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Dismuke's Hit Of The Week
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February 2007




February 23
 
 



This week's Hit of the Week is brought to you by
1931 Fexo Tray ice tray ad

Flexo Tray
Ice Cubes The Modern Way
(From 1931 ad)

 
 
 
 
Note - I am very please to welcome back guest contributor Matt From College Station  as he shares some more recordings from his excellent collection of 1920s and 1930s jazz and dance band 78 rpm records. 

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
 
 

Vintage sheet music cover advertising the Billy Rose musical Sweet And Low from which the song "Would You Like To Take A Walk" in this week's update comes. 

 
 

You Said ItClick on song title to stream or right clock on folder to download
Ben Selvin And His Orchestra
Helen Rowland, Paul Small, vocal                           1931
(Columbia 2426-D mx 151363)

Learn To CroonClick on song title to stream or right clock on folder to download
Ben Selvin And His Orchestra
Helen Rowland, Paul Small, vocal                            1931
(Columbia 2426-D mx 151)

Would You Like To Take A WalkClick on song title to stream or right clock on folder to download
Ben Selvin And His Orchestra
Helen Rowland, vocal                                              1931
(Columbia 2381-D mx 151217)

He's Not Worth Your TearsClick on song title to stream or right clock on folder to download
Ben Selvin And His Orchestra
Helen Rowland, vocal                                              1931
(Columbia 2381-D mx 151207)
 
 

The enigmatic Helen Rowland vocalizes on this week's selections.

Helen Rowland is one of the most puzzling vocalists of the jazz age because, while she recorded with many bands (Abe Lyman, Sam Lanin, Dick Cherwin, Adrian Schubert, Phil Spitalny, Ben Selvin, etc.) and for many labels (Columbia, Brunswick, Banner, Perfect, Romeo, Crown, Hit of the Week, etc.), she is not mentioned in any literature of the period that I know of. Was she a cabaret singer? Was she a local radio vocalist? Or did she just perform as a studio canary? Although we may never know the answer, we well never cease in the delight of her sharp and clear voice thanks to her recordings. 

Out of all the bands Rowland sang with, her best and most numerous recordings were with Ben Selvin. Ben Selvin had his first million copy hit an 1919 with the tune "Dardanella." In the 1920s he went on to record with over 12 different labels and became artistic and recording director for Columbia. He holds a spot in the Guinness Book of World Records as the most prolific recording artist of all time. Many fine musicians recorded with him including Benny Goodman, Tommy Dorsey, Jimmy Dorsey, Joe Venuti and Eddie Lang.

The first song in this update, "You Said It" comes from the 1931 Broadway show of the same name. This show ran for 192 performances and featured performances by Lou Holtz, Lyda Roberti and Stanley Smith. Lyda Roberti had a successful Hollywood career until her untimely death in 1937. Stanley Smith is best remembered as a singer in the King Of Jazz.
This song also features some great solo work in the last half by Benny Goodman and a duet vocal by Paul Small and Helen Rowland.

Next, we hear "Learn To Croon," which is also from the musical You Said It.   Last year in my February 16, 2006 update, I  featured a recording of this song  by Sunny Clapp and his Band O' Sunshine.  Do not be confused by the title;  it is not the same song as Bing Crosby's hit recording by that same name. 

"You  Said It" and "Learn To Croon" were both written by Harold Arlen and Jack Yellen. 

Helen Rowland and Ben Selvin delight us again in the third selection, "Would You Like To Take A Walk."  This Harry Warren song comes from the 1930-1931 Broadway show Sweet and Low which starred James Barton, Fanny Brice and George Jessel. Benny Goodman solos here as a counterpoint to the brass section.

I think Helen Rowland was best at torch songs and her best torch song, "He's Not Worth Your Tears," is heard here. It is tuneful and melodic and the band - .and Benny Goodman's clarinet - complement her voice very well .
 

- 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.
 
 
 

Dream LoverClick on song title to stream or right clock on folder to download
Jeanette MacDonald, vocal                   1929
(Victor 2247-A)

March Of The GrenadiersClick on song title to stream or right clock on folder to download
Jeanette MacDonald, vocal                   1929
(Victor 22247-B)
 

For this week's extra, I would like to present two recordings made by Jeanette MacDonald of selections she performed in her film debut, The Love Parade.

Jeanette's debut in film coincided with the solidification of sound film's dominance over the silent film medium. Although she was fresh to the screen, she was no stranger to acting as she had performed in Chicago theater for several years.  In 1929, Paramount gave  Jeanette  a screen test but then shelved it because they thought that her performance was below expectations. 

