Just the FAX, Ma'am!

Around a year and a half ago, I posted that unusual 7-inch Hires Root Beer advertising record by Blossom Dearie. Apparently, it's quite rare and isn't in the standard discographies (is it in the online Lord discog yet?). It certainly got a lot of downloads...350 at last count (200 for the Meet side, 150 for the Theme). Of course, The Whoopee Hat Brigade still gets the most traffic...532 downloads and counting.

Here's another strange 7-inch 33, pressed on lovely (if a little scuffed) blue vinyl:

I had no idea what it was when I bought it, but I reckoned that any record with Bud Shank, Buddy Collette and Milt Bernhart must be interesting...especially since it was on the FAX label, an early-1960s label that specialized in somewhat smutty standup comedy and music.

Once I heard the Trailer Sound Track (track 6), it became obvious that these cuts were from the soundtrack of a rather obscure nudie movie called Bachelor Tom Peeping. It's obscure now, but apparently it was a favorite of Russ Meyer.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0210560/

I was able to pin down the complete personnel and (approximate) recording date at http://www.lastudiomusicians.org/Jazz%20on%20Screen.pdf

BACHELOR TOM PEEPING
USA 1962
Music Directed/Conducted by: Alex Sandford
Soundtrack Personnel: Irv Bush, Joe Graves, trumpet; Milt Bernhart, trombone; Al Maebe, bass trombone; Ira Westley, tuba; Bud Shank, Buddy Collette, alto sax; Lew Ellenhorn, bass clarinet; Jack Nimitz, baritone sax; Walt Ritchie, bassoon; Victor Feldman, Emil Richards, vibraphone; Bill Kraft, drums.

BACHELOR TOM PEEPING Soundtrack Alex Sandford Orch FAX FAXMPS 2201

1. Candy Apple Corvette (main theme) (featuring Bud Shank)
2. Bachelor Tom's Theme (featuring Buddy Collette)
3. Heavenly Bodies Mambo
4. The Grandma Bit (featuring Milt Bernhart)
5. Tom's End (end title)
6. Trailer Sound Track

http://www.megaupload.com/?d=QR61M848

I thought I'd give the jazz nuts scans of both labels (if I didn't, somebody would ask me to anyway) along with the the music, which is pretty good! Some of it reminds me of the jazzier cues used in Hanna-Barbera cartoons (is Alex Sandford a pseudonym?)...and the strange sound effects at the end of the trailer may have been borrowed from H-B as well.

I don't see 45s pressed by FAX very often...here's one of them:

It seems to be a sampler of material taken from their Wild Party Songs series of LPs (see http://www.csufresno.edu/folklore/drinkingsongs/html/sounds/fax-records.htm for info
on them). Many of these songs were recorded previously by Oscar Brand. I like Brand's versions better, but these aren't bad either.

WILD PARTY SONGS Unidentified artists FAX EP-BA/BB
http://www.megaupload.com/?d=YVEXE20X

1. Black-Eyed Susie
2. Blinded By Turds
3. Get Along Home Cindy
4. Pinto Pony

Oh, I have no idea why FAX (obviously) dubbed in crowd effects between the cuts, but they're there...

Rrrr....this one's for you and your pals...
___________________________________________
Recently, this record followed me home...

101197-1 You Started Me Dreaming Wingy Mannone Orch Bluebird B-6359 http://www.box.net/shared/uqg26l99cx
101198-1 Tormented Wingy Mannone Orch. Bluebird B-6359
http://www.box.net/shared/2bzx0els1r
NYC: 9 April 1936: Wingy Mannone, trumpet & vocal; Joe Marsala, clarinet; Matty Matlock, Eddie Miller, clarinet & tenor saxes; Conrad Lanoue, piano; Nappy Lamare, guitar (and speech on Dreaming); Artie Shapiro, bass; Ray Bauduc, drums.

These were the first two sides that Mannone recorded for Bluebird (with a pickup band, consisting mainly of sidemen from Bob Crosby's orchestra). And it's a Buffy! (No, not a slayer of the undead, it's a Bluebird with that creamy-yellow label that 78-collectors love!)

The B-side, Tormented, is a particularly enjoyable Will Hudson song...which was stuck in my head for quite a while. Then I remembered a rather unusual version of the same tune by jazz harpist Casper Reardon:

P-19095-1 Tormented Casper Reardon, his Harp and Orch Liberty Music Shop L 193
http://www.box.net/shared/x41o4inl2x
P-19094-1 In A Sentimental Mood Casper Reardon, his Harp and Orch Liberty Music Shop L 193
http://www.boxcn.net/shared/vftr68hha5

NYC 23 April 1936: Casper Reardon, harp; unidentified accompaniment (drawn mainly from Lud Gluskin's orchestra)

I'm rather fond of the Ellington cover on the flip side too...
___________________________________________


Finally, I'd like to acknowledge a few new donations to the blog...with a few more cuts that are tokens of thanks...

