Super Calypso Hits Vol. 1

I've had a couple of requests for this one again as the old files have been deleted for some reason. A late period compilation of calypso from the West Indies on the Camille label in Barbados from 1973. Wikipedia says of Lord Melody - "Melody was born Fitzroy Alexander at San Fernando, Trinidad and Tobago, raised at an orphanage in Port of Spain, and met Alwyn Roberts (soon to become better known as Lord Kitchener) after moving to Arima while still in his teens. Roberts took him under his wing and they returned to Port of Spain, where Lord Kitchener became the leading calypso star, with Melody one of his main challengers. His popularity increased locally when Lord Kitchener emigrated to England in 1947. Melody began singing in the calypso tents in the mid 1940s and was one of the leaders of the Young Brigade tent during the 1950s and early 1960s.He also regularly toured the Caribbean. His early successes included "Berlin on a Donkey", mocking Adolf Hitler, and "Boo Boo Man". In 1954 he won Trinidad's Calypso King title with "Second Spring", and he was signed to the American Emory Cook's record label, Cook Records, in 1956. He was one of six calypsonians who were chosen to sing for Princess Margaret at the Governor's House during her visit to Trinidad in 1956; the others were Sir Galba, Mighty Dictator, Mighty Spitfire, Mighty Panther, and Lord Viper. Melody went on to compose a number of other songs that poked fun at his own appearance, such as "Creature from the Black Lagoon". His first known album was "Calypso Fiesta - Limbo In Trinidad" which was released in 1956 on Vitadisc records and was a 78RPM shellac 10" containing 8 songs including his popular Mama Look A Boo Boo. Another release "Calypso Carnival 1958" was released on Balisier records in 1958. It was a split release - the first side contained 6 Lord Melody songs (some of which didn't appear elsewhere), and the second side was composed of instrumental tracks by Cyril Diaz (whose band usually backed Melody on his recordings). Cook Records released some live tracks featuring him on their albums Jump Up Carnival and Calypso Kings And Pink Gin in 1957, which led to him recording a full album for the label the next year. His first album on cook records, Lord Melody Sings Calypso, was released in 1958, with a second album, Again! released the following year. He frequently sparred in song with the Mighty Sparrow. Rivalry between Melody and the Mighty Sparrow was recorded in the calypsos "Ten to One is Murder" and "Cowboy Sparrow". The humorous rivalry between the two calypsonians was immensely popular with audiences. Melody's third album "Calypso Through The Looking Glass" was released in 1960 and featured the infamous "Belmont Jackass" in which Melody berates Sparrow's wife. Another one of Melody's recordings, "Wau, Wau" (more commonly known as "Shame & Scandal"), became an international hit in 1962 and was recorded in the U.S., Europe and Australia. The song was a version of a song originally recorded by Sir Lancelot in 1943 with new verses written by Melody. This subsequently became the most widely known version of the song and his version was covered by The Wailers with Peter Tosh on lead vocal." Super Calypso Hits - Side One. Super Calypso Hits - Side Two.

