A selection of Ate van Delden’s Ramblings from VJM 192, our Spring 2022 issue.
The various Corona lockdowns inspired me to play some rarely heard 78s and several small facts surfaced that I never noticed before. Some found their way into the present Ramblings. If you have similar experiences, then please let me have your stuff. Let's open with one of those ‘hot ladies’:
MISS ISABELLA PATRICOLA ON VOCALION (1924)
Doodle Doo Doo has Vocalion mx 13530, not 13512 as in JR6 or 13513 as in JR4.
Mx 13513 belongs to its reverse which is Patricola singing Gershwin's Somebody Loves Me, an interesting side as well. On this side Patricola is accompanied by her brother Tom on alto sax and two more musicians, one playing piano, the other a kazoo.
DUKE ELLINGTON ON VICTOR (1930)
My copy of Ellington's Vic 20-1523 (Victor album P138) has Ring Dem Bells on one side with numbers in the run out area 20-1532A and 25076B (at the 5 o'clock position), and 7R (at 8:00). JR6 gives this take 3. Correct?
The reverse is Mood Indigo with numbers 20-1532B and 24486A (at 5:00) and a 1 (at 8:00). JR6 has take 1 for this side. What is its correct take number?
(BTW the cover of Victor album (c. 1954) shows a great Ellington caricature. This was done by Dutch artist Boy Ten Hove in 1939. Ten Hove was not credited for its use).
ANN COOK ALTERNATE VICTOR TAKE (1927)
I have a test pressing of Mama Cookie, sung by Ann Cook. accompanied by Louis Dumaine and some of his men. It has mx number 37981-2, while the issued take was -3. An old RCA LP sleeve as well as the Frog CD claim that they feature take 1. However DAHR says that this take was destroyed but take 2 was saved as "Hold". Seems that the reissues are mistaken.
GET HAPPY BAND ON COLUMBIA (1925)
Now two from Steven Lasker. He writes that Fred Guy told the late Brooks Kerr (who told Steven) that he was the banjoist on ‘The Get Happy Band’ session of July 17, 1925 (this was the session with Bechet). JR gives Sam Speed on banjo here and Elmer Snowden (with a ?) for the other session by this band. Steven further notes that ‘The Get Happy Band’ session is notable in that it contains one Ellington alumnus (Bechet), one current Ellingtonian (Guy) and one future Ellingtonian (Nanton).
That’s all for now. Please send any additions or comments to: [email protected]. Thanks.