One donation came from Ted Hering...whose name is quite well-known among Spike Jones fans. Here's an item that should interest him...a Fred Astaire side!

LA 2239-A Me And The Ghost Upstairs Fred Astaire Columbia 35815
http://www.box.net/shared/rhaphu6462
LA, 22 September 1940: Fred Astaire, vocal & dancing; Studio orchestra with (among others) Mannie Klein, trumpet; Charles LaVere, piano; Perry Botkin, guitar; Lindley Jones, drums.

Well...this Poe-influenced side has a set of tuned cowbells, played by Lindley Jones (Spike to you and me). I wonder if this is the first time his bells show up on record...

I also got a donation from good friend AJ...he's a confirmed Prezaholic. Here's Lester jamming with Benny, Bunny, Roy, and Teddy, from a 1938 broadcast...buried in a Bunny Berigan CD:

-- I Know That You Know WNEW Jam Session Soundcraft SC-5005 (CD)
http://www.box.net/shared/dfr92j9sdr
NYC, 6 July 1938: Bunny Berigan, Roy Eldridge, trumpets; Benny Goodman, clarinet; Lester Young, tenor sax; Teddy Wilson, piano.

Whew...it doesn't get much better than that, does it?

Here's a cut for another friend who shall remain hoaxless nameless. He surprised me recently by singing this forgotten (and politically incorrect, but this was the 1920s!) vaudeville-era song...

73425-D Bologny George McClennon's Jazz Devils OKeh 8337
http://www.box.net/shared/6cni3rl9td
NYC 11 June 1925: George McClennon, vocal; probably Eddie Heywood, piano; others (cornet, trumpet, alto sax, banjo, drums) unidentified.

Most of McClennon's records feature his squawking "gaspipe" clarinet...this one doesn't.

And last but not least, here's a very odd cut for Mr. dBurns:

-- Why Don't You Grow Right? Unidentified performer Magnadisc (unnumbered)
http://www.box.net/shared/1cuz2kjrda

This gem was taken from a (badly-recorded and worse-pressed) record of a musical revue evidently staged by the Class of 1952 at CalTech (there are many references to CalTech, as well as one to a 1952 Rolls Royce). Can anybody out there give me more information about this revue?

Again, I thank my patrons...if anybody else would like to donate a little $omething, they'll get a song dedicated to them too!

That'll nail the seeds to the roof for now...maybe I can get 'em to grow right.

Thanks! (featuring Hank, Barney, and Tut!)

Yep...it has been a while, hasn't it? Sorry 'bout that!

First thing, I want to thank a couple of patrons who donated a bit to El Bloggo...the first donation came in within twelve hours of the first appearance of the Paypal button. So, as a token of thanks, here's a great (if somewhat forgotten) side by the Claude Thornhill band.

CO 32936 Buster's Last Stand Claude Thornhill Orch Columbia 36858
http://www.box.net/shared/erxyz2hcm5
NYC, 19 June 1942: large orchestra...best-known musicians here are Randy Brooks, Conrad Gozzo, trumpets; John Graas, French horn; Danny Polo, clarinet; Barry Galbraith, guitar; and Gil Evans did the arrangement...

In late April, my Scrabble-playing friend Jawn took me to see one of my all-time heroes, Neil Innes.

I've been a fan of the Bonzo Dog Band since I first heard them, around 1974...Dr. Demento played them and I was hooked immediately.

In addition to being one of the lead Bonzos (the late Viv Stanshall was the other one), Neil was a co-creator of The Rutles, as well as the "Seventh Python." He can be seen and heard quite a bit in The Holy Grail...here's some footage from the show (no, I didn't take it...) in which he talks about his experience and sings a couple of songs from the movie. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hR1_9AxEBSk

If you're not familiar with the Bonzos (and why aren't you?) there are quite a few video clips of them in general circulation...the best ones are http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SbLDI5lNdRQ and
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3hcZ4s9cvpw . Neil's guitar solo on the latter is just amazing...

Neil did a one-man show...one of the best shows I've ever attended, I might add.

'Twas a terrific "unbirthday" present, my friend...thanks again for taking me!

Neil signed a couple of 45s for me (a promo of the Bonzos' I'm The Urban Spaceman and the store-stock issue of the Rutles' Doubleback Alley...I wonder how many copies there of that single...I haven't seen any since I bought mine back in 1978) and posed for a couple of pics with Yers Truly. I was so tickled I forgot to mention to Neil that I am a collector of 78s (some of the sillier Bonzo songs came from old 78s as well). Here's hoping he sees this posting...he is indeed quite a nice chap...

Anyway, I met a couple of folks at the show and we shared a table. Rob and I immediately started talking about old records and musicians...and Rob's wife and Jawn both thought that it was amazing that our tastes were so similar.

