Pax Terra Unwarranted

The cover of the vinyl. The cover had a brief, interesting summary of Jimmie Lunceford’s band development and touring experiences. This is a one vinyl record.

This is my first Record Review, so I would like to set a disclaimer. These are my personal opinions and experiences of the records. I encourage anyone reading this to listen on their own time to experience the record themselves. Also, don’t be shy about sending me your own take. I’d be glad to hear what you think! There will be a section at the bottom for you to reach out to me.

Side One:

At the beginning of the record, I hear a lot of upbeat rhythm and lyrics. I can hear the influence of romantic relationships through the lyrics and overall tone of the instrumentation. The lyrics are definitely about a “lover boy” and his mysterious lovers. I can hear their curiosity and interest bleed through the instrumentation as well as the lyrics. In track 4, “Uptown Blues”, there is an immediate downshift in tone. You can hear why this track was titled “Uptown Blues”. The prominent horn says it all followed by the slow tempo of the other instruments and low vocals. In my opinion, this was a great representation of blues because of the slow tempo and lack of lyrics. This shift of emotions brings a richness to the album especially with track 3, “Charmaine”, being so bright and romantic. Side One ends with a slower tempo track, “Well All Right Then”. This gives the energy of transition to the next side. Side One was bright and romantic. Let’s flip it!

Side Two:

The opening of Side Two feels like a club setting with drinks and beautiful women. I can only imagine. I can hear a subtle shift in culture due to the rhythmic horns like the 1920s. The slowed tempo makes it distinct and bluesy. The dispersed vocals and the guitar that follows the melancholy of the lyrics adds to the vibe. The lyrics are harsh and expose the feelings of a man with a promiscuous women. The energy isn’t entirely saddened because of the fast tempos and the upbeat horn solos. The last track of Side 2, “Rhythm is Our Business”, shows the level of pride and commitment these musicians had. Hearing band members be names on the record shows how creative Lunceford was at promoting the band members. As a owner of a production company, I get how creative you have to be in marketing.

Summary:

This album was high-energy and somewhat romantic. I sensed the shift in the tone of music transitioning out of the “speakeasy 1920s”. In my opinion, this was a roller coaster of curiosities and emotions of a man for multiple women. I like the energy of the album especially the placements of the shifts. There were some indications that this music was written with multiple genres of music in mind. The blues, RnB, and orchestral arrangements. Overall, I consider this unique and maybe a game changer for its time. I definitely would like to hear more music from this era to get a better glimpse of the album in its prime. Was this worth buying in the mid 1930s -1950s?