Muddy Water--Paul Whiteman & His Orchestra (1927)
My favorite recording by the Rhythm Boys--Wistful and Blue (1927). The lyrics were written by Ruth Etting
There was a series of LP’s by Jonzo Records (out of England) which were chronologically releasing a collection of every recorded Crosby item, and it starts with a 1926 Columbia recording of “I’ve Got the Girl” by one Don Clark and his LA Biltmore Hotel Orchestra. The second item is Paul Whiteman’s version of “Wistful and Blue.”
One of my favorite Whiteman/Crosby items is “Without a Song.” I’ve always liked Whiteman. He seems to get a lot of disparagement from some jazz buffs who like to deride his “King of Jazz” moniker. But frankly, it was reflective of how the term “jazz” in the 1920s had become rather broad in the public sphere, encompassing just about any particularly peppy dance-music. So I really don’t think Whiteman deserves the flak from modern-day buffs. And heck, he had some top-notch jazzmen in his band anyway, from time to time.