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Updated June 1998 |
All selections are in streaming Real Audio. To listen, you will need the free Real Player. Click on the icon to download yours. |
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I acquired this one a few months ago and fell for it immediately. Don't let the name of the band fool you as there is nothing militaristic about this one. It is a lively ragtime number. Out Of A Million You're The Only One Abe Lyman's California Orchestra 1924 I have had this record since I was a little kid and have yet to grow tired of listening to it. Lyman had one of the more enduring bands; it remained active into the late '40s Saxophobia Rudy Wiedoeft 1921 As I mentioned in the last update to this section, Wiedoeft was a popular saxophonist who had a thing for songs that ended with the letter "A." Wiedoeft was also the composer of this late example of ragtime. Snake Hips Memphis Five 1923 I didn't know that snakes had hips! This is a really good jazz number - although it does have a certain Middle-Eastern flavor interjected throughout. This is quite common of the records of the era. I suspect that the reason had much to do with the popularity of Rudolph Valentino films. 
Mabel Garrison This is from the Jacques Offenbach operetta. If you are not already familiar with Offenbach's works, I strongly recommend them. I have read that in theatrical circles his name became associated with bad luck and, therefore, people crossed themselves whenever it was mentioned! Garrison performed with the Metropolitan Opera. King Cotton March Walter B. Rodgers and His Band 1922 The King Cotton is one of my favorite marches. In Blinky, Winky, Chinky, Chinatown Peerless Quartet 1916 Racial stereotypes were not uncommon in the popular music of the era. Compared to some others, this one is actually quite mild. Colombia Waltz Blue and White Marimba Band 1916 In the last update to this section, I featured an upbeat march by this band from the other side of the record. This selection offers a somewhat slower tempo. And no, I did not misspell the title. That is exactly how it appears on the record . I do not know if the composer intended for it to be spelled that way or if, perhaps, Victor Talking Machine Company executives just flat could not stand the thought of putting the name of rival Columbia on one of their record labels! St Louis Tickle Vess L. Ossman 1909 Ossman (1868-1923) was an extremely famous banjo player. His audiences included King Edward VII and President Theodore Roosevelt. He began his recording career in the 1890s. This is an excellent example of ragtime banjo playing. Hilda Victor Military Band 1916 Do I? The Brox Sisters with Bennie Krueger's Orchestra 1922 Ever since I acquired this record about 10 years ago, I have been a bit curious as to what the Brox Sisters would have sounded like if this recording had been done electrically. Bees' Knees Ted Lewis and His Band 1922 This is an enjoyable jazz number. I don't know if it has anything to do with what the composer had in mind when he came up with this song's title, but I understand that, back in the '20s, saying that something was the "bees' knees" had a similar connotation to what later generations meant when they said something was "cool." Morning, Noon and Night Overture 1902 This piece was written by Franz Von Suppe - another composer I recommend. This one goes far enough back that the performers are not even credited - not even with a generic house band name. Just A Little Love Song Lanin's Famous Players 1922 |
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Featuring: The Zon-o-phone Orchestra, Rudy Wiedoeft, Collins & Harlan, Giuseppina Finzi-Magrini, Billy Murray, Prince's Dance Orchestra and more |
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