Reggae Special

Various artists reggae LP from late 60's I would guess. Wikipedia says of Coxsone label- "Clement Seymour "Sir Coxsone" Dodd, CD (Kingston, Jamaica, January 26, 1932 – May 5, 2004) was a Jamaican record producer who was influential in the development of ska and reggae in the 1950s, 1960s and beyond. He received his nickname "Coxsone" at school: because of his teenage talent as a cricketer, his friends compared him to Alec Coxon, a member of the 1940s Yorkshire County Cricket Club team. Dodd used to play records to the customers in his parents' shop. During a spell in the American South he became familiar with the rhythm and blues music popular there at the time. In 1954, back in Jamaica, he set up the Downbeat Sound System, being the owner of an amplifier, a turntable, and some US records, which he would import from New Orleans and Miami. With the success of his sound system, and in a competitive environment, Dodd would make trips through the US looking for new tunes to attract the Jamaican public. Dodd opened five different sound systems, each playing every night. To run his sound systems, Dodd appointed people such as Lee "Scratch" Perry, who was Dodd's right hand man during his early career, U-Roy and Prince Buster. When the R&B craze ended in the United States, Dodd and his rivals were forced to begin recording their own Jamaican music in order to meet the local demand for new music. Initially these recordings were exclusively for a particular sound system but the records quickly developed into an industry in their own right. In 1959 he founded a record company called World Disc. 1962 he produced the Jazz record I cover the water front on the Port-O-Jam label, two of the musicians who played on the album, Roland Alphonso and Don Drummond became founding members of the Skatalites one year later. In 1963 he opened Studio One on Brentford Road, Kingston. It was the first black-owned recording studio in Jamaica (see 1963 in music). He held regular Sunday evening auditions in search of new talent, and it was here that Dodd auditioned Bob Marley, singing as a part of The Wailing Wailers. He gave the group a five-year exclusive contract, paying them £20 for each song they recorded; for a time, Marley slept in a back room of the studio. The Marley-penned song "Simmer Down", a Dodd production, went to number one in Jamaica in February 1964. However, he became notorious for rarely paying the band the money they were owed for the record sales, and as a result the group were living in relative poverty despite being household names in Jamaica. This eventually became their catalyst for leaving the label. During the late 1960s and 1970s, the 'Studio One sound' was synonymous with the sound of ska, rocksteady and reggae, and Dodd attracted some of the best of Jamaican talent to his stable during this time, including Burning Spear, Ras Michael, Delroy Wilson, Horace Andy and Sugar Minott. He continued to be active in the music industry into his seventies, and on May 1, 2004 Kingston's Brentford Road was renamed Studio One Boulevard in a ceremony which paid tribute to his accomplishments as a producer. He died suddenly of a heart attack four days later while working at Studio One.[2] Dodd was posthumously awarded the Order of Distinction, in the rank of Commander on October 15, 2007, for service to the Jamaica music industry." Tracks are as follows - !. Sould & Inspiration - The Hamlins 2. Rocking Time - Roy & Enid 3. Scorcia - The Sound Dimensions 4. Pressure & Slide - The Jennors 5. Reggae For Days - Roy & Enid 6. Music Like Dirt - The Lyrics. Reggae Special - Side Two

Soul Brothers

I thought I had featured the Soul Brothers before but a quick look in the archive seems to suggest I haven't. So here's a nice instrumental Ska LP on the Coxsone label from 1967. "The Soul Brothers bridged the gap between Ska and the arrival of Rocksteady mixing it all up with Funk, Jazz and Latin styles. The Soul Brothers recorded at Studio One between 1965-1967. This was the transitionary period between Ska and Rocksteady where the music was a mixture of Funk, Latin and Jazz sometimes with a reminder of Ska and the hint of Rocksteady. The previous era of Ska had been dominated by the Skatalites. The Skatalites were made up of Don Drummond, Roland Alphonso, Jackie Mittoo, Johnny Moore, Lloyd Knibbs, Lloyd Brevett, Tommy McCook, Ernest Ranglin and Lester Sterling. Formed in 1963, The Skatalites were the first in-house band at Studio One and created scores of classic hits such as "Guns of Navaronne", "Man in the Street", "El Pussy Cat" and many more. Unfortunately the strong personalities in the group meant that The Skatalites stayed together for less than two years. It was also around this time that the mentally unwell Don Drummond was arrested for the murder of his girlfriend, the dancer Margerita. In August 1965, barely a week after the demise of the original Skatalites, The Soul Brothers (featuring ex-Skatalites members Jackie Mittoo, Roland Alphonso, Johnny Moore and Lloyd Brevitt) were up and running as the new house band at Studio One. Other members in this group included Wallin Cameron (guitar) and Bunny Williams (drums). This release could just as easily have been called Rolando Alphonso and The Soul Brothers or just The Soul Brothers as the group were essentially a collective, releasing material under their own name or under a nominal leader (usually Jackie Mittoo or Rolando Alphonso). The group line-up changed over time with Bobby Ellis (trumpet), Bryan Atkinson (bass), Dennis Campbell (Sax), Harry Haughton (guitarist) and Joe Isaacs (drummer) replacing various members alongside the ever present Jackie Mittoo. The Soul Brothers mix of musical styles is described as Ska, Jump-Up and Soul sounds." Tracks are as follows - 1. Lawman 2, The Fiddler 3. Something Else 4. P. Cafe 5. Wakie Wakie ^. Instant Jerk Soul Bros - Side One

