Favourite pre-WWII recording stars

Subject: Favourite pre-WWII recording stars
From: IanC
Date: 13 Jun 01 - 09:42 AM

In a recent thread, I had cause to remember the folk fiddler Elsie Avril, much recorded in the late '20s and the '30s. There's very little on the net about her. Here's a 78 for sale and here's a pic of her playing for a dance (note Maud Karpeles dancing). Finally, here's details of a cd with a sample.

I'm also a great fan of George Tremayne, melodeonist for the Boosbeck Longsword team, but there's even less about him on the net (am I the only person in the world with his 78 of "Lass Of Dallogill" and "The Oyster Girl"?

Obviously there are people like Woody Guthrie who are well known, but who are your less well known (now) stars?

Subject: RE: Favourite pre-WWII recording stars
From: Hollowfox
Date: 13 Jun 01 - 10:44 AM

Hardly less well known, but I have a soft spot for Sophie Tucker.

Subject: RE: Favourite pre-WWII recording stars
From: GUEST,Roger the skiffler
Date: 13 Jun 01 - 10:54 AM

Well most of my collection was recorded pre-war (and the rest before 1960!) but a couple who aren't heard much today: Nelly Lutcher and Mildred Bailey come to mind. Frank Crumit we've discussed here several times, but the general public don't know him.
RtS ("I went to play tennis in Venice")

Subject: RE: Favourite pre-WWII recording stars
From: IanC
Date: 13 Jun 01 - 11:00 AM

Quite a nice page on Sophie Tucker here.

Subject: RE: Favourite pre-WWII recording stars
From: Peter T.
Date: 13 Jun 01 - 11:06 AM

Josef Hoffmann - often considered the greatest classical pianist of the 20th century -- everyone has heard of Rubenstein, etc. -- and has almost zero recordings available, even in the vast array of reissues.

yours, Peter T.

Subject: RE: Favourite pre-WWII recording stars
From: Hollowfox
Date: 13 Jun 01 - 02:50 PM

Wow, thanks IanC!

Subject: RE: Favourite pre-WWII recording stars
From: Micca
Date: 13 Jun 01 - 05:24 PM

Ian C, I spent a lot of time looking for recordings of Rina Ketty a French singer from the 30s up to WWII after hearing her sing "J'Attendrai" in the TV series/movie "Das Boot" I have now got her CDs , lovely stuff...

Subject: RE: Favourite pre-WWII recording stars
From:
Date: 14 Jun 01 - 12:01 AM

Well known but incredible voices..Bing Crosby and John McCormick..mg

Subject: RE: Favourite pre-WWII recording stars
From: Metchosin
Date: 14 Jun 01 - 01:09 AM

Hey Roger, I'm part of the general public and I collect Frank Crumit records, he's a hoot!

My favorite though, is the late Sir Jimmy Shand, what a treasure. There have been a few threads about him as well.

A year or so ago, I was fortunate enough to be given a box of Jimmy Shand 78s on the Beltona lable (the only thing, unfortunately, I have in common with Richard Thompson). I have been slowly converting to mp3s. His is the only version of the Mist Covered Mountains that can reduce me to tears.

Subject: RE: Favourite pre-WWII recording stars
From: Sorcha
Date: 14 Jun 01 - 01:39 AM

Paganinni--definitely pre WW anything. Incredible fiddler, but not quite Folk/Blues, lol.

Subject: RE: Favourite pre-WWII recording stars
From: IanC
Date: 14 Jun 01 - 09:45 AM

Micca

Thanks for the reference to Rina Ketty. Can't find anything audio on the net, but here's her obit (click) which appears to say her last appearance was in 1996! There's also a page of her lyrics here (click).

I'd be quite interested to hear any of her stuff.

Cheers!
Ian

Subject: RE: Favourite pre-WWII recording stars
From: Walking Eagle
Date: 14 Jun 01 - 10:27 AM

Edith Piaff - - Enrico Carusso - -Lester Young. I could go on and on.

Subject: RE: Favourite pre-WWII recording stars
From: Micca
Date: 14 Jun 01 - 02:52 PM

Ian C, Thank you, the first link dont work so can you PM me the URL the lyric is wonderful, I wanted the proper lyris to Jattendrai.. and now I have them, Many thanks Ian.. I could do you a cassette of RK if you like...

Subject: RE: Favourite pre-WWII recording stars
From: IanC
Date: 15 Jun 01 - 04:21 AM

Micca

Sorry, I cocked it up but was hoping some JoeClone would come around and fix it!

The links again.

Obit.
Lyrics

Cheers!
Ian

Subject: RE: Favourite pre-WWII recording stars
From: kendall
Date: 15 Jun 01 - 06:12 AM

Paul Robeson, Wilf Carter, Hank Snow and Roy Acuff.

