Great song that I often get auto-played onto. Glad to own it now.
Of all of the freelanced singers cutting for different bands back in the 20s and 30s, like Irving Kaufman, Smith Ballew, and others, I've always took to the one who is possibly the most ARC defining artist: Chick Bullock. Not just because of his very distinct and cutting voice not only being instantly recognizable, but because of the songs he sung on, even when being a sad or dramatic, still end up sounding joyous. He, like the others sang for an unbelievable amount of groups, and was loyal to none. A lot of times, they'd be labeled as His Orchestra, or more frequently as his Levee Loungers, or even just him solo. Though, its been said that the Levee Loungers was under the same situation as records labeled His Orchestra, and wasn't ever an actual solid band. If it wasn't multiple bands, then it'd be studio orchestras.(I love the ARC, but this is ridiculous that this even happened)
Chick's first records were on Domino in 1930. Following this, several records for Columbia. In 1931, he would sign with both Victor and to the ARC. For Victor & Columbia, he'd record only with the other bands by Ellington, Calloway & others and only get singing credit. So He'd sing for the many bands in the ARC, for the many labels like Perfect, Banner, Oriole, Melotone, Regal, etc. Even getting on a few Durium disc, but he'd leave Columbia. By 1932, he left Victor, being only with the ARC. This would be where he would record the most extensively, and as Columbia & Brunswick would be acquired as the empire grew, bringing in Vocalion as well, he became one of the most recorded artists on the ARC, and even as the other artists left as the mid 30s came and went, Chick stayed, right up to it's collapse in mid 1938. He would record on Vocalion until 1940 when he would retire from the record industry all together.
Chick only had four hits all together. Those were Lullaby Of Broadway in 1935, Lazy Louisiana Moon in 1930, Underneath Harlem Moon in 1932, and Darkness On The Delta in 1933.