Charlie Gillett - UB40/Joe Lung (Re-Up)

Two more Undercurrents radio shows from 1981 with Charlie's guests being UB40 and Joe Lung. Both talking about the independent music scene at the time. UB40 , who's debut album was high in the charts chat about their influences and how they got started and play music from The Clash and Gregory Issacs etc. as well as featuring tracks from "Signing Off" which they made in a bedroom studio in Birmingham.
Joe Lung , a DJ played records in clubs like the Marquee and Moonlight and his selection of platters includes The Dancing Did and The Delta 5 etc.

Wikipedia says of UB40 -

"The band members began as friends who knew each other from various schools across Birmingham. The name "UB40" was selected in reference to the document issued to people claiming unemployment benefit from the UK government's Department of Health and Social Security (DHSS) at the time of the band's formation. The designation UB40 stood for Unemployment Benefit, Form 40.

Brian Travers saved up and bought his first saxophone whilst working as an electrical apprentice for NG Bailey. leaving after a few years to become a founding member of UB40 alongside Jimmy Brown, Earl Falconer and Ali Campbell.

Before some of them could play their instruments, Ali Campbell and Brian Travers travelled around Birmingham promoting the band, putting up UB40 posters. The band purchased its first instruments from Woodroffe's Musical Instruments with £4,000 in compensation money that Campbell, who would become the lead singer, received after a bar fight during his seventeenth birthday celebration.

Their sound was created and honed through many long jam sessions at various locations in Birmingham. Their first gig took place on 9 February 1979 at The Hare & Hounds Pub in Kings Heath, Birmingham for a friend's birthday party.

UB40 caught their first break when Chrissie Hynde heard their John Peel session and gave them an opportunity as a support act to her band, The Pretenders. UB40's first single, "King"/"Food for Thought" was released on Graduate Records, a local independent label run by David Virr. It reached No. 4 on the UK Singles Chart.

Their first album was titled Signing Off, as the band were signing off from or closing their claim on the unemployment benefit. It was recorded in a bedsit in Birmingham and was produced by Bob Lamb. Norman Hassan said of the recording: "If you stripped my track down, you could hear the birds in the background." This is because his tracks were recorded outside in the garden. Signing Off was released on 29 August 1980, and entered the UK Albums Chart on 2 October 1980. It reached as high as No. 2 in the UK and spent 71 weeks in total on the chart. Signing Off is now a Platinum album."Charlie Gillett - UB40 Pt. 1 Charlie Gillett - UB40 Pt. 2.Charlie Gillett - Joe Lung Pt. 1.Charlie Gillett - Joe Jung Pt. 2

Oliver De Coque

Nice high-life LP on the Olumo records label from 1980. Wikipedia says - "Oliver De Coque is a well known name in Nigeria as well as the Nigerian music circle. Though many[who?] believe he was not a Nigerian owing to his popular name which has a French leaning, he had started music with Ekpili at the age of 17. Oliver De Coque was from Ezinifite, Nnewi South Local Government Area of Anambra State. Oliver's real and full name is Oliver Sunday Akanite. Oliver de Coque was a prolific guitarist who popularised the "Ogene" dance inspiring style of Nigerian highlife, and recorded no fewer than 73 albums in his lifetime. Some of his major hits include "Biri Ka Mbiri, and "identity" remixed in a hiphop style by his son Safin de coque Oliver played on the Prince Nico Mbarga's evergreen album "Sweet Mother." Tracks are - 1. Identity 2. Nwa Bu Ife Ukwu OLiver De Coque - Side Two