A couple of days after the show, Rob donated a double-sawbuck to the blog...and here's a thank-you song for him as well...I know that Roger Ruskin Spear (another ex-Bonzo) did this song on one of his solo LPs. I just happened to have the song on my hard drive.

48578-3 All by Yourself in The Moonlight Irving Aaronson Commanders Victor 21867
NYC 16 January 1929: Large dance band...a young (18!) Artie Shaw is in the sax section.
http://www.box.net/shared/6oyz9cn4j0

Oh, what the heck...here's the flip side! It's a dandy version of a (soon-to-be) standard.

48577-6 If I Had You Irving Aaronson Commanders Victor 21867
http://www.box.net/shared/zyiuahunb4
Same session.
Whew...now the dedications are out of the way! Again, I thank my patrons...wish I had more of them.
___________________________________________

Jawn and his wife took me to Tanglewood a couple of years ago to see legendary jazz pianists Ahmad Jamal and Hank Jones. That was another fine show...

A few weeks ago, Hank Jones died at the ripe old age of 91. He was active pretty much until the end.

I thought I'd present one of Hank's early albums...it was recorded in 1947.

http://www.megaupload.com/?d=5VDNX5RC

HANK JONES' BE-BOP PIANO Mercury Album A61
1. Tea For Two
2. Yesterdays
3. You're Blase
4. Night We Called It A Day
5. Blues For Lady Day
6. Blue Room

probably NYC, September-October, 1947: Hank Jones, piano solos


Here's one of the labels...it has a doozy of a typo:

"A Lady Day?" Were there more than one? The only Lady Day I know was Billie Holiday (No, Doris doesn't have that nickname, although I'm sure she's a very nice lady). And I wonder how "traditional" this blues is...it's probably a Jones original.

_______________________________________

Now for something completely different (hmmm...another Python reference!)...my pal D Burns (who celebrated a birthday last weekend!) let me borrow a rather amusing Edison Diamond Disc by Billy Jones and Ernest Hare.

One side has the 1923 hit inspired by the popular comic strip, Barney Google (Yes, I suppose you could Google Google is you wanted to...).

8923 Barney Google Billy Jones and Ernest Hare Edison 51155 http://www.box.net/shared/hnzxarzqkq
NYC, 13 April 1923: Billy Jones and Ernest Hare vocals; with orchestra.

The discovery of the tomb of Tutankhamun in late 1922 inspired this amusing ditty from the pen of Harry Von Tilzer, which was on the flip side:
8929 Old King Tut Billy Jones and Ernest Hare Edison 51155 http://www.box.net/shared/5i7mhuctzc
NYC, 17 April 1923: same personnel.

Those sides are a lot of fun, aren't they?

Are there any other pieces of popular music that deal with any archeological digs? I can't think of any...

Now, here's where things start to get a little weird.

Columbia also issued their versions of Jones and Hare's Tut and Google...back to back, like the Edison! Here they are:

80967-2 Barney Google Billy Jones and Ernest Hare Columbia A3876 http://www.box.net/shared/zjd2m8prvp
80968-2 Old King Tut Billy Jones and Ernest Hare Columbia A3876
http://www.box.net/shared/9in4s4ze5v
NYC, 14 April 1923: Jones and Hare, vocals; orchestral accompaniment.

There's a bit of confusion regarding the recording dates. The Abrams database gives 13 April 1923 for both Columbia sides, which is also the date for the Edison Google. Were they in two different studios (singing the same song) on the same day?

FLASH! Luis wrote in to say the Columbia Master Book gives the following day, 14 April as the date. My date has been corrected. Thanks!

Also, it appears that Jones and Hare (also known as The Happiness Boys and The Interwoven Pair, after their hosiery-making radio sponsor) were free-lancing in the recording studios...they appear on just about every label in the 1920s.

I suppose I should mention here that there's an extra verse on each of the Edison recordings that aren't on the Columbias. Even with those extra verses, those are fairly short performances for Edison...Diamond Discs often contain around five minutes of music per side.

A few days later, Columbia recorded Frank Guarente's Georgians (a small jazz group taken from Paul Specht's band) doing their versions of those two songs.

And, wouldn't you know it, Columbia had to issue these versions back-to-back, too!

80992-4 Old King Tut The Georgians Columbia A3902
http://www.box.net/shared/4a6m9k1mur
80993-5 Barney Google The Georgians Columbia A3902 http://www.box.net/shared/yzzh34bas0
NYC 27 April 1923

Had enough Tutandgoogle?

No?

It appears that another friend of mine, Victrolaman, has posted his copy of the Edison Tut on Youtube!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ucEKLzkCv14
No, it's not quite the same...it's a different take from D Burns's copy (the spoken intros are slightly different)

And there's an alternate take of the Edison Google as well...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jJr85QVsYf8 (notice that Billy Jones inserts a little laugh at the 0:41 mark that's not on D Burns's copy).

