Reid was back on the bandstand by February 1944 with Robin Mohr’s orchestra. In July she was with Herbie Fields, but by October she was singing for Johnny Richards, with whom she recorded. A review at the time said Reid looked bored in Richards’ band and had bad stage manners. In April 1945, she joined George Paxton’s outfit, though she was dropped after less than a month. She then joined Randy Brooks in early June but stayed only a few days, leaving to tour with Benny Goodman for seven weeks. She made two recordings with the King of Swing.
So why am I bringing this all up again and why is the title to this blahg so long? Good questions. Read on.
The current Dottie Reid update is not directly tied to that first blahg I wrote on her. In fact, I wrote a follow-up blahg, HEY, REMEMBER THAT BLAHG ABOUT DOTTIE REID I FINALLY WROTE?, where I posted some live remotes she had performed with the Buddy Rich Orchestra in 1946. I had not acquired them when I wrote the first blahg but later received them and highlighted them in the second blahg. I also mentioned a couple of songs she recorded on the Tonex label in 1953 and said “I could find no updates for the Tonex recordings but I’ll keep looking. Maybe someday I’ll find those recordings and have to pen another addendum blahg with the title, “HEY, REMEMBER THAT ADDENDUM BLAHG ABOUT DOTTIE REID WHERE I SAID I MIGHT HAVE TO WRITE AN ADDENDUM BLAHG TO THE ADDENDUM BLAHG?” Sorry, I haven’t found the Tonex recordings but I did find something else that warranted me dusting off the long Addendum title for this new blahg.
There is a reason why I posted about the 1944/1945 period earlier in this blahg and specifically how she had been associated with the Johnny Richards band. I was doing some research, trying to locate the two Tonex recordings when I came across a listing for a Victory Parade of Spotlight Bands from March 10, 1945 featuring the Johnny Richards band with Dottie Reid doing a couple of vocals. I found an advertisement for the appearance but it didn’t mention Dottie Reid:
I was able to find the entire show and was able to confirm that Dottie Reid was on the program and sang “A Little On The Lonely Side” and “I’ve Got To See My Baby.” The latter song was the one she recorded with Richards’ outfit on December 4th, 1944. Here’s that recorded version:
And now here’s the full Victory Parade of Spotlight Bands from March 10, 1945:
I was going to end this blahg with that remote but another interesting recording caught my eye that certainly fits into this addendum. A few times, I have seen “Dottie Reid” referred to as “Dotty Reid.” I came across a recording from 1945 on the Guild label with George Paxton Orchestra that credits the vocal to “Dotty Reid.” Have a look at the label:
Is Dotty Reid the same as Dottie Reid? I believe it is because the BandChirps website said “In April 1945, she joined George Paxton’s outfit, though she was dropped after less than a month.” That’s good enough for me. Less than a month with the band but she at least got to record with Paxton’s orchestra. Give “Bell Bottom Trousers” a listen:
I also came across a listing for another Guild label release of the George Paxton Orchestra with another vocal by Dotty Reid. The song is “Stormy Crossing”:
Unfortunately, I could not find anywhere to stream “Stormy Crossing” and the discography for Dotty Reid with George Paxton on the Guild label that I found only lists her on “Bell Bottom Trousers” and “Stormy Crossing”:
That’s it for this addendum to the addendum blahg on Dottie Reid. Two live versions of one song we’ve heard and one we haven’t plus a “Dotty Reid” recording with the George Paxton Orchestra. I’ll keep trying to find those Tonex recordings and the other Guild label release. I’ll have to shorten the title of that blahg if I do find them. How about “Dottie Reid Addendum Cubed?” It has a nice ring to it!
Tags: Dottie Reid, False Ducks, Johnny Richards, Scott Henderson