‘Casablanca,’ as timeless as it may seem, sits very snugly in this particular moment. Characters in songs are either heading off to war or waiting for their man to return, radio serials are awash with Nazi spies, and variety shows now function primarily as drives for war bonds.Īt the cinema – still of course the gold standard for culture – this is equally evident. It isn’t just the rough-hewn comedy of Spike Jones and Carson Robinson, or the rapidly produced propaganda films, it seems to be knitted into the fabric of American culture. The USA’s entry into the war at the close of 1941 may not have had an immediate impact upon the course of the conflict, but the impact on popular culture – and particularly on recorded music – is unmistakable. This is the fourth wartime mix, but it’s the first without an often jarring disconnect between music and history. MP3 preview download | Patreon | Apple | Mixcloud | Spotify | Castbox | Stitcher This show would not be possible without my supporters on there, so please consider signing up or sharing this with someone who may be interested.
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