The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

Dose anyone know if the original song of "Sweet Georgia Brown" was recorded on an Edison Diamond Disc record and the corresponding record number? And does anyone have one for sale? It's my understanding this original tune was the pre-cursor to the 1940's version that became the theme song of the Harlem Globe Trotters.

Thanks,

AR

I just saw on Youtube the Tennessee Happy Boys recorded the song on Edison DD 51575 in 1925. Does anyone have one for sale and did this song get recorded by any other bands on an Edison DD?

Thanks,

AR

The website truesoundtransfers.de has free downloadable Excel files that contain discographies of Edison cylinders and discs. You will find this to be an excellent resource.

According to that file, the disc you mentioned is the only Diamond Disc recording of that tune. I checked my cylinder reference and it was not released on Blue Amberol.

You will find that this record is hard to find and expensive due to the popularity of both the title and the artist. Good luck!

I just finished organizing my Dad's Diamond Discs to sell. 440 of them. I have divided them into 13 groups. I am going to sell the in groups only, not individually. Group/Box C has the Sweet Georgia Brown of which you speak, in it.
I will attach (I hope) a list of the records in that group and photos of the labels so you can see the names of the songs. Take a look. Alan Girton

Alan,

Thanks for sending me the record listings. Unfortunately, I'm not looking to buy the lot.

AR

The definitive 1920's waxing of this number, the record which made the song a "hit", was the 1925 recording by Ben Bernie and His Orchestra issued on the Brunswick label. Bernie was also filmed and recorded electrically playing the number in the summer of 1925 by DeForest Phonofilms.

https://youtu.be/DAExrFCVVT0


The sax solo by Jack Pettis is nice, and note that the pianist in the bans is a very young Oscar Levant.

My favorite recording is the one made by Bing Crosby accompanied by Isham Jones, a 1932 disc also issued by Brunswick:

https://youtu.be/dF9kMqOLW9g

One can't get much better, I think.

52089,

Thanks for the information with regard the site. I'll use it for future reference.

AR

Uncle Vanya,

Thanks for the background and history of this song. It's truly a great tune. I'll keep my eye out for the Brunswick records.


AR

I don't have this original version. But I do have the version that became the Harlem Globetrotters' theme, by Brother Bones, on Tempo 652.

Bfinan11,

Yeah, that's a cool tune. I'm bidding on a copy on ebay.

AR