Harry Pollock was a violinist who led bands under a few different names (Harry Pollock and his Diamonds, Harry Pollock’s Blue Diamonds, Harry Pollock and his Orchestra) who recorded primarily for the Gennett label from 1926-1929.
This sweet side is a sprightly dance number with some excellent banjo playing, percussion, and a violin solo by Pollock.
The records on the Herschel Gold Seal label were pressed by Gennett for Harry Bernstein’s Northwestern Phonograph Supply Company based in St. Paul & Minneapolis – as the label indicates. Bernstein owned ten record stores in the twin cities and sold a LOT of Gennett titles. Gennett created this private label for Bernstein. But this very short-lived label only issued 21 releases in total.
Fun fact: according to Kurt Gegenhuber, Bernstein grew up in Des Moines, Iowa.
Found this in the wild – which is quite exciting as releases on this label are quite scarce. Side A starts off with a lot of “sizzling bacon” noise and this is the first video I’ve ever made where I’ve judiciously applied some noise reduction. Fortunately, the noise naturally subsides a bit by the time Pollock starts his violin solo around 1:12.
Recorded in New York City on October 1, 1926.
Released as Herschel Gold Seal 2012.
Also released as Gennett 3401.
Credits:
Harry Pollock – violin, director
Charles Forsythe – vocals
Unknown performers – 2 trumpets / trombone / clarinet, soprano sax, alto sax / clarinet, alto sax / clarinet, tenor sax / piano / banjo / tuba / drums
Sources:
Kurt Gegenhuber “Music, Moonshine, and Mahjong”
http://www.zeek.net/709music/
You can hear the flip side of this disc, “Don’t Sing Aloha When I Go” at:
https://youtu.be/v5RhW3__Zkc
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