Todd Rhodes

Mostly instrumental R&B Lp on the Contact Record label from Denmark - a compilation of tracks from the 50's. "Todd Rhodes (August 31, 1900 – June 4, 1965)[1] was an American pianist and arranger and was an early influence in jazz and later on in R&B. He was born Todd Washington Rhodes, in Hopkinsville, Kentucky. Rhodes attended both the Springfield School of Music and the Erie Conservatory, studying as pianist and songwriter. In the early 1920s he played with Benny Carter, Coleman Hawkins, Fats Waller, Rex Stewart, Doc Cheatham, and Don Redman in McKinney's Cotton Pickers, a jazz group. Rhodes lived and played in Detroit in the 1930s. In the late 1940s he started his own group, Todd Rhodes and His Toddlers, and started doing more R&B arrangements. With his Toddlers, he recorded "Your Daddy's Doggin' Around" and "Your Mouth Got a Hole In It." Rhodes also worked with Hank Ballard, The Chocolate Dandies and Wynonie Harris. He featured African American female lead singers, such as Connie Allen, who recorded "Rocket 69" in 1951. After she left the band in early 1952, her position was taken by LaVern Baker. Rhodes died in June 1965 in Detroit, at the age of 64." Todd Rhodes - Side One

Maitre Gazonga

Wonderful LP of soukous from central Africa. Recorded in Paris on the Tangent label in the 80's. Wikipedia says - "Born in 1948 in Chad and died on 1 st April 2006 in N'Djamena , Master Gazonga whose real name is Saleh Ahmat Rougalta is undoubtedly singer Chad best known through his country. He is also in Africa after MC Solaar Barely reaching his twenties, Saleh Ahmat had to discover his love for music. He entered the group International Chalal he was a founding member. He recorded his first album Golden Africa in Abidjan in 1984 . He skirted other singers like Manu Dibango , Tiken Jah Fakoly , etc.. Saleh Ahmat just felt a headache that worsened thereafter. He was transported to the "Pavilion of urgency" of the Hopital General de Reference National (HGRN) Capital ndjamenoise . The Master's death coincides with the date of April Fools (1 st April), which is why most of his fans did not believe the news of his death. Gazonga master and his group Chalal had found a way to tour around the Chad while being properly paid a . Gazonga knowing that in rural areas people are often poor, have no money but still want to have fun, the group gave concerts for several months in all regions of Chad, where villagers could pay with that 'they had: the sorghum , the rice , the dried fish , and chicken , the beans ... And the concerts were very successful as well. And while the band went from village to village, two trucks were making round trips to the capital N'Djamena , to sell at the market recovered some of the goods, the other being given directly to the families of musicians. The money collected was able to pay salaries and the profits they could repeat the rest of the year and record some new songs." Tracks are as follows - !. Les Jaloux Saboteurs 2. Koysse Maitre Gazonga - Side One

Celestine Ukwu

Celestine Ukwu - Side One.

