mystery Test Pressing of “Moonglow”

[Roaring20s]

I’ve come across an interesting Test Pressing of the standard pop song, “Moonglow”.

The following is what I’ve scrounged-up on the internet.

It is labeled by Brunswick with a number of 9323-a stamped on it. This is pressed on an 11.25" platter. The same number on the label appears beyond the outer edge of a standard 10" disc. It's preceded by "TEST CHI.", and I assume “CHI.” is the abbreviation for the Chicago plant where it was may have been pressed. At the time "Moonglow" was being recorded, beginning in 1933, Brunswick had been acquired by American Record Corporation (ARC), as per wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_ ... orporation

From the information regarding the various companies using the ARC plant, I searched the available lists on http://www.78discography.com by number and title, but did not find a match.

I also listened to the available recordings of Moonglow on youtube and none of those match.

Does anyone have a clue about it or another avenue for me to check?

Thanks,
James.

[gramophone-georg]

Any chance it's Casa Loma?

http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xlk0e6 ... 1934_music

Rust doesn't list any recordings of "Moonglow" by ARC/ Brunswick studio bands, and that matrix number isn't a normal Brunswick/ ARC/ Vocalion matrix OR catalog number.

Interestingly, though, there's a good chance that this is indeed a Chicago Brunswick matrix because I am looking at some Isham Jones titles recorded in Chicago in 1932 and they are all four digit matrices with a "C"- or "JC"- prefix. Jones' last Chicago recording session for Brunswick was May 1932, and the numbers are 8606,8607,8608,8609 with a "JC-" prefix. This could put 9323 easily in 1933 or 34 if recorded in Chicago.

Now the question is- who is it? Even if it's a rejected or unissued take it might be in Rust if we can figure out a name.

[gramophone-georg]

And of course Ross Laird's Brunswick guide ends in 1931!

[Roaring20s]

Casa Loma is the closest in its overall sound as compared with the others listed as recording this song, and was my first choice.
The orchestration, tempo and vocal phrasing differs. It may be another singer too.
The only sound the is the same is the common ending note of that fading organ.

I will need to listen to it several more times of other musical matches.

Thanks for your input!

James.

[gramophone-georg]

Casa Loma is the closest in its overall sound as compared with the others listed as recording this song, and was my first choice.
The orchestration, tempo and vocal phrasing differs. It may be another singer too.
The only sound the is the same is the common ending note of that fading organ.

I will need to listen to it several more times of other musical matches.

Thanks for your input!

James.

Could you post a sound file so I can hear it?

[Roaring20s]

I just sent you a file.

James.

[gramophone-georg]

I just sent you a file.

James.

Got it. It's a nice version! As I said in the email I think the cornet or muted trumpet in the lead is likely the leader. Vocalist sounds a bit like Kenny Sargent or even Pee Wee Hunt but isn't. It's the Casa Loma chart or something very close. Chicago hotel band?

The matrix number is odd also. All of the Brunswick Chicago matrices listed in Rust don't seem to crack 9000.

I can tell you who it isn't:
Isham Jones
Hal Kemp
Earl Hines
Guy Lombardo
Benny Krueger
Leo Reisman
Dorsey Bros.
Anson Weeks
Roger Wolfe Kahn
Tom Gerun(ovitch)
Casa Loma
Red Nichols
Jacques Renard
ARC Studio Bands

It's not a Vocalion ARC, or Melotone matrix, either.

The note at the end fading out is a vibraphone. No, it's not Red Norvo.

Anyone else have any ideas?

[gramophone-georg]

Know what? It could be an early Decca matrix. I was wondering about that but rejected it, perhaps prematurely. I'm looking at some Henry Busse releases from his first Decca session in Rust and they were recorded in Chicago in late 1934 and by God they have C-9500 matrices. That was right about the time a lot of Brunswick artists switched to Decca, too.

[Roaring20s]

I managed to get the song linked...
(sorry, I needed to free-up this link space. I still have it and can send it.)

[gramophone-georg]

OK, I'm reasonably sure this thing was recorded between June and August of 1934. Who was recording for Decca at the Brunswick studios in Chicago at that time?

I must have too much time on my hands- I'm bat- poop obsessed. I got close with Earl Hines and Fletcher Henderson but no dice.

Who is this vocalist? Could be African American, a lot of them sang in this style at that time.