January 2006

January 26, 2006
 

Note - I am very please to welcome Eddie The Collector as a guest contributor to the Hit of the Week updates. 

Those who tuned in to my live New Year's Eve broadcast on Radio Dismuke are already familiar with Eddie.  For those who were not able to tune in, Eddie has an excellent collection of 1920s jazz and dance band recordings.  He is very knowledgeable about the era's music and has lots of interesting stories to tell about it.

All recordings and commentary in this update, both the regular and the "Extra" sections, are from Eddie.  My only contribution was to transfer and digitalize the recordings. 

You can learn more about Eddie and find his contact information by clicking here. 
 

How Could Red Riding Hood
Jan Garber And His Orchestra
Harry Goldfield, vocal                    1926
(Victor 20322 - A)

 
Early on in my acquaintance with long time Waco record collector Robert (R.E.M) Gottlieb, he told me about an interesting record recorded on November 12, 1924 and issued several weeks later on December 24, by Jan Garber's Victor Orchestra: "How Could Red Riding Hood Have Been So Very Good (and Still Keep the Wolf from the Door)", coupled with George Olson's version of "I'm Tellin' the Birds, Tellin' the Bees," and released as Victor 20322.  Upon release, an immediate outcry was received from the "blue noses" about the apparent implication that Red Riding Hood was a prostitute--so what if she was....?  Anyway, just over two weeks later on January 14, 1927, all unsold copies of the record were recalled and destroyed, as well as the master.  The George Olson side was re coupled with another Jan Garber selection, also recorded on November 13, 1926, "Steppin' Around," and re-issued as Victor 20367. 

Mr. Gottlieb told me of his trips to downtown Waco in the 1920s to buy the latest hits, but he missed getting this record by two days.  In all the years that followed, he'd never been able to obtain a copy of it.  One summer day in the early '80s, I was visiting my friend Jerry, a record collector in Dallas, and told him the story.  Jerry went to his shelf of records, pulled out "Red Riding Hood" and came back to the table where I nearly fell off the chair.  No mention was even made of trying to buy the record, but that Christmas, Jerry GAVE me the record.  I took the record to Waco, showed it to Mr. Gottlieb who was completely amazed, and traded it to him for a hard to find recording by the New Orleans Owls.  A couple of years later, I was able to buy back "Red Riding Hood," as well as several other records I'd traded over the years, when Mr. Gottlieb's health began failing.  The rare record still resides in my collection and it is with great pleasure that I'm sharing it with you now!
 

I'm Tellin' The Birds Tellin' The Bees
George Olsen And His Music        1926
(Victor 20322 - B)
 

This is pretty standard fare from George Olson, whose band was the official orchestra for the Ziegfield Follies.  Olsen had a nice hot band throughout the '20s, then changed to sweet format in the '30s. His '20s recordings are my favorite.  He also recorded such standards as  "Bye Bye Blackbird," "Varsity Drag" and "Doin' the Raccoon."
 

- Eddie The Collector
 
 

EXTRA

This section will  present 78 rpm recordings that do not fall within the range of the vintage pop and jazz  fare that I usually  present.  Here I will feature recordings from a wide variety of eras, musical genres and nationalities as well as occasional spoken word recordings.
 
 

Hush A Bye
Jean Goldkette And His Orchestra                            1926
(Victor 20270-A)

Three O'Clock In The Morning
Paul Whiteman And His Orchestra                            1926
(Victor 21599-A, mx 26729)
 

Until about three years ago, I would not have listened to a waltz, let alone buy one.  Then one a day at a friend's house while listening to a tape of Jean Goldkette recordings, "Hush-a-Bye" came on and I was transfixed by its beauty.  I had literally never played my own E+ condition copy purchased some 35 years earlier for the fox trot "Idolizing" on the record's flip side.   After playing and listening to it several times, I was thrilled not only by the beauty of the melody, but of the skill of the orchestra in rendering a waltz.  Of course, Goldkette's waltzes used the same personnel as his hot recordings, amongst whom were some of the best known jazz names extant: Bix Beiderbecke, Eddie Lang and Joe Venuti.  On this record, Howdy Quicksel's banjo provides the two waltz after beats, which makes for a lovely effect.  Joe Venuti, known for his jazz virtuosity, also is a master when playing "straight", each note rendered beautifully with just the slightest uplift on the very last note of the song.  You can hear Eddie Lang's guitar during the vocal--sad knowing now that Lang would have only seven more years to make his music.  All in all a gorgeous song which nicely compliments the flip side recording of "Idolizing."

Paul Whiteman originally recorded his 1923 hit version of "Three O'Clock In The Morning acoustically and re-recorded this week's electrically recorded version in  1926.   Victor did not release it, however, until 1928 when it was coupled with Whiteman's 1928 recording of Oriental (from Cuis's "Orientale"). "Oriental" had been recorded three times in 1926, but all three takes were rejected, thus the delay until 1928.  The 1923 acoustical recording of "Three O'Clock In The Morning" was also coupled with original acoustical version of "Oriental"  Whiteman also re-recorded several of his other early '20s acoustical hits electrically, among them "Japanese Sandman" and "Whispering." 

