October 18 in Gennett History

1921: Bennie Krueger’s Orchestra recorded “I’ve Got the Joys” in NYC.  It appeared on Gennett 4793, Starr Gennett 9176, Connorized 3029, and Rich-Tone 7013. 

1928: The Sound Effects Team recorded “Jingle Bells (Sleigh Bell Effect with Orchestra” and “Sailing O’er the Bounding Man (Orchestra with Steamboat Whistle Effect’ in Richmond.  It appeared on Gennett Electrical Transcription 1089. 

1929: Lei’s Royal Hawaiians recorded “On the Beach at Waikiki” in Richmond.  It appeared on Gennett 7048, Champion 15850 (over 4,500 copies sold), and Supertone 9654 and featured Francis Lei (v).

October 17 in Gennett History

1928: Henry Bandy recorded four sides in Richmond.  Gennett rejected all four sides by the fiddler.  Bandy was third person inducted onto WSM’s popular Grand Ole Opry show.  Here is a recording “Five Up” that appeared on another label.

1929: The Arkansas Woodchopper recorded “Frankie and Johnny in Richmond.  It appeared on Gennett 7036, Champion 15852, 33064, & 45058, Superior 2590, and Supertone 9569.  The recording featured Luther W. Ossenbrink (v & g).  Arky was a mainstay of the popular “National Barn Dance” on WLS. 

1936: Senator Arthur H. Vandenberg made a political speech full of rebuttals that included recordings of President Roosevelt. The Senator from Michigan started by playing a recording of Roosevelt’s oath of office in 1933. Vandenberg accused President Roosevelt of forming a socialistic, radical “Roosevelt Party.” It appeared on Gennett Historical #2. A Gennett 1941 catalog stated “We introduce here our initial release of Historical and Educational recordings reproducing decisive moments of History, made as they occurred, or reproduced exclusively for Gennett by the author,” and that this recording was “1 double faced 16-inch 33 1/3 RPM $9.00”

Senator Arthur H. Vandenberg

October 16 in Gennett History…

1926: The Lange – McKay Orchestra recorded “Leaky Roof Blues” in Richmond.  It appeared on Gennett 3046 & 5584 and Buddy 8001 and featured Lange (pn).

1928: John McGhee and Frank Welling recorded “I Feel Like Traveling On” in Richmond.  It appeared on Gennett 6690, Champion 15632 (over 4,000 sold), and Supertone 9316 and featured McGhee (vox) and Welling (vox).

1935: Tex Ritter recorded “The Oregon Trail” in NYC. It appeared on Champion 45154. This recording is from the Decca era.

October 15 in Gennett History…

1928: John McGhee and Frank Welling recorded “Why Not Tonight” in Richmond.  It appeared on Gennett 6690, Champion 15693 (over 4,000 sales), and Supertone 9391 and featured McGhee (vox) and Welling (v & g). 

1936: The sound effects department recorded a series of crashes in Richmond. They appeared on Gennett Sound Effects 1205. The Gennett Sound Effects ledger described them as “Continuous Crashes (Composite) – Heavy Vibration – Suitable for earthquake, battle scene, general destruction, falling buildings.” 

October 14 in Gennett History…

1924: Paul Sanderson’s Vagabonds recorded “I Don’t Know Why” in NYC.  It appeared on Gennett 5568.

1926: Alberta Jones recorded “I’m Gonna Put You Right In Jail” in NYC. It appeared on Gennett 3403, Champion 15180, Herwin 92001, and Silvertone 5025. She was accompanied by The Ellington Twins, who were Duke Ellington (p) and Otto Hardwicke (as). The Champion release sold 1,156 copies in 1926 and 1927. 

1928: Frank Welling & John McGhee recorded “I Wants My Lulu” in Richmond.  It appeared on Gennett 6671, Champion 15671 (~1,500 copies sold) & 45184, and Supertone 9353 and featured Welling (v & g) and McGhee (v). 

