Memorial Day 2017, Part 2

Two more selections for today, and I'll try not to complain about Windstream in this post, especially considering the fact that Zippyshare is now, for some reason, working.

I have no idea how I got it to work.  It could have been one (or more) of any four solutions I tried, including switching from Google Chrome and saying in a loud Patrick Stewart voice, "YOU WILL WORK AS I COMMAND."  It was probably the Patrick Stewart voice.

I think the last time I featured Ferde Grofe's wonderful c. 1929 Over There Fantasie was in 2013.  Not sure, since I long ago purged most of this blog's history (too many "dead" links), but here it is again, and in something we don't hear a lot of at this blog: stereo.  I've coupled it with a highly enjoyable and inspiring version of William Billing's Revolutionary War anthem Chester, arranged by United States Army Band leader and commanding officer Colonel Samuel Loboda.  It includes a 21-gun salute (just to let you know).

Click here to hear: Over There Fantasie--Chester

Over There Fantasie (Grofe, c. 1929)
Chester (William Billings; arr. Colonel Samuel Loboda

The United States Army Band, Colonel Samuel Loboda--Leader and Commanding Officer, 1975.

From LP, The United States Army 1775-1975 (No label name)


Lee

Memorial Day 2017

I can no longer use Zippyshare--I try to upload, and nothing happens.  I imagine it's our sick and sorry excuse for internet service (the joke known as Windstream DSL).  So Box.net my uploads will have to be, unless and until I get around to enjoying the experience of staring helplessly at an upload that refuses to happen.

You who enjoy an actual internet connection have no idea how unbelievably lucky you are.  And, yes, they actually bill us for ours.

Click here to hear: The Trumpeter

The Trumpeter--Raymond Newell, Baritone; Ion Swinley, Narrator, 1929.
Your Land and My Land (Romberg, A: Grofe)--Paul Whiteman and His Orch., w. vocal refrain, 1927.
March for Americans (Grofe)--Meredith Willson and His Orch., 1941.

Lee

Dance It Again with Me--Acoustical gems (1903-1920)!

Acoustical gems, spanning the years 1903 to 1920.  A number have been featured here before, but not sounding as good, because 1) I'm using Vinylstudio and 2) I'm using a bass turnover of 0 Hz and a 10kHz treble rolloff of 0 dB.  The result is clear, crisp, clean acoustical sound.

You'll think you're right there, hearing the musicians play in person.  Well, not really, but the sound is quite good.  Download without delay for some 97- to 114-year-old sound!

Click here to hear:  Dance It Again with Me

Cold Turkey--Earl Fuller's Rector Novelty Orch., 1917
12th St. Rag--Same
Ringtail Blues--Wilbur Sweatman's Orig. Jazz Band, 1918
Bluin' the Blues--Same
On the Streets of Cairo--Art Hickman's Orch., 1919
My Baby's Arms--Same
Sand Dunes--Earl Fuller's Rector Novelty Orch., 1919
Spaniola--Same
Oriental Stars--One Step--Joseph C. Smith's Orch., 1920
Arkansas Traveler--Don Richardson, violin, 1916
Old Zip Coon--Same
Spanish Bolero (Moszkowski)--Columbia Band, 1903
Pork and Beans--Earl Fuller's Rector Novelty Orch., 1917
Swanee--One Step (Gershwin)--Gene Rodemich's Orch., 1919
Dance It Again with Me--Art Hickman's Orch., 1919

Lee

Cheap label country of the 1950s

And we mean cheap.  How cheap, you ask?  Record Pak-cheap, that's how cheap.  Plus, Tops-, Allegro-, and Variety-cheap.  These are the pop and country labels you ended up with if you weren't willing or able to spring for the name outfits and artists.  Cheap as cheap can be.  And lots of fun.

Most of these rips sound decent enough, with the exception of a couple tracks from the Record Pak 78, which I suspect was played with a Stone Age tonearm.  An extra-wide needle and heavier tracking force can only do so much for such a battered platter, but the tracks are great fun.  (Did I mention fun?)

From 78s (and a 45) from my collection.

DOWNLOAD: Cheap Label Country

FUN TRACK LIST

Salty Dog Rag--Steve Thompson (Record Pak 149)
Wild Side of Life--Same (Record Pak 149)
Easy on the Eyes--Rusty Gill (Record Pak 149)
The Gold Rush Is Over--Prairie Ramblers; v: Wally Moore (Record Pak 149)
I Walk the Line--No artists credited (Variety EPV-802)
Folsom Prison Blues--No artists credited (Variety EPV-802)
Honky Tonk Man--No artists credited (Variety EPV-802)
My Baby Left Me--Rusty Howard (George Jones), The Rhythm Rangers-- (Gilmar RX-124)
Hep Cat Baby--Rusty Howard, the Rhythm Rangers-- (Tops R244)
Courtin' in the Rain--Same
In the Jailhouse Now--Pat Patterson and the Texas Wranglers (Tops R255)
That's All Right--Same
Knee Deep in the Blues--Dave Burgess and the Toppers (Tops R302)
Singing the Blues--No artists credited (Allegro 1670)
I Walk the Line--No artists credited (Allegro 1670)

Lee

Whittemore and Lowe--"Pop Hits on Two Pianos," plus bonus tracks

The 1959 RCA Camden LP, Pop Hits on Two Pianos (above), reissues nine of the ten tracks from the 1946 Whittemore and Lowe 78 set Two Grand. which RCA had the duo pianists redo, under the same title, in 1956, possibly having decided it wasn't grand enough.  Anyway, the Camden LP omits The Continental, so I ripped it from my 78 copy and inserted it as a bonus track, because I'm like that.

Completing the Pop Hits on Two Pianos tracklist are three pop-concert mega-standards: Ritual Fire Dance, Malaguena, and Liebestraum, all featuring duo pianists Arthur and Jack without orchestra.

In addition, from shellac in my collection, we have two 1948 orchestra-less sides, plus two 1951 prepared-piano numbers that also qualify as "tape music," given the tape effects therein (quick splices, delay, possibly some speed manipulation), so you can't say without fear of rebuttal that I've scrimped on the Whittemore and Lowe.  By the way, Ernie was the person who brought the prepared piano sides to my attention a while back.  Thanks, Ernie.

Arthur and Jack were kind of a less flamboyant Ferrante and Teicher, and they were first.  Like F&T, they did light classics, pop standards, Broadway, and even country, but in a more laid-back way. 

DOWNLOAD: Pop Hits on Two Pianos, plus bonus tracks

(With orchestra conducted by Russ Case, 1946)

In the Still of the Night
Lover
The Song Is You-Same
They Didn't Believe Me
Brazil
Falling in Love with Love
That Old Black Magic
The Continental (from 78 rpm)

(Without Orchestra; dates courtesy of Buster)

Ritual Fire Dance--December 18, 1947
Malaguena--January 31, 1947  
Liebestraum--September 20, 1946

(Bonus Tracks, from 78s)

Night and Day--RCA Victor Red Seal 10-1361 (1948)
Seldom the Sun (Alec Wilder)--RCA Victor Red Seal 10-1361 (1948)
Third Street Rhumba (Clifford Shaw)--RCA Victor 20-4404 (1951)
Begin the Beguine--RCA Victor 20-4404 (1951)


Lee