Whew...

With all the back-to-back stuff, perhaps we should sing a quick chorus of Zombie Jamboree?

I wonder if I should mention Victor Buono here...

Nah, I guess not. Tut, tut, tut. Maybe I'll save that for a featurette on recordings by villains on the original Batman TV show. Quite a few of them made records...

'Til the next time, and avoid any strange curses, okay?

A record rescue

Sorry I've been away...I just haven't had a lot of time to work on Ye Olde Zorche Bloggue. So I'm posting a good-sized bunch o' sides for y'all. Enjoy!

Many of us in the 78-collecting field have gotten phone calls from people who have 78s and just want them out of their attics and cellars. Most of the stuff we see is the stuff that sold well in its era: pop vocals and pop bands (and I'm including anything from Billy Murray to Rosemary Clooney, and Paul Whiteman to Glenn Miller). Oh, and lots of classical! I'm not saying that any of these are bad...no sir! It's just that these records are too common for most of us to really bother with.

I recently went on such a rescue...in this case the person actually carted the records to a convenient location in Providence. Of course, there was a lot of 1940s-50s pop stuff. But there was a large batch of early 1930s records on Brunswick and Victor (and hardly any other labels from the period!). Many were well-loved by their original owners and show obvious signs of wear, others were in better shape. Still, it was a very pleasant surprise to see and hear some of these sides...and I think I'll share some of the more interesting ones with you.

Much of that early 1930s material featured two of the better crooners of the day, Al Bowlly and Bing Crosby.

It's true that many of the Decca sides by Bing can be safely ignored (although there are some gems there too), but I've found that his earlier records on Brunswick tend to be rather good. Some are fantastic, like these two which also feature the Dorsey Brothers Orchestra:

B-13149-A Someone Stole Gabriel's Horn Bing Crosby Brunswick 6533 http://www.box.net/shared/41al175v9h
B-13150-A Stay On the Right Side of the Road Bing Crosby Brunswick 6533 http://www.box.net/shared/g1h3xzl725
NYC, 14 March 1933: Bing Crosby, with Dorsey Brothers Orchestra, featuring Bunny Berigan, trumpet; Tommy Dorsey, trombone; Jimmy Dorsey, clarinet and alto sax.

This one surprised me a little...Bing is accompanied by Helen (Mrs. Jesse) Crawford's pipe organ:

E-37474-A Can't We Talk It Over Bing Crosby Brunswick 6240 http://www.box.net/shared/d77404xb5s
NYC, 21 December 1931: Bing Crosby, vocal; Helen Crawford, organ of the Paramount Theatre.

Yes, this one was pretty well worn...as was its other side, which features Bing with the Mills Brothers:

E-37467-A Dinah Bing Crosby and the Mills Brothers Brunswick 6240 http://www.box.net/shared/n5kcvasyv5
NYC 16 December 1931: Bing Crosby, vocal; Mills Brothers, vocal and instrument imitations; studio orchestra with the Dorseys and Bunny Berigan.

It's fun trying to figure out where the band leaves off and the Mills' instrument-imitation takes over.

Here's one of my favorite songs of the period, Blue Prelude:

B-791-A Blue Prelude Bing Crosby Brunswick 6601
http://www.box.net/shared/cg3gydo1gy
Los Angeles, 13 June 1933: Bing Crosby, vocal; Jimmie Greer Orch.

And there's another in a similar down-and-out mood, Black Moonlight, from Bing's picture Too Much Harmony.

LA-4-A Black Moonlight Bing Crosby Brunswick 6643 http://www.box.net/shared/852vjnguto
Los Angeles, 27 August 1933: Bing Crosby, vocal; Jimmie Greer Orch.

Notice the little tympani fills...they add just a little oomph to the record, don't they?

Let's cheer up a bit with this one, from Bing's last session for Brunswick (a month later, he started to record for Decca). It was also from Bing's picture She Loves Me Not:

LA-182-A I'm Hummin' - I'm Whistlin' - I'm Singin' Bing Crosby Brunswick 6938 http://www.box.net/shared/kzdrkuc8b6
Los Angeles, 5 July 1934: Bing Crosby, vocal; Irving Aaronson's Commanders.

...and I'm movin' on to another artist...

There were a few Paul Whiteman records in that early 1930s stash...these two feature the irresistable team of Johnny Mercer and Jack Teagarden.

81715-A Fare-Thee-Well to Harlem Paul Whiteman Orch Victor 24571 http://www.box.net/shared/hfyfmhmyc5

NYC, 16 February 1934: featuring Johnny Mercer and Jack Teagarden, vocal; Teagarden's trombone too.

