e-concertpianola

e-Concert #7

Another mixed bag of forgotten wonders from the shelves, this time everything is from the early to mid 20s. An archival quality copy of everything you hear has been matrix scanned for preservation. Many thanks as ever to Julian Dyer for scanning and making this possible.

1. Yes We Have No Bananas
We still don't have any bananas. Not one. Metrostyle L24434 Yes we have no bananas - Silver-Cohn 88-note

2. Lady be Good
This is the selection from the London 1926 production and includes the additional song Gershwin wrote to the run "I'd Rather Charleston". As with a lot of selections from this period, astute listeners will be able to identify the many seperate performances assembled to make this composite performance. Titles here are : Little Jazz Bird, So Am I, You Don't the Half of It Dearie Blues, I'd Rather Charleston, Lady Be Good, Hang on to Me, Fascinating Rhythm. Universal L13610 Lady be Good (selection) - Gershwin arr H M Higgs 88-note

3. Il Trovatore
One of bandleader Arthur Lange's "rhythmic parashrases of the classics" series from the mid 20s. Unlike many other examples from the 20s these weren't merely conceived as a piano solo then beefed up but were done by syncopating the original score. There were seven in the series: June, Il Trovatore, Tannhauser, Echoes of Ireland,Faust, Naila and Russian Fantasy. If you are familiar with the Verdi original you will hear umpteen little touches and nods to the original, even down to a chime thrown in just before the "Miserere" section starts. Meloto 31161 Il Trovatore Fox Trot - Verdi arr Lange 88-note

4. Sunny
Another selection from London theatreland. This is from Sunny - star of a circus act who falls for a rich playboy and comes in conflict with his rather snooty family. Another piece from Kern's greatest years following on from "The Cabaret Girl". Titles here are : Sunny, D'ye Love Me?, Who?, Two Little Bluebirds, I Might Grow Fond of You, Dream a Dream, At the Hunt BallUniversal S13648 Sunny (sel) - Kern arr Higgs 88-note

5. Turkey in the Straw
A very fine performance of this old American tune. The roll is credited to "Bonnell" as composer but is incorrect. Bonnell wrote a ragtime fantasy version of this tune but this is not the Bonnell version. Here are interpolated two English tunes : the old country dance "Pop Goes the Weasel" followed by an 1892 Albert Chevalier music hall number "Wot Cher - Knocked 'em in the Old Kent Road". All very curious and pointing to this being an English published arrangement of this piece! Pianostyle 49516 Turkey in the Straw (Country Dance) 88-note

6. Miami
In the mid 20s UK Aeolian started issuing double-length dance rolls as a sales ploy. The coupled tunes are invariably two consecutively numbered tunes from the Meloto dance roll series which started in 1925. These double dance rolls appear on all the UK Aeolian mastered sub-labels such as Universal, Artistyle, Triumph, Autoplayer etc. This tune is from the 1925 Al Jolson stage show hit "Big Boy". As this is a double roll the midi file plays directly to the next tune. Metrostyle L24759 Miami & Nobody but Fanny - 88-note

7. Nobody But Fanny
This tune was a 1925 hit for Johnny Hamp's Kentucky Serenaders a year before their evergreen hit recording of "Black Bottom". This tune is the second part of the midi file above as this is a double roll. Metrostyle L24759 Miami & Nobody but Fanny - 88-note

8. Cherie I Love You
Another double dance roll. The first tune was a 1926 hit for Annette Hanshaw. Metrostyle L24789 Cherie I love You & No Foolin - 88-note

9. No Foolin'
The smash hit from Ziegfeld Follies of 1926. So successful was the tune that they soon simply renamed the show "No Foolin'". Paul Whiteman recorded it also as did many others. This tune is the second part of the midi file above as this is a double roll. Metrostyle L24789 Cherie I love You & No Foolin - 88-note

10. The Varisty Drag
Len Rawle at the Wurlitzer and me on the grand pianola!