy Dorsey and His Orchestra with Helen O’Connell)
2. They’re Going to Build a Monument (1943, The Delegates – Elmer, Sonny, and Glen)
3. Boxcar Rhapsody (1943, Borrah Minevitch and His Harmonica Rascals)
4. Strolling Through the Park (1943, Kaye Popp, Stanley Catron, Jack Baker, Betty Heather, Benny de Sio, Margie Jackson)
5. International Revue (1943, Jack Hylton and His Band)
6. My Reverie (1943, Larry Clinton and His Orchestra)
7. There’s a Pampas Moon on the Campus (1943, Diana Del Rio)
8. Do I Worry? (1943, Patterson and Jackson)

Bonus:

• “Inside the Panoram, Part 3: Modes of Production,” a discussion of the film production companies and their methods with Mark Cantor
• “The Minoco Logo,” a collection of silent, filmed production company logos for the Soundies

DISC 4: WOMEN, SEXUALITY, AND GENDER

Is It Love or Is It Conscription? Heterosexuality and World War II (Introduction by Susan Delson)

1. Goodbye Dear, I’ll Be Back Next Year (1941, The Landy Trio)
2. Is It Love or Is It Conscription? (1941, Les Brown and His Orchestra, featuring Doris Day)
3. Love’s Gonna Be Rationed (1943, The Song Spinners)
4. Pin-Ups on Parade (1944, Lee Sullivan and The Dream Dolls)
5. Paper Doll (1942, The Mills Brothers and Dorothy Dandridge)
6. But What Are These? (1946, Gracie Barrie)
7. Lackadaisical Lady (1941, Jimmie Dodd)
8. I’d Love to Know You Better (1942, Gayle Mellott and Ralph Young)

Anxieties, Bickering, and Heartbreak (Introduction by Susan Delson)

1. Is You Is or Is You Ain’t My Baby (1944, Ida James and the King Cole Trio)
2. Better Not Roll Those Eyes (1942, Harry Barrie and Jean Porter)
3. You’re Unfair to Me (1941, Florence Pepper and The Cameo Girls)
4. Buzz Me (1945, Lois Jordan and His Tympany Five)
5. Mailman Blues (1942, Nita Norman)
6. Low Down Dog (1944, Meade “Lux” Lewis and Dudley Dickerson)
7. The Story of Two Cigarettes (1945, Vicki Richards and Don De Leo)
8. I’m Tired (1944, Apus and Estrellita)

Playing with Expectations: Loosening & Upending 1940s Stereotypes of Women (Introduction by Susan Delson)

1. Does You Do or Does You Don’t (1946, Vanita Smythe)
2. He Plays Gin Rummy (1942, Gale Storm and Iris Dawn)
3. The Blushing Bride (1942, Jackie Gately)
4. I’ve Got to Get Hot (1942, Gracie Barrie)
5. Bearcat Mountain Gal (1942, Cindy Walker)
6. Time Takes Care of Everything (1946, June Richmond)
7. Stone Cold Dead in the Market (1946, Gracie Barrie)
8. Minnie from Trinidad (1942, Luba Malina)

Jumping into Gender Play (Introduction by Ina Archer & Susan Delson)

1. Ma, He’s Making Eyes at Me (1942, Ted Fio Rito and His Skylined Music, featuring Candy Candido)
2. Faust (1945, Day, Dawn, and Dusk)
3. Shy Anne from Old Cheyenne (1942, Denver Darling and His Texas Cowhands)
4. On the Boulevard (1946, Carolyn Grey and Jimmie Dale)
5. Too Many Sailors (1944, The Burch Mann Dancers)
6. The Better Half (1943, Leila Moore)
7. You Never Know! (1946, The Harem Trio and Arica Wild)
8. Shoeshiners and Headliners (1941, Florence Pepper)

Dorothy Dandridge and Gale Storm (Introduction by Ina Archer & Susan Delson)

1. I’m a Shy Guy (1943, Gale Storm and Ray Shultis)
2. Yes, Indeed! (1941, Dorothy Dandridge and the Five Spirits of Rhythm)
3. Let’s Get Away From It All (1941, Johnny Downs with Gale Storm)
4. Blackbird Fantasy (1942, Dorothy Dandridge with Billy Mitchell)
5. I Know Somebody Who Loves You (1941, Gale Storm and the Fashionaires)
6. Jungle Jig (1941, Dorothy Dandridge and Cee Pee Johnson)
7. The Merry-Go-Roundup (1941, Gale Storm and the Dom Brothers and Mary, with The Palladium Handicap Girls)

Straight From the Panoram #4: Soundies Parade of Hits No. 1189, November 20, 1944 (Introduction by Susan Delson)

1. Canine Capers (1944, Max and His Gang)
2. The Line is Busy (1944, Performers unknown)
3. Tea on the Terrace (1944, Marvel Maxwell)
4. Side by Side (1944, Nick Lucas)
5. Paris is Gay Again (1944, Joan Marshall and James Alexander)
6. Dance Impressions (1944, Bobby Davis)
7. Ja Da (1944, The Dixieland Jazz Band)
8. Ain’t She Pretty (1944, The Three Peppers)

Bonus: Celebrating the Chorus Line (Introduction by Susan Delson)

1. Backstage Blues (1943, Lynn Albritton, Lou Ellen and the Harlem Cuties)
2. Born to Swing (1941, Ginger Harmon)
3. Brazil (1944, Nilo Menendez and His Orchestra with Maria Del Rey and Raul Martinez)
4. Give This Little Girl a Great Big Hang (1942, Ann Pennington)
5. Chatter (1943, Cook and Brown and the Sepia Steppers)
6. Pan-Americonga (1941, Rita Rio with Allan Baldwin and Theodore)
7. They’ll Be Some Changes Made (1941, Ginger Harmon)
8. Everybody’s Jumping Now (1947, Noble Sissle and His Orchestra with Mabel Lee)

Bonus: “Inside the Panoram, Part 4: Epilogue,” with Mark Cantor

In addition, there is an illustrated 44-page booklet with essays by Susan Delson, Ellen C. Scott, and Mark Cantor

Streaming: Currently, a collection of 50 Soundies is streaming on Max (formerly HBO Max). This includes some shorts found in this Blu-ray set and others that aren’t. In addition, in the original press release, Kino had mentioned that Soundies: The Ultimate Collection would also be released digitally on their Kino Now platform. It is possible that the Kino Now release is still forthcoming.

More to Explore: Let’s hope that this collection sells well enough to warrant additional collections, because I’d love to own the remaining Soundies of “Fats” Waller, Spikes Jones, and Louis Jordan. I’d also love to get the Louis Armstrong Soundies, which are discussed in the special features, but aren’t included within the collection. There were even comedy Soundies from the team of Smith & Dale (which would be a great addition to Volume 2).

Trivia: Normally, I would add a piece of trivia regarding a particular film that I’m reviewing.  However, there are so many golden tidbits of information to be found in the introductions and interviews included in this set, I’ll just say, “Buy the Blu-rays and dig in.”

For More Info: There are a couple of books on Soundies from contributors to the Kino Lorber set. Susan Delson, the curator of the Blu-ray collection, has written Soundies and the Changing Image of Black Americans on Screen: One Dime at a Time. In addition, Mark Cantor recently released The Soundies: A History and Catalog of Jukebox Film Shorts of the 1940s. Completists may also want to seek out The Soundies Book: A Revised and Expanded Guide by Scott MacGillivray and Ted Okuda.