Nice side, even with the somewhat dated stereotype! This record must have sold fairly well, for they came back two months later with a sequel:

82320-A Christmas Night In Harlem Paul Whiteman Orch Victor 24615 http://www.box.net/shared/beryd5qiei

NYC, 17 April 1934: Johnny Mercer and Jack Teagarden, vocal; Teagarden's trombone too.

Mercer's on the next side as well, along with Peggy Healy .

84010-1 Pardon My Southern Accent Paul Whiteman Orch Victor 24704 http://www.box.net/shared/897k8nxxug

The flip side has a strange little song, with a slightly warped history lesson:

84011-1 Here Come The British Paul Whiteman Orch Victor 24704 http://www.box.net/shared/klzpvrbj74

NYC, 18 August 1934: featuring Peggy Healy, Johnny Mercer, vocal; John Hauser, British patter on the second side

And here come the British indeed...Ray Noble, freshly arrived in New York and working with a new band that Glenn Miller put together for Noble. Noble took his vocalist Al Bowlly along for a while.

92748-2 Double Trouble Ray Noble Orch Victor 25105 http://www.box.net/shared/qrugr09yia
92750-1 I Wished On The Moon Ray Noble Orch Victor 25104 http://www.box.net/shared/f2ekpdp15t
NYC, 20 July 1935: Charlie Spivak, Pee Wee Erwin, trumpets; Glenn Miller, Will Bradley, trombones; Johnny Mince (born Muenzenberger, sometimes his surname is listed as "Mintz"), Jim Cannon, Milt Yaner, alto saxes & clarinets; Bud Freeman, tenor sax; Nick Pisani, Fritz Prospero, Dan d'Andrea, violins; Claude Thornhill, piano; George Van Eps, guitar; Delmar Kaplan, bass; Bill Harty, drums; Al Bowlly or The Freshmen, vocals.

If the second title sounds familiar, it's probably because you remember the Billie Holiday/Teddy Wilson version.

Here's a pair of songs written by Yip Harburg and Lewis Gensler for the forgotten musical Ballyhoo of 1932, which featured Willie Howard and a young Bob Hope. It closed after 95 performances.

B-12311-A Riddle Me This Abe Lyman Orch Brunswick 6380 http://www.box.net/shared/izqof3e3z2
B-12310-A How Do You Do It? Abe Lyman Orch Brunswick 6380 http://www.box.net/shared/57dfym0a5t
NYC, 17 September 1932: large studio orchestra actually under direction of Victor Young, featuring Bunny Berigan, trumpet; Dick Robertson, vocal (on Riddle); Harlan Lattimore, vocal (on How).

That great vocal on How Do You Do It? was by Harlan Lattimore, who was billed at the time as "the colored Bing Crosby." He almost out-Bings Bing here. He's on the next title as well.

B-13286-A That Blue-Eyed Baby From Memphis Don Redman Orch Brunswick 6560 http://www.box.net/shared/5f4h2ppv99
B-13284-A Sophisticated Lady Don Redman Orch Brunswick 6560 http://www.box.net/shared/oq0b2yvmey

NYC 26 April 1933: Don Redman, conductor; Shirley Clay, Langston Curl, Sidney de Paris, trumpets; Claude Jones, Fred Robinson, Benny Morton, trombones; Don Redman, Edward Inge, Rupert Cole, Robert Carroll, reeds; Horace Henderson, piano; Talcott Reeves, guitar; Bob Ysaguirre, bass; Manzie Johnson, drums; Harlan Lattimore, vocal.

I hate to say it, but I think that Don's record of Sophisticated Lady is better than the contemporary version by Ellington (and I like the Boswell Sisters' version even more, but that's another story).

I'll end this installment with a pair of Satches:

74896-1 He's a Son of the South Louis Armstrong Orch Victor 24257 http://www.box.net/shared/l7rujgq75n
75102-1 Some Sweet Day Louis Armstrong Orch Victor 24257 http://www.box.net/shared/f86m1hh2m9
Chicago, 26-27 January 1933: Louis Armstrong, trumpet & vocal; Elmer Whitlock, Zilmer Randolph, trumpets; Keg Johnson, trombone; Scoville Brown, George Oldham, Budd Johnson, reeds; Teddy Wilson, piano; Mike McKendrick, guitar; Bill Oldham, bass; Yank Porter, drums.

_____________________________________________

And now a word from our sponsor...

I love to share this music, and it appears that you enjoy it (even the weird stuff)! Box.net informs me of any downloads. I'd expect to see 5-10 downloads a day. Sometimes there's as many as 100! That would occur when someone downloads everything that's still available!!

Anyway...I've done it free all this time. I've never asked for a cent.

Lately, things have been a bit, er, tight at El Rancho Zorcho...rent, bills and food take just about all of my pay...it's impossible to save much of anything. I recently had a medical emergency (a blood clot in a leg...don't worry, all's well for now!) that will take a substantial chunk of what's left. And there's just not much there.