A Nigerian LP on the Philips label I've had for a number of years, originally bought at Cheshire Street in the East End of London I think. Delightful ju ju music with xylophone and jazzy brass section. "Born in 1940, Celestine was educated musically by his uncle who taught him how to read music and play harmonium. His grandmother was a folk musician and dancer and his father, who worked as a coal miner, was a popular local performer of igede, ikpa and ode music. His mother was lead singer for a women's dance troupe. After Catholic primary school, where he excelled in drama and music, Celestine went to teacher training school for two years, dropping out in 1960 to join Mike Ejeagha's group as vocalist and maraca player. But he soon left to join a group led by Mr Picolo who were going to tour the Congo. Thus an early exposure to Congolese music had a huge impact on his own musical formation. On his return to Nigeria he briefly joined a group called African Baby Party. Three months later he moved to Maiduguri and formed Freedom Jazz Band, but then he moved to Zaria and formed The Republic Knights with Charles Jebba. But he moved again, to Onitsha, where he fronted the Niger City Starlighters. With this formation he made his debut recordings, and scored hits with "No Condition is Permanent," "Artificial Beauty," "Appolonia," and "Ije Enu." This latter song sold 200,000 copies in 3 months. After nine months he decided to start anew and with the help of Matthias Okafor who owned the Frontline Hotel, Onitsha, and who rented instruments for him, Ukwu was able to start Celestine Ukwu & His Music Royals of Nigeria in April 1962. The band was a huge success for five years. In 1967 the Biafran War broke out and the non-Biafran members of the band fled, while Ukwu recorded "Hail Biafra!" and did his bit to boost morale during the strife. In addition to singing he also played drums and vibraphone on his recordings. The band toured neighbouring countries and even went to West Germany. In 1972 students at the University of Nigeria renamed his band the Philosophers National. In 1977 at the age of 37, Ukwu died in a car wreck." Biography courtesy of www.musikifan.com Tracks are - 1. Ejim Nke Onye 2. Ima Echi

Anarkali

LP I bought in a library sale many years ago. Film soundtrack on the EMI label from 1953.

Features the beautiful voice of Lata Mangeshkar. Wikipedia says - " Anarkali (Hindi: अनारकली, Urdu: اناركلی) is a 1953 film based on the historical legend of the Mughal emperor Jahangir. As per the legend Jahangir revolted against his father Akbar over his love for a common girl called Anarkali. It was the top grossing Hindi film in the year of its release, and one of the biggest Hindi film hits in its decade. Another film on the same theme was Mughal-e-Azam, made in 1960, which was again a major commercial and critical hit." Anarkali - Side One.

Sunny Ade & His African Beats

This Nigerian LP on the African Songs label from 1974 is shared with Sunny Ade's African beats and Apola Sounds by Idowu Animasahun. The sleeve notes say -"The story of Sunny Ade and African Beats dates back a number of years. within this short period of time, however, the African beats has made tremendous impact and completely revolutionised the trend of ju ju music in the country.... The music is called African Beats and the dance style is more recently christened Synchro System Movement." No mention the songs on here so one must assume they are well known hits of the time and need no explaination among the faithful fans of Sunny Ade. Discover more about King Sunny Ade HERE. King Sunny Ade - Nigeria's Sounds Of The Moment

Saturday Night At Flannagans

This LP from the boot sale was inside the wrong sleeve so picked this one from Ebay - not sure it's right but will have to do. It's no great shakes as a sing-along record with boozy pub crown led by Bernard Bedford - whoever he might be? Not much gleaned from the internet. A short extract here to give you some idea of how it sounds. I have fond memories of the TV show from Leeds Varieties in the 60's and 70's which sounded similar to this but somehow better. I suppose it was the injection of humour by the likes of Ken Dodd and Billy Dainty etc. that lifted above the normal mire of pub sing-along and into the realms of the affectionate re-creation of the Victorian Music Hall. Flannagans - Side Two.

The Midnight Minstrels

The last of the 78's from the suitcase you'll be pleased to know! One side is too scratched to play really. This one is another little known outfit but a detective on DailyMotion says - "This appears to be a Stan Greening pseudonym. Like many of the bandleaders who directed music purely for recording, Stan Greening (✩Kensington, UK 1888 - ✛Clapham, UK 1971) is hardly known today. He studied piano and composition at the Royal Academy of Music, and worked as a classical musician before WWI. In 1924 he started recording for the Crystalate Company for their Imperial and Mimosa labels, a position he maintained until the early 30s. Around the same time, he worked for Parlophone and is likely to have organised the sessions issued as by The Marlborough Dance Orchestra. At the start of 1925, he began working for Columbia, providing studio dance bands and accompaniments for the Columbia and Regal labels. Greening's recordings were issued on Regal as Corona Dance Orchestra. Other record companies which made use of his services were HMV, Brunswick and Duophone." Midnight Minstrels - Tip Toe Through The Tulips.

