What would be your "Desert Island Discs"??

[De Soto Frank]

In no particular order....

"I hear you calling me" - John McCormack - Victor Red Seal

"Andante Spianato" (Chopin) - Artur Rubinstein - RCA Victor Red Seal

"Bell song" ( Lakme, Delibes) - Mabel Garrison - Victor Red Seal

"Carnelitas" - Amelita Galli-Curci - Victor Red Seal

"Liebesleid" - Fritz Kreisler - Victor Red Seal

"It's nice to get up in the mornin'..." - Harry Lauder- Victor Purple label

"Absolutely, Mr Gallagher? Postively, Mr. Shean!" - Victor black label

"Rhapsody in Blue" - George Gershwin & Paul Whiteman Orchestra- Victor Blue label

"Second-hand Rose" / "My Man" - Fanny Brice - Victor Blue Label

"Song of the Flea" / "Death of Boris" - Feodor Chaliapin - RCA Red Seal

"Rufus Rastus Johnson Brown, What You Gonna Do when De Rent Come Roun' ?" - Arthur Collins, Edison Gold-Moulded 2 minute cylinder

"Dinah" / "Moonglow" - Benny Goodman Sextet - RCA black Scroll label 10"

Fats Waller on Victor / Bluebird

That's a start.

And a nice Orthophonic to play them on....

[Swing Band Heaven]

LOL, I didn't realise "desert Island Disc" was a real BBC program!

It was indeed. Still running to this day! The original theme tune to the radio show was called "Sleepy Lagoon" as played by Eric Coates and his symphony orchestra. This is the original recording as used by the show

Sleepy lagoon - Eric Coates

I'm still thinking about my top ten - its a tough choice!

S-B-H

[gramophoneshane]

Well if we're allowed 10, I'd have to add-
9. "Just a little love, a little kiss" by Alfred O'Shea on Columbia no.01605 (much better than McCormacks version)
10. "Oh, that Mitzi" by Maurice Chevalier on HMV.E.A.1089

[Nat]

Which version Nat?
My favorite is on 10" Zonophone no.1005 recorded Oct 20, 1912, but I really like the late 20s electrical 12" recording too.

Mine is a purple HMV electric; how many times did he record it? A bunch, I'll bet: I'm half way through his autobiography and it seems to have cropped up pretty often.

[gramophoneshane]

Which version Nat?
My favorite is on 10" Zonophone no.1005 recorded Oct 20, 1912, but I really like the late 20s electrical 12" recording too.

Mine is a purple HMV electric; how many times did he record it? A bunch, I'll bet: I'm half way through his autobiography and it seems to have cropped up pretty often.

I'm not sure to be honest, but I've got 4 versions- 1x10", 2x12" acoustic & 1x12" electric.

[Starkton]

After some consideration I chose the following from my collection:

1. Leonid Sobinov: I'll turn into a falcon (Der Dämon) (Russian Berliner, 1901)

2. Janina Korolewicz-Wajdowa: Znasz li ten kraj (Polish Berliner, 1901)

3. Medea Mei-Figner: Lisa's Aria (Queen of Spades) (Russian G&T, 1901)

4. Feodor Chaliapin: Nochenka (Russian G&T, 1902)

5. Enrico Caruso: Dai campi, dai prati (Mefistofele) (Italian G&T, April 1902)

6. Irene Abendroth: Bel raggio lusinghier (Semiramide) (German G&T, 1902)

7. Giuseppe Kaschmann: O dei verd'anni miei (Ernani) (Italian G&T, 1903)

8. Charles Santley: Thou'rt passing hence, my brother (British G&T, 1903)

9. Jean Lassalle: Pensée d'automne (French Pathé, 1903)

10. Gustav Walter: Am Meer (Austrian G&T, 1904)

[phonojim]

No jazz lovers here? I'd take 7 Bennie Moten Victors from the 1927-30 period, Black Bottom Stomp by Jelly Roll Morton's Red Hot Peppers, The Mad Scene from Lucia by Galli-Curci (acoustic) and The Palms by John McCormack (electric version). I could almost blindly pick the Moten records because they are all so good.
When I moved to Florida 9 years ago I only had room in the minivan for 2 crates of very carefully selected records because there were also other things we didn't want the movers to handle. It was a difficult choice. The rest had to go with the movers. I packed and shipped over 1500 records and only one got broken, fortunately it was a rather insignificant one. i think I'm here for good because I don't want to go through that again.

Jim

[Roaring20s]

These are my picks.

It would not be long before Wilson and I start laughing as we sing songs 7 - 10.

1. Hula Hula Dream Girl - Bar Harbor Society Orchestra
2. If I Could Be With You - Louis Armstrong
3. Lonely Acres in the West - Broadway Bellhops
4. Oh Baby - Ted Lewis
5. Sundown Blues - Lonnie Johnson
6. Me and My Shadow- Jack Smith
7. Singing in the Bathtub- Eddie Walters
8. Big Rock Candy Mountains- Mac
9. Mad Dogs and Englishmen - Noel Coward
10. When Father Papered the Parlor - Billy Williams

James.

[Swing Band Heaven]

Well its been a hard decision - but here are my top 10. Each one is a link to either an audio file of youtube video so if you want to hear the song then just click on the song name. The last choice is a bit of fun and isn't even from the 78 period - but would give me something to tap my toes to on a desert island!

1. M'Apperi - Beniamino Gigli
2. Potato Head Blues - Louis Armstrong and his Hot 5
3. The clouds will soon roll by - Ambrose & his orchestra
4. Brandenburg concerto - Adolf Busch players
5. Agnus Dei - Marie Rappold
6. Scherazade - The young prince and young princess - Leopold Stokowski
7. Positively, Absolutely - Ray Starita & Pacadilly Revels
8. Its all forgotton now - Al Bowlly with piano accomp
9. Jerusalem - Paul Robeson
10. Las Vagas - Group forty Orchestra

[JHolmesesq]

Ooh, interesting. My list would be:

Bix Beiderbecke and The Wolverine Orchestra: Big Boy
The New Orleans Rhythm Kings: Panama Rag
Al Bowlly and the New Mayfair Dance Orchestra: Goodnight Sweetheart
Louis Armstrong: Potato Head Blues
King Oliver's Creole Jazz Band: I Ain't Gonna Tell Nobody
Jelly Roll Morton: Doctor Jazz
Jean Goldkette and His Orchestra: Clementine (from New Orleans)
Frankie Trumbauer and His Orch: Love Affairs
Irving Aaronsen and His Commanders: Let's Misbehave
Al Bowlly and Ray Noble's Orchestra: Midnight, The Stars and You


My tastes are...varied!