So, I'm going to have to pass the hat a bit. If you enjoy the stuff I post, maybe you could donate a little $omething to tide me over this latest financial hurdle. There's a Paypal doodad near the top of the page...if some of you can help, I'd really appreciate it!

Thanks!

Happy Hallowe'en 2009

A few weeks ago, I found a duplicate copy of Zombie Jamboree, the Columbia 45 by the Calypso Carnival. I posted the song last year for the Hallowe'en season (and the friend I gave it to was tickled plaid). I thought I'd dig out the LP the other day...

And here it is, the long out-of-print LP, The Calypso Carnival (Columbia CL 1003). The Carnival features four or five solo vocalists, a guitarist, a percussionist, and maybe a few other voices for the chorus. The small horn section or violinist that usually show up on calypso sides aren't on this album at all. I think the exuberance of this troupe more than makes up for the lack.

Here's the rundown of the songs, along with the featured vocalist:

The Calypso Carnival Columbia CL 1003.
1. Honey Man featuring Sammy Heyward
2. Victoria Market featuring Irene Lusan
3. Small Island featuring Irene Lusan & Lord Zebedee
4. Better Woman Than You (Gal, Tell Me That Again) featuring Irene Lusan & Amy Goodwin
5. Union Street featuring Sammy Heyward
6. Ministre A Zaca featuring Massie Patterson, Theresa Merritt, & Alfred Earle
7. Trinidad Blues featuring Lord Zebedee
8. Miss Emmalina featuring Sammy Heyward
9. Solas Market featuring Massie Patterson
10. Chicken Gumbo And The Okra Water featuring Lord Zebedee
11. Shimmy Like A Lady featuring Massie Patterson & Lord Zebedee
12. Zombie Jamboree featuring King Flash
13. Choucounne featuring Irene Lusan
14. Mama, Looka Boo Boo (Boo Boo Man) (Bonus Track) featuring King Flash
http://www.megaupload.com/?d=4Y6G5XHK
Oh, by the way, Track 14, Mama Look-A Boo Boo (Boo Boo Man) was not on the LP...but it was the flip side of the Zombie Jamboree 45, so it belongs here.

Also Choucounne was quickly adapted into the easy-listening favorite Yellow Bird.

Since I was unfamiliar with the names of the vocalists, I Googled their names and found that Massie Patterson, in addition to being a veteran Broadway performer (The Hot Mikado and two editions of Green Pastures, among others) was codefendent with calypso legend Lionel Belasco against Paul Baron, Jeri Sullavan and Morey Amsterdam over the trio's song Rum And Coca-Cola, which was found to contain elements of Belasco's 1906 song L'Annee Passee. More on that fight is here http://cip.law.ucla.edu/cases/case_baronfeist.html and here http://www.rumandcocacolareader.com/RumAndCocaCola/intro.html .

Massie Patterson also compiled several volumes of calypsos with Sammy Heyward.

I also noticed that most of the songs on the LP were composed by S. C. Patterson. Perhaps S.C. was related to Massie.

If the reprise of Zombie Jamboree hasn't sated your appetite for brains zombie songs, here are a couple of frantic instrumental sides:

1906-2 Zombie Harlem Rascals Varsity 6014

http://www.box.net/shared/z61nu1c19h
NYC, October 1932: Large studio orchestra.

This interesting side, issued in Varsity's 6000 Race series, was originally issued on Crown 3413 as White Zombie in late 1932 (Probably just after the Bela Lugosi movie with the same title was released). The label credit went to Joel Shaw's Orchestra, but this is essentially the Gene Kardos orchestra, under the nominal leadership of Kardos's pianist.

A year and a half later, Kardos redid the chart for several ARC dime-store labels. My copy is on Melotone:

15367-1 Zombie Gene Kardos Orch Melotone M-13081

http://www.box.net/shared/9qcm276m53
NYC, 36 June 1934: Large studio orchestra.

This time around, the tempo is quite a bit faster and that somewhat annoying spooky laughter is (mercifully) missing. Also, the tuba on the Crown has been replaced by a string bass. Notice he drops out for two bars in the same place each chorus.

There is a rum and vodka-based cocktail called a Zombie...probably named for the aftereffects of overindulging in them. The recipe is here: http://www.drinkswap.com/drinks/detail.asp?recipe_id=7884 . It was this drink that Fats Waller had in mind when he sang the immortal Abercrombie Had A Zombie:

057086-1 Abercrombie Had A Zombie Fats Waller and his Rhythm Bluebird B-10967

http://www.box.net/shared/al671djo73
NYC, 6 November 1940: Thomas "Fats" Waller, vocal, piano and leader; John Hamilton, trumpet; Gene Sedric, clarinet; Al Casey, guitar; Cedric Wallace, bass; Slick Jones, drums.

