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")