April 2006

April 27, 2006
 

 
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. 
 
 

Elizabeth - St. Louis Blues
From Philco Radio Transcription Disc
Unknown Orchestra
"Philco Foursome," vocal                circa 1931
(Judson Transcription Disc 1268)

Can't You See - Somebody Stole My Gal
From Philco Radio Transcription Disc
Unknown Orchestra                        circa 1930
(Serial No 230371 Program 23 Part 3 mx 230371)

Can't We Be Friends - 
There's No Other Girl
From Philco Radio Transcription Disc
Unknown Orchestra                         circa 1931
(Series JS 1413 Program 9 Part 4)
 

[Audio Note:  Many passages of the transcription disc featuring "Elizabeth - St. Louis Blues" are in extremly rough condition and there was only so much I could do to quiet the surface noise.  Hopefully it will not distract too much from your enjoyment of the music.   The transcription featuring "Can't You See - Somebody Stole My Gal" has a small chip on the outer edge which has eliminated the first few seconds of the recording.  Under normal circumstances, I would probably not have included discs in such condition in the Update.  However, since these recordings are extremely rare and this is very likely the first time they have been performed in public since they were first broadcast in the early 1930s, I am extremely grateful to Matt for making them available regardless of the condition - - Dismuke ]

A few weeks ago I was fortunate enough to acquire several more radio transcription discs from the same batch as the ones I featured here in January, though unfortunately these are not in as pristine condition. These one-sided discs were made for the  Judson Transcription Company and the Adams Broadcasting Service in the early 1930's to supply local radio stations with prerecorded broadcasts sponsored by Philco Radio. 

While I'm not going into detail about every song, I would like to point  out that the version of St Louis Blues featured here is quite entertaining. I speculate that the vocal quartet on that transcription is "The Foursome", a novelty  quartet that was featured in Gershwin's Girl Crazy and on a few 78's. 

On another disc is a neat slow / fast & hot version of "Somebody Stole  My Gal" on xylophone. Boy, that fella can really play! 

Also to be found is a rather nice arrangment of "Can't You See" that features prominant saxophone and obo. I really enjoy this sort of relaxing yet complex  music of the early 1930's. Note the tinkling piano at the end.

- 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.
 

Selections From "The Firefly"
Victor Salon Group             1930
(Victrola 9653-B)

Selections From "Rose Marie"
Victor Salon Group             1930
(Victrola 9652-A)
 

We will rely on Rudolf Friml to supply the music for this week's operetta "Extra." 

First, I love these electrical Red Seal label Victors because of their recording quality 

Beginning with selections from The Firefly, we are taken back to the 1912 Broadway stage where this Friml masterpiece first debut. It is of interantional fame and is oft revived. Later in 1937 it became a starring vehicle for Jeanette MacDonald and Alan Jones 

Rose Marie opened in New York at the Imperial Theatre in 1924 and  starred Dennis King. It ran for 577 performances and was written by Rudolf Friml and Herbert Stothart. I love the score from this operetta, especially the famous "Indian Love  Call" - even Tommy Dorsey had a recording of it! In 1936, Jeanette MacDonald and Nelson Eddy performed Rose Marie on the silver screen for their second team up. As a side note, Dennis King, who  performed this on broadway, also starred with MacDonald in her second talkie The Vagabond King.

- Matt From College Station

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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. 
 
 

Sing Sing Girl
Leroy Shield And The 
Victor Hollywood Orchestra
James Blackstone, vocal                        1930
(Victor 22548-B)
 

The Language Of Rhythm
Joe Rines And His Orchestra
Joe Rines, Coletta Ryan vocals               1932
(Victor 24230-B)
 

I am pleased to be back. The first selection is an  up-tempo  dance number by Leroy Shield and the Victor Hollywood Orchestra. Leroy  Shield was born in 1893 and was Victor’s musical director for their  Oakland  California recording studios from 1926-1929. He accompanied many Victor solo artists on piano and was composer of film scores for Hal Roach’s comedy  films.  While he worked for Victor, he also composed and conducted  selections for  NBC radio broadcasts. 

Joseph McCarthy and James F. Hanley composed "Sing Song Girl (Little  Yella  Cinderella)" in 1930.  This particular version is very peppy and  features  interesting xylophone solos as well as pseudo-oriental themes. 

The second selection for this evening is a peppy dance tune from the  Joe  Rines orchestra with vocalists Joe Rines and Coletta Ryan. "The Language  Of  Rhythm" is an obscure tune at best and was written by Harry Filler. A  hard to find issue, Victor 24230 did not sell many copies.  Although this tune  was  recorded in 1933, it retains several 1920s qualities - syncopated  tempo,  stops and starts, and solos are indicators of this. The lack of banjo or tuba in the rhythm section and the scat style vocal are reminders, however,  that this was indeed recorded in the 1930s. 

Joe Rines (1902-1986) led orchestras in Boston throughout the 1920s  and was  a pioneer broadcaster on Boston’s first radio stations. In the early  1930s  he was fortunate enough to be sponsored by Triad radio tubes and  consequently did a national show on NBC. Therefore, he changed his band  to  Joe Rines and his Triadors. After the big band era ended in the 1940s,  he  became an advertising executive. As a side note, Joe Rines did some  “party  records” for the Varsity label under the pseudonym John Ryan. 

- 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.
 
 

A Miniture Concert Part 1
The Eight Popular Victor Artists           1925
(Victor 35753-A)

A Miniture Concert Part 2
The Eight Popular Victor Artists           1925
(Victor 35753-B)
 

The 12 inch Victor 78 included for the extra is by the Eight Popular  Victor  Artists and is most enjoyable. It features many Victor artists and  popular  songs of the late teens and early 20’s . Frank Banta, Rudy Weidoeft,   Monroe  Silver, Henry Burr and Bill Murray are among the performers featured.   A  little known fact is that the “Eight Popular Victor Artists” also  toured the  vaudeville circuit.

- Matt From College Station