Folks, I am not saying this is the greatest record in the world or anything – but it is truly a rare occasion when you find a disc from the Grey Gull label (or its sister labels, Radiex and Globe) in such excellent condition. I had to make a transfer.
These dime store records are usually V at best, and often V- or G+. Even when in better condition, its cheap production usually means grainy surface noise. This disc seems to have escaped that fate and sounds quite excellent!
Nice playing on this side by Nathan Glantz and friends – hopefully someone out there has more definitive credits than Rust’s American Dance Band Discography.
Funny story – when I first was first collecting 78s and saw records with the “White Way” orchestra credit I immediately feared this was some racially-charged cringe-y thing (as one does encounter during this period of American cultural history) – but fortunately (sigh of relief), the “Great White Way” refers to the bright lights of Broadway in NYC – one of the first areas to be electrically illuminated.
These sides both have Emerson matrices and were released in February 1925.
Recorded in New York City circa November 1924.
Released as Emerson 10826, Globe 1261, Grey Gull 1261, and Radiex 1261.
Credits:
Nathan Glantz – alto sax, tenor sax, soprano sax, clarinet, bass clarinet, director
Herman “Hymie” Farberman, Mike Mosiello – trumpet
Eph(riam) Hannaford – trombone
Max Terr – piano, arranger
Harry Reser – banjo
John Helleberg Jr. – tuba
Joe Green – drums
[see Javier Soria Laso’s detailed comment for more info]
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