"Ten Cents a Dance." Music by Richard Rodgers, lyrics by Lorenz Hart (1930). Recorded by Jack Payne and His BBC Dance Orchestra, with vocals by Elsie Carlisle. London, March 31, 1931. Columbia CB 249 mx. CA-11275-5.
https://www.elsiecarlisle.com/ten-cents-a-dance-with-jack-payne-and-his-orchestra/
this kind of thing is so cool. we know from listings that there are a fair number of klezmer test pressings from the 1910s/1920s that never saw a commercial release. none in this set yet, but I hope some surface eventually. In some cases they were done by people with no other recordings, in other cases a large catalogue but they had some that were deemed not commercially viable and never released.
https://www.library.ucsb.edu/digitized-test-pressings-michael-brooks-collection
During the course of a many decades-long career with Columbia Records (now part of Sony Music) Michael Brooks produced numerous reissue projects and was the resident "vault whisperer" who was tasked with tracking down unissued material, alternate takes, and pristine source material from the Columbia and Sony vaults for reissue projects. From original metal parts in the Sony Archives, Brooks would have new test pressings made for evaluation. Michael's record collection and his personal collection of these test pressings was acquired by UCSB in 2019.
"One Song" (from the film "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs"; Morey-Churchill). Recorded in London on March 25, 1938 by Carroll Gibbons and the Savoy Hotel Orpheans. Columbia FB-1935.
Transfer by Fred Finnigan: https://youtu.be/VNNWCLjQGgg?si=hDLdoJ3isOhmzQGm
"With a Smile and a Song" (from the film "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs"; Morey-Churchill). Recorded in London on March 25, 1938 by Carroll Gibbons and the Savoy Hotel Orpheans. Columbia FB-1935.
Transfer by Fred Finnigan: https://youtu.be/sg5JJme-wTU?si=PSQ8aS62RQ4YiMnD
"I Won't Dance" (from the film "Roberta"; Hammerstein-Harbach-Fields-Kern). Recorded in London on March 23, 1935 by Carroll Gibbons and the Savoy Hotel Orpheans with singers Brian Lawrance and Anne Lenner. Columbia FB-1089.
Transfer by the Hehr Archive: https://youtu.be/Uncogy9_eLE?si=_3FZSvSsNlOflw5J
"The Man from Folies Bergere." Recorded in London on March 22, 2026 by Carroll Gibbons and Harry Jacobson with singer Anne Lenner. Columbia DB-1534.
"Baby Mine" (from the film "Dumbo"; Washington-Churchill). Recorded in London on March 12, 1942 by Carroll Gibbons and the Savoy Hotel Orpheans with singer Anne Lenner. Columbia FB-2788.
Transfer by John: https://youtu.be/DxcoYXUbwmI?si=KtkeG1G6VyYxYKcF
“I’m the Medicine Man for the Blues.” Composed by Grant Clarke (words) and Harry Akst (music) for the Warner Brothers film "Is Everybody Happy?"" (1929). Recorded in Chelsea, London on March 5, 1930 by the Rhythm Maniacs under the musical direction of Arthur Lally with vocalist Maurice Elwin. Decca F-1677.
https://mauriceelwin.com/im-the-medicine-man-for-the-blues-1930/
"Hold Up Your Hands (In the Name of the Law of Love)." Words by Mercer Cook and Thomas Blandford, music by J. Russel Robinson (1932). Recorded by Elsie Carlisle and Sam Browne on March 3, 1933. Decca F. 3504 mx. GB5634-2.
"Won't You Stay to Tea?" Words by Mack Gordon, music by Harry Revel (1932). Recorded in London on March 3, 1933 by Elsie Carlisle and Sam Browne with orchestral accompaniment. Decca F. 3510 mx. GB5633-1.
“Won’t You Stay to Tea?” Words by Mack Gordon, music by Harry Revel (1932). Recorded in London on March 3, 1933 by Elsie Carlisle and Sam Browne with orchestral accompaniment. Decca F. 3510 mx. GB5633-1. Elsie Carlisle and Sam Browne – “Won’t You Stay to Tea?” (1933) Prolific songwriters Mack Gordon and Harry Revel turned … Continue reading “Won’t You Stay to Tea?” (1933) →
Elsie Carlisle
🕵️old klezmers🎻
Anne Lenner
Maurice Elwin