All this Zombie stuff and the calypso LP reminded me of the terrific 1943 movie, I Walked with a Zombie, directed by Jacques Tourneur and produced for RKO's B-movie unit by Val Lewton.

It's one very spooky movie, full of unexpected images and drums. Lots of drums!! And there's a scene that takes place in the island's main village, with famed calypsonian Sir Lancelot singing the following:

Fort Holland Calypso Song , part 1 Sir Lancelot I Walked With A Zombie soundtrack http://www.box.net/shared/efqa8ear0g

After the James Ellison character (the Rand mentioned in the song) drinks himself into a stupor, Lancelot comes back and, slowly walking towards the nurse (Frances Dee), finishes his song:

Fort Holland Calypso Song, part 2 Sir Lancelot I Walked With A Zombie soundtrack
http://www.box.net/shared/7mtmsj40ky

Here's the Wiki...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/I_Walked_with_a_Zombie
If you haven't seen this movie, you're in for a treat. And it's short (69 minutes) so you can sneak it in before another longer feature on your next Movie Night.

Around fifteen years ago, I found this neat album of 78s:

Calypso Sir Lancelot with Gerald Clark Keynote album K-126
http://www.megaupload.com/?d=3151P2GZ

1947: Sir Lancelot, vocal; others unidentified.

1. A Night In Central Park
2. Ugly Woman
3. Scandal In The Family
4. Young Girls Today
5. The Century Of The Common Man
6. Trindad Is Changing

And the third cut, Scandal In The Family, is a retitled Fort Holland Calypso Song (also known as Shame And Scandal)!

What the heck, here are a couple of other semi-spooky sides for your enjoyment:

TB 2266-2 The Night Ride Ambrose and his Orchestra Decca 992

http://www.box.net/shared/xigvg0nc2q

London, 29 June 1936: Large British orchestra, with (American) Danny Polo on clarinet.

21700 Skeleton Jangle Original Dixieland Jazz Band Victor 18473

http://www.box.net/shared/bstpdp8boy

NYC, 17 July 1918: Nick LaRocca, trumpet; Eddie Edwards, trombone; Larry Shields, clarinet; Henry Ragas, piano; Tony Sbarbaro, drums.

Here's another tune originally associated with the ODJB:

66606 Satanic Blues Bud Freeman Summa Cum Laude Orch Decca 2781

http://www.box.net/shared/vj38tq4oq0

NYC, 18 September 1939: Max Kaminsky, trumpet; Brad Gowans, trombone; Pee Wee Russell, clarinet; Bud Freeman, tenor sax; Dave Bowman, piano; Eddie Condon, guitar; Clyde Newcomb, bass; Danny Alvin, drums.

I wonder how many people got nervous when they saw the first three digits of the matrix number...

15663 Goblin Market Joe Venuti Orch OKeh 41586

http://www.box.net/shared/1gq6b6cs60

NYC, 17 August 1934: Joe Venuti, violin and leader; unknown personnel.

That was a hot little side...but the discographies list the personnel as unknown. The OKeh label, by the way, issued only two more records in the 40000 general series before being phased out for a while. It reemerged in 1940 as Columbia's cheaper label for a few years, until all of the thirty-five cent labels vanished during the war. Eventually it came back again as a (mostly) R & B label.

Well, that'll do it for this installment...I'll replace the so-so pictures with good-quality scans when I get a chance.

...and I finally did it (29 May 2010)!

Ludovic Lamothe: Fleurs d'Haiti

This was originally past of the last post. After a bit of thought (not that much) I figured that this music was important enough to merit its own posting.

Quite a few years ago I found this five-record album...
It's Fleurs d'Haiti, an album of music composed and played by Haitian pianist Ludovic Lamothe (1882-1953). It seems to have been recorded in the late 1930s sometime. Unfortunately I can't find a lot of information about this set. If it's mentioned at all, it's as a footnote, sometimes with a "(78 rpm?)" postscript.

This seems to be the best page available about Lamothe:
http://chevalierdesaintgeorges.homestead.com/lamothe.html

Here are the liner notes...I hope you parlez francais.


Here's one of the labels as well. The usual patent information around the circumference of the label is in Spanish, although this appears to be an American pressing. Perhaps it was pressed for export.

And here's the complete list of the sides:

83065-A 1. Feuillet D'Album

---------B 2. Sous La Tonnelle

83066-A 3. Loco

---------B 4. Sobo

83067-A 5. Valse Romantique

---------B 6. Habanera

83068 A 7. Valse De Concert En La Bemol Majeur

---------B 8. Libellules

83069 A 9. Gavotte Dans Le Style Ancien

---------B 10. Tango

And you can download the album here:

http://www.megaupload.com/?d=F1E204W4

This album was a bit under-recorded on a piano that sounds like it could have been tuned a bit better. But the music is quite interesting...it sounds like Chopin with a touch of voodoo thrown in.