 About this time, director Ernst Lubitsch was asked to do his first sound film and screen operetta. It was to be The Love Parade and was to star Maurice Chevalier, so Lubitsch went on a search for a leading lady. By happenstance, he viewed MacDonald's screen test and knew that she was the one.  Surprisingly, Paramount was delighted with Lubitsch's decision and signed Jeanette to a two year contract before the filming of her first film.

The Love Parade, which also featured Lillian Roth and Lupino Lane, is a frothy European comic operetta with a decidedly Lubitsch touch. As it was made before the notorious Hays code, Lubitsch freely takes liberties with suggestive dialog. The music is quite lovely throughout the film and all songs are presented well. I highly recommend viewing to anyone that can find a copy. A vigorous and creative google search should turn up a "behind the curtain" vendor !

After The Love Parade, Jeanette starred in six films at Paramount, three at Fox and two more at MGM.  After her second MGM film, she was teamed up with Nelson Eddy. They made many more films at MGM and sang a total of 37 film duets together.

Both recordings presented in this update were recorded by Victor with a studio orchestra under the direction of Nat Shilkret on  December 11, 1929, less than a month after the film's November 19th premier in New York City.   Although Victor  signed a recording contract with Jeanette she made very few, albeit well recorded,  records.  "Dream Lover" is a personal favorite of mine  because of its beautiful melody and Jeanette's beautiful soprano. 

- Matt From College Station
 


February 15
 
 

This week's Hit of the Week is brought to you by
Beautiful Texas - 1930s Sheet Music Cover - Click On Image For Larger View
Click on image for larger view


This is the cover artwork from sheet music that was purchased by Matt From College Station's grandmother in the mid 1930's at the Geo. Allen Music Co. in San Angelo, Texas. She is 91 now. 

W. Lee "Pappy" O'Daniel worked as a sales manager for a flour mill just north of Fort Worth, Texas when he hired Bob Wills'  western swing band to perform on a radio program sponsored by the flour company.   O'Daniel became a regional radio personality in his own right and capitalized on his name recognition to become Governor of Texas and, later, a U.S. Senator. 


 
 
 
Note - I am very please to welcome back guest contributor Matt From College Station  as he shares some more recordings from his excellent collection of 1920s and 1930s jazz and dance band 78 rpm records. 

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
 
 
 
 

You Gave Me Everything But LoveClick on song title to stream or right clock on folder to download
Adelaide Hall, vocal                                                1932
(Brunswick 6376)

Strange As It SeemsClick on song title to stream or right clock on folder to download
Adelaide Hall, vocal                                                1932
(Brunswick 6376)

Blues I Love To SingClick on song title to stream or right clock on folder to download
Duke Ellington And His Orchestra
Adelaide Hall, vocal                                                 1927
(Victor 22985-B)

Blue BubblesClick on song title to stream or right clock on folder to download
Duke Ellington And His Orchestra                             1927
(Victor 22985-A)
 
 

This update focuses on the great vocalist, Adelaide Hall.

Adelaide Hall, international star of stage and cabaret, was born in 1895 in Brooklyn,  New York. According to several sources, impresario Lew Leslie discovered her singing at a school Christmas concert in 1921. Between 1921 and 1927 she appeared in many revues including Eubie Blake's Shuffle Along and Blackbirds

Hall was also a huge attraction at the Cotton Club in the late 1920s and was one of Duke Ellington's first Canaries. In the early 1930's Hall traveled to London and was a huge success in cabaret engagements there. After her tour of London she returned to the States and made several recordings for Brunswick and a Vitaphone short An All Colored Vaudeville Show. This short is actually available on DVD as an extra for the film The Green Pastures.

After her brief return to the U.S., she left permanently to be a resident of England and France. Hall owned her own nightclub in Paris and appeared in several British feature films. She died at the ripe old age of 92.

The first selections "You Gave Me Love" and "Strange As It Seems" were recorded for Brunswick in 1932. They feature an unknown studio group as well as legendary piano genius Art Tatum (one of Tatum's few 1930s recordings).

The next selection, "Blues I Love To Sing," features Hall as a vocalist with the Duke Ellington Orchestra. 

The last selection, "Blue Bubbles" is the flip side of "Blues I Love To Sing."   While it does not feature a vocal,  the recording is just too good to pass over and not include.

Both Ellington sides were recorded in 1927 and issued under different catalog numbers in 1927 and 1932.   My copy is of the 1932 issue which I think it is a superior pressing, as most 1932 Victor discs are. 
 

- 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.
 
