[SYN-038]
When the Mills Brothers' first records were released in 1931, they bore a striking legend on the label: "No musical instruments or mechanical devices used on this recording other than one guitar." Actually, that wasn't quite true. In fact, there were four astonishing musical instruments on display - the voices of the four Mills boys, who had the uncanny ability to sound just like brass players. A cute novelty act? Absolutely, but it turned out to be far more; the Millses parlayed their unique talents into a career that lasted for more than half a century. The mock-brass technique was the boys' own invention, and it set the late-'20s vaudeville circuit alight. In 1930, they moved to New York, and over the next six years recorded a magnificent series of singles, 14 of which are collected on this disc. — Mac Randall