Oh...did I mention that I'll be selling it? I'm digitizing and liquidating some of the records I seldom listen to. This is one of them. I'll post the eBay link once it's up.

It's up! It's here! http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=150376068320&ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT

This post was cited in the fine AfriClassical blog: http://africlassical.blogspot.com/2009/09/zorchs-inner-sanctum-ludovic-lamothe.html

Thanks for the plug, Bill...hope you and your readers enjoy this rare treat!

A weekend with the tie-dyes...

An old friend and I attended a small music festival (Elemental Energy Clean Energy Expo) over the Labor Day Weekend...

...and it reminded me a little of the old Cajun and Bluegrass fests at Escoheag, RI (before the Powers That Be sold out and turned it into the overblown Rhythm And Roots thing...too much rhythm and not enough roots, if you ask me. And having to walk twice as far to the campsite is for the birds.). There were perhaps 200-300 happy, smiling people...and hardly any of the corporate crap that spoiled the old fest for me and quite a few others.....

Regardless of the strange look on my face (I didn't have much sleep Saturday), I had a fairly good time...some of the music was pretty good, too. More on that in a minute.

There were a few pooches out there...I made friends with a Chow/Akita cross named Foxy. I didn't quite get her owner's name though. Maybe he'll write in. Too bad the pics we took of her didn't come out too well.

I mentioned Foxy to my brother (who once had a really sweet Akita)...and he said "oh, a Chakita!"

Well...I have to come up with a cute song for a cute Chakita, right?

Chiquita Banana The Mariachi Brass! Featuring Chet Baker World Pacific WP 1842
http://www.box.net/shared/bm3ysydnuz
Los Angeles, CA, April, 1966: Chesney Henry Baker Jr., trumpet; lost in a sea of studio musicians.

It's a pleasant track, but it's sad to think that Chet was reduced to doing commercial work like this...

I made another friend...one I didn't want.
It's on my left shoulder...I'm not particularly afraid of bees or wasps, but I don't like them invading my personal space, either.

I'll take a little interspecies liberty and dedicate the following to it:

59993-2 Bumble Bee Blues Memphis Jug Band Victor V-38599
http://www.box.net/shared/jcr1eo6vl6
Memphis, 26 May 1930: Will Shade, harmonica; Charlie Burse, guitar; Memphis Minnie, vocal & guitar; Hambone Lewis, jug.

This was the third time Minnie recorded a version of this rather naughty song ("stinger as long as my arm" indeed! I guess she didn't know that it's the female bee that stings)...the earlier versions were on Vocalion. I chose this one to go with the other Memphis Jug band song below.

Oh...I'm wearing the same old Blind Lemon Jefferson shirt from my puddytat days (see the 31 May 2009 post)...

When the music got a bit much for us, we retreated to the van for an invigorating game of Scrabble.

That's my pal Jawn (he was soundman for one of the groups that played that day...that's why we were there in the first place) trying to melt into the background. And, yes, that is a little Mugato watching the game.

Saturday night, there was a lovely sunset.
And we had the zap and crackle of those wires overhead to keep us company.

Sunday morning, we were up with the...er...
ooops...I had to post this pic for Choc and PMan, wherever they are...

Anyhoooo...I did mention the music. There was some fine semi-traditional pickin' on a lot of old chestnuts...most of which seem to have been learned from Jerry Garcia and friends. I think I'll post the original versions for those who haven't heard them.

I heard at least two bands perform Stealin', Stealin'...

47037-2 Stealin', Stealin' Memphis Jug Band Victor V-38504
http://www.box.net/shared/k4utn3bjbu
Memphis, 15 September 1929: Will Shade, harmonica; Ben Ramey, kazoo; Charlie Burse, guitar; Vol Stevens, guitar; Jab Jones, jug & lead vocal; band chorus.

I also seem to recall a version of Walk Right In...

56319=2 Walk Right In Cannon's Jug Stompers Victor V-38611
http://www.box.net/shared/k8c9o6nnd7
Memphis, 1 October 1929: Gus Cannon, banjo, jug & vocal; Noah Lewis, harmonica; Hosea Woods, banjo & vocal.

...and a version of White House Blues too. This time around, I'll bypass the original (and great) recording by Charlie Poole and go with a more obscure version (with a different title, but it's the same song) by Pop Stoneman:

N-218 The Unlucky Road to Washington Ernest V. Stoneman Edison unissued
http://www.box.net/shared/dpxu0yu5tf
NYC 25 April 1928: Ernest Stoneman, vocal, harmonica & guitar; Hattie Stoneman, fiddle; Bolen Frost, banjo.

This was one of many electrically-recorded lateral records that Edison produced in 1928 and 1929...only a handful ever were issued. This one wasn't...but another take was issued on cylinder and Diamond Disc. Does anybody out there have that one? I'd love to hear it.
*********************************************
That'll do it for now...I'm in search of a Mahko root.