 
 


 
 

Hejre KatiClick on song title to stream or right clock on folder to download
Eddie South And His International Orchestra      1931
(Victor 22847-B)

MarchetaClick on song title to stream or right clock on folder to download
Eddie South And His International Orchestra       1931
(Victor 22847-A)
 

Eddie South, born in 1904, was trained as a classical violinist at the Chicago Music College. As positions  in classical orchestras were not open to black violinists at the time, South took up playing jazz with various dance orchestras of the mid 1920s. In 1927, he recorded several sides for Victor as Eddie South and his Alabamians.

In 1931, South went to Europe where he was exposed to Gypsy music which inspired him in the development of his own unique style of jazz.  Back in the U.S. in late 1931, he recorded some sides for Victor, including the two featured here.   This orchestra, billed as Eddie South and his International Orchestra, consisted of drums, piano, guitar, violin and woodwind. 

Both songs in this update are jazzy renditions of tunes usually performed in a classical nature. 

South recorded six more sides for Victor which were released in 1933.  In 1937 he made some important recordings in Europe with Django Reinhardt and Stephane Grappelli.

While he never achieved huge worldwide fame, his recordings provide a record of his truly unique and exciting style. 

- Matt From College Station



February 1, 2007
 
 

This week's Hit of the Week is brought to you by
1923 Marmon advertisement - click on image for larger view
Click on image for larger view
MARMON
The Foremost Fine Car
(From 1923 ad)



 
 
 
 

 
 

 
 
 

Japanese SunsetClick on song title to stream or right clock on folder to download
Paul Ash And His Granada Orchestra                       1923
(Brunswick 2517-A)

Romany LoveClick on song title to stream or right clock on folder to download
Selvin's Orchestra                                                     1922
(Brunswick 2273-A)

EleanorClick on song title to stream or right clock on folder to download
Isham Jones Orchestra                                              1922
(Brunswick 2313-B)

Midnight RoseClick on song title to stream or right clock on folder to download
Lyman's California Ambassador Hotel Orchestra       1923
(Brunswick 2478-A)
 
 

It has been a few months since I last featured dance band recordings from the early part of the 1920s decade so I thought I would correct that. 

The inspiration of this update is the first selection "Japanese Sunset" which I stumbled across in my collection while looking for records to feature on my New Year's Eve broadcast on Radio Dismuke a few weeks ago.   I think the tune is very pretty in a haunting sort of way.    During the early 1920s, there was a fad of sorts in the United States for styles which were foreign and exotic.  This was reflected in both architecture, furniture and even popular recordings.   While much of the attention was focused on the Middle East due to the popularity of Rudolf Valentio films,  there was a lot of interest in the Far East as well.    "Japanese Sunset"  was composed in 1916 by Jesse L. Deppen, a female composer who lived in Cleveland, Ohio.    The song was featured in the Vitaphone soundtrack to the 1927 film Old San Francisco and as the opening theme of the 1936 serial  Shadow Of Chinatown with Bela Lugosi. 

"Romany Love" is another recording with exotic, foreign sounding passages.  The song was written by American composer John Stepan Zamecnik

Fans of old time radio shows might recognize the tune "Eleanor" as the opening  and closing theme performed on the organ in the 1930s broadcasts of the popular radio serial Lum And Abner.   The song was composed by Jesse L. Deppen - the same composer as "Japanese Sunset"-  in 1914 with the dedication: "To my dear friend Rae Eleanor Ball."  Ball was a violinist for the RKO vaudeville circuit and apparently had a working relationship with Deppen.   Early versions of the song were published with lyrics by Deppen.  However, in 1922, new lyrics were written for it by Arthur J. Lamb and he is credited on the label of this week's recording. 

"Midnight Rose" was composed in 1923 by Lew Pollack.

None of these recordings are at all jazzy - but I think they are very charming.   Popular musical styles evolved very rapidly in the 1920s and in less than five years later these arrangements were considered to be hopelessly out-of-date. 
 
 

- Dismuke

 

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.
 
 
 
 
 

Dear Eyes That Haunt MeClick on song title to stream or right clock on folder to download
The Columbians
Lewis James, vocal                                   1927
(Columbia 968-D mx 143991)
 

Like YouClick on song title to stream or right clock on folder to download
The Columbians                                        1927
Franklyn Baur, vocal
(Columbia 968-D mx 143990)
 

Both of these selections come from The Circus Princess which was the 1927 Broadway version of  Emerich Kálmán's 1926 operetta Die Zirkusprinzessin.  The American production featured lyrics by Harry B. Smith.

Die Zirkusprinzessin premiered in Vienna on March 26, 1926 at the Theater an der Wien.  The American production ran for 192 performances at the Winter Garden Theatre starting April 25, 1927. 

The Columbians was a Columbia Records studio band and was usually, if not exclusively, under the direction of Ben Selvin. 

- Dismuke
 


 
 

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