Subject: RE: Favourite pre-WWII recording stars
From: GUEST,Russ
Date: 15 Jun 01 - 05:01 PM

Carter Family.

Subject: RE: Favourite pre-WWII recording stars
From: RangerSteve
Date: 15 Jun 01 - 08:28 PM

Wilf Carter, Hank Snow (Kendall, you have great taste), Bing Crosby, Gene Austin (best pre-war version of My Blue Heaven), Helen Kane (Get Out And Get Under The Moon is a classic), Ruth Etting, Cliff Edwards aka Ukelele Ike.

Subject: RE: Favourite pre-WWII recording stars
From: CRANKY YANKEE
Date: 15 Jun 01 - 10:50 PM

Nicolo pavone, Caruso, Roy Acuff, Louis Prima,Benny Goodman, Harry James, Dorsey Bro's,Uncle Dave Macon, Hudson Ledbetter (Leadbelly), The Almanac Singers, Ernest Tubb, My Dad, My Maternal Grandfather.

Subject: RE: Favourite pre-WWII recording stars
From: Rt Revd Sir jOhn from Hull
Date: 09 Jun 03 - 11:55 PM

refresh

Subject: RE: Favourite pre-WWII recording stars
From: Padre
Date: 10 Jun 03 - 12:14 AM

The Skillet Lickers, Blind Alfred Reed, Tom Ashley, the Carolina Tarheels.

Subject: RE: Favourite pre-WWII recording stars
From: Billy the Bus
Date: 10 Jun 03 - 01:01 AM

Wheww... I love the selection above. I could add a few Kiwi singers, but will restrict myself to my favourest immediate pre-WWII recording star - a Pongolian lass...

   Gracie Fields

I'm looking at one of my most treasured posessions, a snapshot of Gracie with my Dad --- IN BED!

Well, to be honest, my emaciated Dad was in a hospital bed in Auckland NZ, ca1945. Gracie is standing alongside, yapping with him. The look on Dad's face is "total devotion".

My first memory of my father is looking through a window, from a fire escape, to see him, in that same bed. In later years Dad's eyes went moist whenever Gracie's voice came over the wireless.

Yup.. Gracie is a recording star to remember! After all, she had ...

"The Biggest Aspidistra in the World"

Cheers - Sam

Subject: RE: Favourite pre-WWII recording stars
From: fsharpdim7
Date: 10 Jun 03 - 10:05 AM

Boswell Sisters
Emett Moore
Billy Murray
Nora Bayes and Jack Narworth
Sol Hoopi
Gene Austin
Helen Morgan
Fred Astair

Just some thoughts, Chris

Subject: RE: Favourite pre-WWII recording stars
From: GUEST
Date: 10 Jun 03 - 10:11 AM

George Formby

Subject: RE: Favourite pre-WWII recording stars
From: Tiger
Date: 10 Jun 03 - 04:17 PM

I like your picks, Chris, 'cept for Fred Astaire. Wow, hadn't thought about Sol Hoopii for years.

To sing along with Billy Murray, I'd throw in Henry Burr, Franklyn Baur, Charles Hart and all the other great quartette singers.

On the country side, I'd pick Carson Robison, Jimmie Rodgers, Vernon Dalhart, Frank Luther, Bradley Kincaid - what a cast!

Subject: RE: Favourite pre-WWII recording stars
From: fsharpdim7
Date: 10 Jun 03 - 04:46 PM

Fred, Adele and George Gershwin made some cool records - Fred even dances on some!
Lou Curtiss used to play a lot of old stuff on his SDSU show on Sundays, which I don't think is not on the net. Does anyone listen to Lou on World Music Radio on Saturdays for old country music?
Are there any other net radio shows that play this music?
Chris

Subject: RE: Favourite pre-WWII recording stars
From: maire-aine
Date: 10 Jun 03 - 11:13 PM

I'm not sure of the dates, but my favorite was Billy Eckstine. Oooh, so smooth.

Maryanne

Subject: RE: Favourite pre-WWII recording stars
From: Mudlark
Date: 11 Jun 03 - 12:03 PM

I loved Billy E. and the early Nat Cole recordings (with shifaffa on the side). Fred and Adele did some great stuff together (I'd rather dance) and Nelly Lutcher a treat. Was Helen Kane the gal with the high voice...I've got some of her stuff too...lots of good music and the big bands a great proving ground for all the great jazz greats of the 50's.

Subject: RE: Favourite pre-WWII recording stars
From: fsharpdim7
Date: 11 Jun 03 - 02:19 PM

Helen Kane was the "boob-boob-a-doo" (spell-check?) girl. Was she the model for Betty Boob? And then there was Wee Bonnie Baker and Ella Mae Morse.
I said Emett Moore above - should be Emett Miller, the man whose yodleing style Hank Williams copied.
Chris