- Eddie The Collector
 

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January 19, 2006
 
 

 
Note - I am very please to welcome back guest contributor Matt From College Station . 

This is the third of three consecutive Hit of the Week Updates in which Matt will be presenting rare Philco radio broadcast transcription discs from his personal collection.    Matt originally presented the transcriptions featured on these updates on a December 17, 2005 live broadcast on Radio Dismuke - very possibly the first time they were played in public since the early 1930s. 

All recordings and commentary in this update, both the regular and the "Extra" sections, are from Matt.  My only contribution was to transfer and digitalize the recordings. 

You can learn more about Matt and find his contact information by clicking here. 
 
 

Pardon Me Pretty Baby / Bigger And Better
From Philco Radio Transcription Disc
Unknown Orchestra & Vocal              1931
(mx JS1415)

 

Welcome back!  This Thursday, Philco brings us two great tunes, “Pardon Me Pretty Baby” and  “Bigger and Better Than Ever”.

 “Pardon Me Pretty Baby” was written by  Ray Klages, Jack Meskill and Vincent Rose in 1931 and was very popular. The version played  here  is rather sweet and features an unknown vocalist that I suspect is Don  Howard.

Next we have a hit from 1929 titled, “Bigger and Better Than Ever”. This selection is played in rather upbeat tempo but still has a sweet feel.

It has been a pleasure bringing these rare radio broadcast transcription discs to you over the past three weeks.   I will return in a few weeks with additional updates so please keep checking back. 
 

- Matt From College Station
 
 

EXTRA

This section will  present 78 rpm recordings that do not fall within the range of the vintage pop and jazz  fare that I usually  present.  Here I will feature recordings from a wide variety of eras, musical genres and nationalities as well as occasional spoken word recordings.
 
 

Love's Dream After The Ball
Edith Lorand And Her Orchestra                            1928
(Columbia G 50160 D mx 2 21072)

Indra Waltz
Edith Lorand And Her Orchestra                            1928
(Columbia G 50160 D mx 2 21115)
 
 

The "Extra" this week consists of two melodies by Edith Lorand and her Orchestra. 

Edith Lorand was born in Budapest in 1898 and led successful salon orchestras in the 1920‘s and 1930’s throughout Germany and surrounding European countries. She usually played selections from popular  operettas and musical comedies. The orchestra featured Lorand on the violin. She enjoyed widespread popularity in Europe until 1934, when the National Socialist Party  “cracked down” on Jewish artists. She fled to the United States in 1937, but never regained her former popularity.

“Love’s Dream After the Ball," the first selection, was written by Czech composer Alphons Czibulka (1842-1894) in 1885. It is a beautiful tune that evokes a different time and place. I particularly enjoy the trumpet and woodwind interludes.

Next, our ears tingle to "Indra Waltz."  Paul Lincke (1866-1946) wrote 
this song for the operetta, In The Realm of The Indra, which first debuted at the Apollo Theater, Berlin in 1899.  This tune expresses a variety of moods.

- Matt From College Station

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Note - I am very please to welcome back guest contributor Matt From College Station . 

This is the second of three consecutive Hit of the Week Updates in which Matt will be presenting rare Philco radio broadcast transcription discs from his personal collection.   This week's transcription is especially significant in that it features a lost performance by the Boswell Sisters.    Matt originally presented the transcriptions featured on these updates on a December 17, 2005 live broadcast on Radio Dismuke - very possibly the first time they were played in public since the early 1930s. 

All recordings and commentary in this update, both the regular and the "Extra" sections, are from Matt.  My only contribution was to transfer and digitalize the recordings. 

You can learn more about Matt and find his contact information by clicking here. 
 
 
 
 
 

 
 

"Sunny Skies"/"I'm Keepin' Company"
From Philco Radio Transcription Disc
Unknown Orchestra
The Boswell Sisters, vocal               1931
(Judson Radio Transcription JS1382 Program 8 Part 1)
 

 
Hello! It's great to be back again for another update. I am pleased to share another rare radio broadcast transcription with you. This one differs from last week's because it's a center start - meaning that the record plays from the center to the edge!

The first performance on the transcription is "Sunny Skies" played in an upbeat and syncopated arrangement. "Sunny Skies", written by Jack Meskill, Ray Klages & Vincent Rose, was recorded by a number of U.S. bands in 1931 but was most popular in the UK. I really love this version.

Next, Philco presents "I'm Keepin' Company with a vocal by the "Phil-Coeds." They don't tell you that this is actually a recording by the Boswell Sisters! Piano is their only accompaniment, and they sing in a similar style as their 1930 OKEH recordings. My best guess is that this was recorded in 1931.  I am pleased to be able to offer vintage music fans a "new" Boswell Sisters recording - a lost performance that is being made available to the public for the first time since the early 1930s. 
 

- Matt From College Station
 
 

EXTRA

This section will  present 78 rpm recordings that do not fall within the range of the vintage pop and jazz  fare that I usually  present.  Here I will feature recordings from a wide variety of eras, musical genres and nationalities as well as occasional spoken word recordings.
 
