The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

It's easy to find recordings of popular 20s records like Crazy Words, Crazy Tune, or Miss Annabelle Lee, or Singin' in the Rain, but Charleston seems downright scarce. This seems odd judging by how popular a dance craze it turned out to be. Maybe it's rare because so many of the recordings were played to death and discarded? Or did they just not make a lot of these records back in 1924 or 1925 when it came out?

The Paul Whiteman record of Charleston is not too hard to find, but I agree- I think that a later generation embraced that song as defining the era

There are lots of popular recordings that no one wants to sell. I have been looking for Annette Hanshaw records and when the do come up, the good copies are quite expensive. The supply was once very high, but now it has exceeded demand. There's plenty of Vernon Dalhardt. I have the Wreck of the Old 97 I will sell real cheep!

I, too, have often wondered why period recordings of the Charleston are so elusive and I think audiophile102 has a very valid point. The song became the musical icon of the 20s many years ago. Back in the 1950s when I was growing up, every "Roaring 20s" LP contained it. One question I have is: did they really sell as many recordings of it as we think they must have? Another possibility is that they were played to death and few survived. Even the Whiteman version which is likely the most common doesn't turn up very often. I think I've only seen one copy and it is the one I own, although I have seen it in Kurt Nauck's listings a couple of times over the years. I also collect 45s from the '50s and '60s and I see the same thing there: very popular records that you would expect to be common and easily found are not.

Jim

The Whiteman turns up every now and then, but when it does, expect to pay at least $ 80 for it, when it's in E- condition or higher. Same for the Ben Selvin version on Vocalion. The version by the Savoy Orpheans is even harder to find. Last time I saw one on Ebay was in 2011 and it sold for almost $ 300!

I do not own the Charleston. I do have a copy that was put out by Vulcan on 4 minute cylinder, but I do not think they even sell it anymore.

Here is a copy on e-bay:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Edison-DD-51542 ... SwtJZXWxT7

bart1927 wrote:The Whiteman turns up every now and then, but when it does, expect to pay at least $ 80 for it, when it's in E- condition or higher. Same for the Ben Selvin version on Vocalion. The version by the Savoy Orpheans is even harder to find. Last time I saw one on Ebay was in 2011 and it sold for almost $ 300!

After 55 years collecting and searching, a friend recently found a good copy of the Savoy Orpheans version in a junk shop for £1, so there are still some treasures out there waiting to be discovered.

I have been collecting records since I was 16 (now 67) and have bought every copy of the Charleston that I have run across, which numbers 3-4 different versions, however there are many variations out there somewhere. Most collectors won't let go of one, unless they die. Several other very elusive titles are "Puttin' on the Ritz" which was recorded by many various bands, but I have only found one and Nashville Nightingale by Al Starita (still looking). Another good one, which might be easier to find is "I'm Gonna Charleston Back To Charleston" - by Coon-Sanders Nighthawks.

First record of the Charleston from October 10,1923 - Arthur Gibbs and His Gang - The Charleston (1923)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4pTscWvmIkw

Paul Whiteman 1925

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3JnTb6Z7tkk

I recently in January brought the Vulcan Charleston on eBay.I think I paid $50.It is the GG orchestra and was sold by its owner. It is out of print.