October 13 in Gennett History…

1922: Nathan Glantz y su orquesta recorded “Mujer Perjura Danzon” in NYC. It appeared on Gennett S-4984 and S-5118. The recording card noted “Special Mexican Recording Listing and Label Information To Be OK’D By The Foreign Dept.”

1926: Bert Lewis (of Club Kentucky) recorded “If My Baby Cooks (As Good As She Looks) in NYC.  It appeared on Gennett 3399, Champion 15187 (1,158 copies sold), and Challenge 223 and featured Lewis (vox) and Jack Carroll (pn). 

1936: The sound effects division recorded The New York Central Lines’ Commodore Vanderbilt Leaving Station with the Cry of “All Aboard” twice – whistle – wheels slipping. The recording appeared on Gennett Sound Effects 1308.

October 12 in Gennett History…

1929: James Wiggins recorded “Forty – Four Blues” in Richmond. It appeared on Paramount 12860 and Broadway 5061. The recording featured James Wiggins (v) and Blind Leroy Garnett (p).

1929: Blind Leroy Garnett recorded “Louisiana Glide” in Richmond. It appeared on Paramount 12879 & 14018, Century 3025, Jazz-Collector L-74, and AFCDJ A-0-13 and featured Garnett (pn).

October 11 in Gennett History…

1923: Porter’s Blue Devils recorded “Hot Dawg” in NYC.  It appeared on Gennett 5282 and Starr-Gennett 9477. 

1928: Alphonso Trent and His Orchestra recorded “Louder and Funnier” in Richmond. It appeared on Gennett 6664 and Champion 15641 (as by The Savannah Night Hawks). The Gennett ledger has “Johnny Smith, vocalist” crossed out. The Champion issue sold approx. 600 copies in 1929. The recording featured Leo “Snub” Moseley (v & tb), Leo “Stuff” Smith (v & f), John Fielding (v), Chester Clark (c), Irving Randolph (c), James Jeter (as), Charles Pillars (as), Lee Hilliard (as), Hayes Pillars (ts/bs), Alphonse Trent (p), Eugene Crooke (g/bjo), Robert “Eppie” Jackson (bs), and A.G. Godley (d).

1928: William Harris recorded “Early Morning Blues” in Richmond.  It appeared on Gennett 6693, Champion 15675 )sold ~1,100 copies), and Conquerer 7264 and featured Harris (v & g).

1929: Stump Johnson recorded “Soaking Wet Blues” in Richmond.  It appeared on Paramount 12906 and featured Johnson (v & p).

October 10th in Gennett History…

1928: William Harris recorded “Bullfrog Blues” in Richmond. It appeared on Gennett 661, Champion 15614 (as Bud Johnson), and Conqueror 7264. Champion noted over 2,000 sales to Harris between 1928 and 1929. This is probably my favorite Gennett recording of all-time.

October 10 in Gennett History, 1930: Bud Ritchie and His Boys recorded “Rocking Chair” in Richmond.  It appeared on Champion 16109 (893 copies sold) and 40010 and featured Max Pugh (vox).

October 9th in Gennett History…

1924: The Sioux City Six recorded “Flock O’ Blues” and “I’m Glad” in NYC. It appeared on Gennett 5569, Brunswick 02207, and Session 7. The recording featured Bix Beiderbecke (c), Miff Mole (tb), Rube Bloom (p), Min Leibrook (bs), and Vic Moore (d).

1928: William Harris recorded “Kansas City Blues” in Richmond. It appeared on Gennett 6707 and Supertone 9428 (as Alonzo Boone).  Written by Jim Jackson in 1927, it’s melody found its way into Hank Williams’ “Move It on Over,” Charley Patton’s “Going to Move to Alabama,” Bill Haley’s “Rock Around the Clock,” and many other.  

1928: William Harris recorded “Electric Chair Blues” in Richmond. It appeared on Gennett 6752 and Supertone 9428 (as Alonzo Boone).