e-concertpianola
e-Concert #4
This
"e-concert" is a mixed bag mainly of 10s and 20s hits. More wacky weird
fun stuff plus another rare Billy Mayerl hand-played recording and also one the pianist for
Bert Ralton's Havana Band. Play them
through from one to nine - don't just click and click and never get to listen
to anything properly - there's only 9 pieces not 3000 after all. Hopefully
you'll find something here you never heard before. An archival quality copy
of everything you hear has been matrix scanned for preservation. Many thanks
to Julian Dyer for scanning and making this possible.
1.
1.
Tiger
Rag
Tiger Rag had a second life in the late 1920s and early 30s in alternate
danceband arrangements. This roll dates from the early 30s and is Tiger
Rag on it's second outing.Meloto (UK) 41237 Tiger Rag - La Rocca 88-note
2. Hallelujah!
The big hit from Vincert Youmans' "Hit the Deck". This is a very
rare hand-played recording on the British "Hand Played Music Rolls"
label. The pianist is Frank Compton who played with Bert Ralton and His
Havana Band at the London Savoy. Ralton was the bandleader who first engaged
Billy Mayerl. Like the Echo rolls and Aeolian Unirecord these performances
have not been made into perfect strict tempo which, in 2007, makes them
all the more interesting. Hand Played (UK) 816 Hallelujah! played by
Frank Compton - Youmans 88-note
3. When
It's Moonlight on the Alamo
A beautiful Fred Fisher number from 1914 very popular in its day. If you
would like to hear an original cylinder recording of this piece also click
here. Universal (UK) S7848S - When It's Moonlight on the Alamo -
Fred Fisher 88-note
4.
Havanola
A fine novelty dance piece from the pen of Hugo Frey writer of many such
wonders and the later "Mary". Musically this is precisely half-way
in musical evolution between "Tres Moutarde" and the first foxtrots. If you
would like to hear an original cylinder recording of this piece also click
here.
Themodist (UK) T23932 Havanola- Hugo Frey 88-note
5. Tarzan's Dream
A fun ragtime ditty with Tarzan swinging thru the trees. No idea what he
is dreaming about, I dread to think! Amazonian wild women? A big hairy monkey?
Universal (UK) S12018S - Tarzan's Dream - Lotter 88-note
6. Wagneritis
Wagneritis is a nasty disease indeed. Sufferers show symptoms of stale old
racist attitudes due to inoperable atrophy of their downstairs department.
Sir Thomas Beecham said "Wagner has some wonderful moments but dreadful
half-hours" and he wasn't wrong. Fortunately you can't catch Wagneritis
easily unless you are mentally unstable. You can't hum it either also unless
you are mentally unstable. Themodist (UK) T24134S Wagneritis - Mornington
88-note
7. Flame of Desire
A fun "Spanish One-Step" in 6/8 time. The flame of this style
of tune only glimmered bright for a very short period. You can hear a similar
example of this style of music on the soundtrack to Charlie Chaplin's "Modern
Times" in the restaurant scene. Meloto (UK) 31928 Flame of Desire
- Dazar-Benoit 88-note
8. The
Singing Fool - selection
A fine selection of the melodies from this
early talkie musical starring Al Jolson. Just incase you just flew in from
Mars and really don't know these tunes the title are 1) From Monday On 2)
Sonny Boy 3) I'm Sittin' On Top of the World 4) It All Depends on You 5)
Keep Smiling at Trouble 6) There's a Rainbow Round my Shoulder 7) Sonny
Boy. Aeolian Metrosyle (UK) L30435 The SInging Fool selection 88-note
9.
Parisian Pierrot
Another rare hand-played performance
from the young Billy Mayerl. Here is Noel Coward's Parisian Pierrot recorded
when it was fresh on the London stage in 1923. Recorded on S&P's "Echo"
danceroll label. Echo (UK) D1474 Parisian Pierrot - Coward 88-note
(with thanks to Julian Dyer for "Wagneritis" and "Parisian Pierrot")