#22 George Mitchell Minstrels: The Black and White Minstrel Show

A shameful reminder of just how heavy light entertainment can be…

(His Master’s Voice)

Topped the Chart:

23rd July 1961 (for 4 weeks)

27th August 1961 (for 1 week)

10th September 1961 (for 1 week)

15th October 1891 (for 1 week)

7 weeks total

Written as it is by a middle-aged, middle-class cis white man, this blog is not the place to discuss the deeply racist history of Minstrel music. There are other places on the internet with the knowledge and understanding to tackle the subject in depth, suffice to say it’s shameful that the deeply racist George Minstrel Minstrels were on prime-time British television to huge viewing figures as late as 1978.

Which makes reviewing their music potentially awkward, but thankfully what we have here is as dire as it is offensive. Made up of eight medleys themed around certain performers or ideas, the tracks chosen are both twee and traditional (Daisy Bell segues into Moonlight Bay on Your Requests), and drearily arranged (A Tribute to Al Johnson is particularly uninspired). At other points, the movements between segments are jarring in the transitions, often switching from light operetta style to fast paced folksy banjo.

Does this leave anything positive to say? The tunes are quite well sung in places, and the harmonies often stand out, but that isn’t anywhere near enough to make up for just how outdated this was in 1961, both musically and morally.

Score: 3/10

Tracklisting:

SIDE ONE

1.      Meet The Minstrels

2.      Leslie Stuart Melodies

3.      In the Moonlight

4.      Your Requests

SIDE TWO

5.      Meet the Girls

6.      A Tribute to Al Jolson

7.      Memories of Stephen Foster

8.      Grand Finale