Jack Payne

One more 78 from the pile. This time a 10" on the Columbia label. Wikipedia says - Jack Payne (22 August 1899 – 4 December 1969) was a British dance music bandleader who established his reputation during the British dance band era of the 1930s. John Wesley Vivian Payne was born in Leamington Spa, Warwickshire, the only son of a music publisher's warehouse manager. While serving in the Royal Flying Corps he played the piano in amateur dance bands. Payne served in the Royal Air Force during World War I, and led dance bands for the troops. Prior to joining the Royal Air Force, he was part of "The Allies" concert party. This voluntary group performed to wounded soldiers convalescing around Birmingham. In the 1920s he played in a ten-piece band which became the house band at the London's Hotel Cecil in 1925. This ensemble regularly performed on the BBC in the latter half of the decade. In 1928, Payne became the BBC Director of Dance Music and the leader of the BBC's first official dance band. In 1929 the band was featured in the first ever BBC television broadcast. His signature tune was Say it With Music written by Irving Berlin. [edit]The 1930s and 1940s In July 1930 a reviewer from The Gramaphone magazine wrote that "Jack Payne's Band is public property. It is paid out of the wireless licence fees which you and I supply...As such its one duty is to please the masses. It has to be good musically, it has to entertain, it needn't worry about anything advanced in the way of style, and the last thing it need be is rhythmically hot. I think we must all agree that it does its job well, and that anything it may at times lack in modern rhythmic stylishness is amply compensated by other qualities more important from the public's viewpoint, such as musical ability and versatility". After leaving the BBC in 1932, when he was succeeded by Henry Hall, he returned to playing hotel venues and took his band on nationwide tours and made a film Say it with Music (1932), followed four years later by Sunshine Ahead. Payne had three successful waltzes - Blue Pacific Moonlight, Underneath the Spanish Stars and Pagan Serenade, which he composed and later published in the 1930s. Payne did some jazz recording, including working with Garland Wilson. He toured South Africa and France in the 1930s, but also concentrated his efforts on running a theatrical agency." Jack Payne - You're Gonna Be Young. Jack Payne - You're Gonna Be Young. Jack Payne - Sitting On A Five Bar Gate.

Trying To Make A Living

Some urban blues on the Red Lightnin' label from the 70's. Compilation of 50's recordings by Little Mac, L.C. McKinley, Eddie Boyd etc. "Malcolm Simmons ( Little Mac )was born on January 25, 1933, in the small cotton-farming community of Twist, Arkansas. He was a childhood friend of James Cotton, who was serving as an apprentice of Sonny Boy Williamson II (Rice Miller) at the time. The two boys persisted in skipping school together for the more enticing lure of jamming on their harmonicas, and Cotton taught Simmons the harp techniques he was learning from the master. Soon school was dropped completely, and Mack picked cotton and drove a tractor full time. Then at 18, he left for St. Louis, where he lived for two years while working on the railroad. It was here that Simmons met the renowned Robert Nighthawk and made his club debut on Nighthawk's stage. In 1954 Little Mack moved on to Chicago, where he formed his own band and held down a five-year stand at Cadillac Baby's, as well as performing regularly at Pepper's Lounge and at Sylvio's." Here's a bit about Eddie Boyd - "EDDIE BOYD (By Dominic Turner) Born Edward Riley Boyd, 25 November 1914 (some sources say 13 November), Stovall (Mississippi) Died 13 July 1994, Helsinki, Finland Starting out as a guitarist but ultimately making his name as a pianist, Eddie Boyd is universally known in blues circles for his powerful "Five Long Years." But this oft covered Chess blues classic was by no means the only highlight of an excellent career. Born on Frank Moore's Stovall plantation near Clarksdale in the heart of the fertile Mississippi delta (his cousin, Muddy Waters, was born there just a few months later), Boyd taught himself to play the guitar at a young age. After a hard day's work in the fields, he would take to the legendary Mississippi juke joints in the evening, playing and singing the blues to rowdy audiences of black workers. But it was a tough upbringing, and Boyd, frustrated by the unfair segregationist policies, ran into trouble after a fight with a white youth (some accounts suggest that Boyd threw a hayfork!). As a result of that incident, he joined the hordes of Southern blacks who moved further north to seek their fortune, and settled in Memphis around 1931. The move to an even more stimulating musical environment soon rubbed off, and he learned to play the piano, developing a style that owed much to Roosevelt Sykes and Leroy Carr. He continued to play regularly in the city's bars and juke joints, often appearing on Beale Street as a pianist and singer with his band the Dixie Rhythm Boys." Various - Trying To Make A Living Side Two