 

Gems From "Follow Thru"
Victor Light Opera Company                            1929
(Victor 35970-A)

Gems From "Hold Everything"
Victor Light Opera Company                            1929
(Victor 35970-B )
 
 

This is not your typical "Extra"  The label on this record is deceptive. It credits the "Victor Light Opera Group....Mixed Voices with Orchestra." Two things might give it away that this is a hot record. It was recorded in 1929 and the songs are from the De Sylva, Brown and Henderson  musicals Follow Thru and Hold Everything.

From Follow Thru we are treated to a version of "Button Up Your Overcoat", including a flapper girl vocal. Next we get Frank Munn on "My Lucky Star" and then a hot syncopated arrangement of "I Want To Be Bad." Next our favorite flapper, Belle Mann, proclaims that she wants to be bad and HOW ! The recording ends with the "Mixed Voices" telling us that they don't want to be fooled!

Hold Everything is not quite as hot, but we get Belle Mann singing  "Don't Hold Everything" and Frank Munn singing "To Know You is To Love You." The medley concludes with "Too Good To Be True" and "You're The Cream in My Coffee."

While these are not original cast recordings, both provide authentic examples of what Jazz Age audiences heard on the Broadway stage. 

- Matt From College Station
 

January 5, 2006
 
 

 
Note - I am very please to welcome Matt From College Station as a regular guest contributor to my Hit of the Week updates.   Matt has an outstanding record collection and I think it is wonderful that he has generously agreed to share it with us. 

For this week's update and for the two following, Matt will be presenting performances from the rare transcription discs that he played on the December 17th live broadcast on Radio Dismuke. It is entirely possible that the Radio Dismuke broadcast was the first time these recordings have been performed in public since the early 1930s - so our being able to hear them is a great privilege and I want to thank Matt for making it possible. 

All recordings and commentary in this update, both the regular and the "Extra" sections, are from Matt.  My only contribution was to transfer and digitalize the recordings. 

You can learn more about Matt and find his contact information by clicking here. 
 
 

Sunny Side Up Medley
From Philco Radio Transcription Disc
Unknown Artists                               1930
(Adams Broadcasting Service, Program 23 part 6 Serial No 230374)
 

 
Hello! This is Matt “From College Station” and I am honored to make my debut here on Dismuke’s  Hit of the week as a guest contributor.

The first selection is from a rare Philco radio transcription disc, which was recorded ca. 1930 by the Columbia Phonograph Corporation for 
the Adams Broadcasting Service.  These were produced in small quantity and shipped to various stations as a “Pre Recorded” broadcast. They were either  used for “canned” broadcasts on major stations or for small town  stations that could not afford to broadcast live performances.  Also, the commercial contained in this recording is very entertaining.  A Columbia house band is the most likely suspect for the band in this recording (Ben Selvin or Fred Rich are guesses). 

The first tune on the disc is  “Sittin’ In  The Movies Holding Hands.”   To my knowledge, this song has never been recorded on a commercially issued 78. It is a very pretty melody with nice muted trumpet solos. Next, you will hear “Keep Your Sunny Side Up” written n  1929  by B.G. DeSylva, Lew Brown and Ray Henderson for the Janet Gaynor  picture  Sunny Side Up . This one is a real gem because it is the best  recording of  “Sunny Side Up” I've ever heard…..fast, peppy and hot….and what a great  xylophone!

- Matt From College Station
 
 

EXTRA

This section will  present 78 rpm recordings that do not fall within the range of the vintage pop and jazz  fare that I usually  present.  Here I will feature recordings from a wide variety of eras, musical genres and nationalities as well as occasional spoken word recordings.
 
 

Rêve De Valse- Potpourri Part 1
Grand Orchestre De Salon                                 1926
(Homocord 4-8731 mx M 52047)

Rêve De Valse - Potpourri Part 2
Grand Orchestre De Salon                                 1926
(Homocord 4-8731 mx M 52048 )
 
 

I picked this 78 up at a local estate auction because of its neat Art 
Deco label. 

The Homocord label was pressed in Germany by the Carl Lindstrom  conglomerate.  I doubt I ever played this record until Dismuke found it in my collection some time ago. Dismuke loved it  (it is from his favorite operetta,  A Waltz Dream by Oscar Straus) and I have come to do the same as well.  The record was apparently pressed for the French market and it is likely that it was also issued in Germany and perhaps other countries as well. 

A Waltz Dream (Ein Waltzertraum) is an operetta written by Oscar Straus and first performed at  the Carl Theatre in Vienna in 1907. After it was introduced, it garnered  vast popularity in Germany and enjoyed lesser success in New York, London and Paris. It is not as well known in this country as Straus’ other famous operetta The Chocolate Soldier.   A Waltz Dream was also produced as an Ernst Lubitsch motion picture in 1931 under the title The Smiling Lieutenant.  The film starred Maurice Chevalier and Claudette Colbert. 

In the 1930s Oscar Straus enjoyed a career in  Hollywood,  writing the score for many great musicals including  One Hour With You  and 
The Smiling Lieutenant.

Dismuke insisted that I include this record as an extra, and I think you will be grateful!

- Matt From College Station