Young lives. First loves. And a classic American period enlivened by jukeboxes and chocolate malts.

We’re continuing our jaunt through Malt Shop Milestones, my postwar historical fiction series, with the soundtrack of
Berta’s Bounceback.

Below, I’ve listed the blues and jazz songs that have mentions in the book, with the versions/recordings that are specific to Berta’s story.

Take a listen!

“Ain’t Nobody Here but Us Chickens”
Louis Jordan
and
His Tympany Five
1946

Remember “Let the Good Times Roll” from Vicky’s Victory? Well, Berta’s story calls for the flip side of that same record. Another jump blues hit from Jordan—the artist who was known as “the King of the Jukebox.”

“I’ll Be Seeing You”
Billie Holiday
and
Her Orchestra
1944

I’ve listened to Billie Holiday sing this nostalgic jazz piece however many times over the past decade or so. I thought it’d be just the song to help Berta hear the ache in someone else’s heart.

“I Want to Be Loved (But Only by You)”
Savannah Churchill
and
The Four Tunes
1946

Ooh, here’s a rhythm and blues ballad that twinkles and flows with such romantic longing as Savannah Churchill sings it.

Bonus

Dance Break!

There’s a scene in Berta’s story where folks start doing the Lindy Hop: a Black American dance rooted in jazz and known as the original swing dance. The dance was born in Harlem, New York City, in the late 1920s and evolved through generations. Mind you, the scene in Berta’s story isn’t sizzling hot Hoppin’ at its hottest, heeheehee. So I chose a clip that’s a reasonably close match in temp: Lindy Hoppers at the Savoy Ballroom in postwar Harlem.

Find out exactly how all of this singing and dancing ties in to
Berta’s Bounceback!

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