Bidgood's Broadcasters

More Bidgoodness with Harry and the boys."Harry BIDGOOD (born in London, 1898) recorded both under his own name, and a variety of other names such as Harry Bidgood's Broadcasters, The Riverside Dance Orchestra, Don Porto and His Novelty Accordions, Rossini's Accordions, Primo Scala and His Banjo Band (or: Primo Scala and His Accordion Band) Among his famous vocalists are Vera Lynn, Cavan O'Malley, Sam Costa. Bidgood's career began when he became the pianist with the De Groot Orchestra then resident at London's Piccadilly Hotel. In time, he became the Musical Director for Vocalion Records, and in 1932, for Crystalate Records. Curiously, he is probably better remembered by his pseudonym of "Primo Scala" than by his own English birthname. (He contrived the name from Italy's boxing champion 'Primo Carnera' and a then famous Irish Sweepstakes winner, Signor Emilio Scala.). He died in London in 1957." Bidgood's Broadcasters - Sing A Little Love Song. Bidgood's Broadcasters - Hitting The Ceiling.

Harry Hudson/ Walter Miller

Could not find anything about Walter Miller - another nom de plume perhaps? Delightful double novelty disc with Sarah Jane sounding very much like On Ilkley Moor Bah't At?! "Harry Hudson was a music hall personality who recorded solo comic records for Edison Bell Records..In 1928,the newly formed Edison Bell Radio label was born, and Hudson was approached to become the musical director. So Hudson began recording several hundred records before the depression, finally sank the label, in 1932/33 However from 1934 enterprising Hudson,went on to concentrate on the Variety Club circuit. in Great Britain. Someone informed me that in old age he played piano intros on a TV quiz show in the 1950's..It seemed he had a very upbeat personality. The Radio records have a loud,dynamic sound that showed Hudson's classy studios bands to their best advantage." Harry Hudson - When I Met Connie In A Cornfield. Harry Hudson - Sarah Jane.

The Biltmore Players

"It's an 8 inch record. The smaller ones were I think budget releases and sold in shops like Woolworths in the 20's/30's." Another from the suitcase of scratchy 78's. Not much on the net about the Biltmore players. Another pseudonym for a house band perhaps. These cheapo labels used to have lots of them. Anybody knows different please let us know. Biltmore Players - Betty Co-ed. Biltmore Players - When It's Moonlight By Killarney.

