Ukulele chanteuse Janet Klein's 2004 most hotsy totsy CD release entitled "JANET KLEIN'S SCANDALS" vivaciously evokes the mischievous music of 1910-30s nightclubs, clip joints and dance halls with a simmering selection of early jazz tunes. Most of these 22 songs are originally from burlesque, Vitaphone short films, dance hall and movie musicals of the 1920s and 30s, many of which originally not intended for radio or records. In the vein of naughty comedy singers like Sophie Tucker, Eddie Cantor, Fannie Brice and Chico Marx, Janet renders these clever tunes with a loving flare like no other sweet spunky gal can. The captivating Janet Klein and Her Parlor Boys have a knack for bringing to life great forgotten music, in a fresh and irresistible way.
The title and evocative cover of the CD is a play on images and words from the original 1930's George White Scandals variety show and follies. They ably represent the CD's saucy thematic contents as the band delivers their own musical follies show complete with naughty comic tunes, Burlesque patter, hot dance hall numbers and some sweet and soulful songs to round things out. The first six titles can give you an idea of what's going on here: "Hollywood Party, Good Little Bad Little You, You Keep Me Living in Sin, How Could Red Riding Hood? My Bluebirds Are Singing The Blues, Don't Take That Blackbottom Away."
The CD features inspired performances by Parlor Boy notables: Ian Whitcomb (of 1960's pop fame), Tom Marion and Robert Armstrong (of Robert Crumb's Cheap Suit Serenaders), 91 year old Bob Mitchell (of Bob Mitchell's Boys Choir, featured in over 110 movies) and Dan Levinson horn player for Leon Redbone. It's produced by Robert Loveless of the innovative groups: Scenic, 17 Pygmies and Savage Republic.
This is Janet's 4th CD release and as in her former releases, great care has been taken to produce a quality package with exquisite design well representative of its red-hot jazz musical contents.