The Clevelanders/ Lou Gold

More from the 78 pile this time two artistes on one record. Not much known about the Clevelanders but found this on a YouTube intro. to this record - "The Clevelanders apparently was a pseudonym for Jack Albin. Although very popular in his day, almost nothing is known of him today. It was a steady outfit that played in New York's best hotels and restaurants, the best known being the Pennsylvania Hotel. With the orchestra based at this hotel, he recorded extensively in 1929 and 1930, and also a few excellent discs for Crown in 1931. Shortly after those sessions, Albin left the music business, and what happened in the rest of his life is totally unknown. As for this lovely record, it was made in 1930. Outstanding vocal by Scrappy Lambert." Same goes for Lou Gold. Here's another snippet of info. I found on YouTube - "Although largely forgotten today, Lou Gold was a very popular orchestra leader during the 1920s. He was born Lewis Milton Goldwasser in 1894, and mainly active in the New York area during the 1920s and 1930s as a composer, pianist and orchestra leader. His orchestra made several recordings both with his own name and with different pseudonyms, depending on what label the recordings were made for. During his life he worked with artists like Benny Goodman, Tommy Dorsey, Abe Lyman and many others. He died in 1950." Lou Gold - Love Ain't Nothing But The Blues. Clevelanders - Lucky Me, Lovable You.

Roy Fox

Somebody I recognise from the British Dance Band era. A very warped record sadly so only one side will play. Wikipedia says - Roy Fox (b. October 25, 1901, Denver, Colorado, United States - d. March 20, 1982, London, England, UK) was an American dance bandleader whose period of greatest popularity came during his years performing in England during the British dance band era. Roy Fox was raised in Hollywood, California. He began playing cornet when he was eleven years old, and by age 13 was performing in the Los Angeles Examiner's newsboys' band. Soon after he played bugle for a studio owned by Cecil B. DeMille. His first major association came at the age of 16, when he joined Abe Lyman's orchestra at the Sunset Inn in Santa Monica, where he played alongside Miff Mole, Gussie Miller, Henry Halstead, and Gus Arnheim. He developed a soft style of playing there which earned him the nickname "The Whispering Cornetist". [edit]The 1920s and 1930s In 1920 he put together his own band, with whom he recorded in 1925. That same year he also scored a gig on radio broadcasting with Art Hickman's orchestra; this ensemble toured the U.S., then did an extended residency in Florida. After some time in New York City, Fox and Arnheim reconvened in Hollywood, working at the Ambassador Hotel, and Fox continued to broadcast with his own bands. During this time he also did a number of film soundtracks. In 1930 Fox was invited to perform in London, which he first did on September 29, 1930. He recorded on the BBC that year, and when his band returned to the U.S. the following spring, Fox remained behind, recording with a new group for Decca Records and accepting an engagement at the Monseigneur restaurant in Piccadilly. He lost this contract in November 1931 when he fell ill with pleurisy and traveled to Switzerland for a stay at a sanatorium. Upon his return he put together yet another group composed entirely of new members aside from trumpeter/vocalist Sid Buckman, and performed in Belgium as well as the UK. Art Christmas played a variety of instruments in this band. He made the films On the Air and Big Ben Calling in 1933-34, recorded for HMV in 1936, and toured Europe until 1938, when he fell ill again." Roy Fox - Lonely Lane

Harry Hudon's Melody Men

Not much found on the internet about Harry Hudson but David Glow on YouTube seems to know things - "Harry Hudson was a music hall personality who recorded solo comic records for Edison Bell Records..In 1928,the newly formed Edison Bell Radio label was born, and Hudson was approached to become the musical director. So Hudson began recording several hundred records before the depression, finally sank the label, in 1932/33 However from 1934 enterprising Hudson,went on to concentrate on the Variety Club circuit. in Great Britain. Someone informed me that in old age he played piano intros on a TV quiz show in the 1950's..It seemed he had a very upbeat personality. The Radio records have a loud,dynamic sound that showed Hudson's classy studios bands to their best advantage. Here Sylvester Ahola is present on trumpet lead in a hot,tight rendition of this evergreen song. Hudson was not shy man, and took vocals himself,on a number of records,in spite of being a poor singer.Joe Leigh is the vocalist on this record. Hudson seems to have got on well with Al Bowlly as they teamed up again at Decca which he played piano on some of Al's solo records in 1934. He has never had the proper acknowledgement of his massive contribution to British musical history and is not well known today." Harry Hudson - Marie. Harry Hudson - Building A Nest For Mary.