This is my blog where I write about music, and myself. Vaudeville, burlesque, blues, jazz, novelties, and whatever else I feel like posting. Mostly from my own LPs and 78s. Comments and feedback always appreciated. Please do not link directly to mp3s. It's rude.

Baltimore Society Orchestra
Cross My Heart Mother, I Love You
(1925?)



The other side of this record is a song credited to "The Tricky Ten", which was otherwise known as "Eddie Peabody's Dance Orchestra", and had another recording on Oriole in 1925. Baltimore Society Orchestra also has a recording from 1925 called "I Miss My Swiss." That's basically all I know.

Labels: baltimore, jazz era

Posted by: Kara Mae 5/06/2008  (0) comments

The Drifters
Baltimore
Atlantic 2050 (1960)






You know The Drifters. "This Magic Moment." Well the B-Side of that song is called "Baltimore." And here it is now. I recorded it from my 78 player because I lost my 45rpm insert. You know, the spiral things?

Please mail me one.
Kara Mae
PO Box 6039
Baltimore, MD 21231

Labels: baltimore

Posted by: Kara Mae 4/27/2008  (1) comments

A few weeks ago I read this book:



"No Applause- Just Throw Money: The Book That Made Vaudeville Famous" by Trav S.D.

I can't recommend it enough, especially to readers of this blog. It revived my interest in Vaudeville, educated me quite a bit, and riled me up over the timeless tale of corporate takeover of entertainment.

Before Vaudeville was of much interest to me there was Mae West. I believe the second book I read about Mae was "Becoming Mae West" by Emily Wortis Leider. In reading this book I became intrigued by a Vaudeville superstar influence on Mae that kept popping up: Eva Tanguay. In the words of Trav S.D.: "She was crazy." She's basically like... the queen of Vaudeville. I've read tidbits about her, seen a lot of photos where she looks weird and/or unattractive, and as with Lillian Russell, I've always hoped to hear her for myself. Thanks again to "They Stopped The Show," I can. Now, if only there were some footage..

I Don't Care
Eva Tanguay
from "They Stopped The Show" Audio Rarities compilation 1969

the gang's all here


P.S. Speaking of books about Mae, I absolutely loved "Mae West: It Ain't No Sin" by Simon Louvish. It's my new favorite Mae Biography. Louvish is a good writer, he had access to newly released documents, he focuses on the early years and Mae West the writer. Good stuff.

Labels: mae west, vaudeville

Posted by: Kara Mae 4/22/2008  (4) comments

Believe it or not, I've been waiting for years to get this song. This is one of the only songs Lillian Russell ever recorded. Although she was a huge star, she nearly missed the era of recorded sound.
A few years ago I got a book taken out from dusty vault of the Enoch Pratt central library (PN2287.R83O25) about Lillian Russell and her pal Diamond Jim Brady. It went on at length about the extreme twelve course meals they shared. I don't remember much about her life other than gluttony.
I once went in a building on Cathedral street by the City Cafe - at the time the building was being used as the Talking Head club. Upstairs before a doorway, the floor tiles declared "The Lillian Russell Room." I wish I could buy that building.
Diamond Jim Brady has his own tribute in Baltimore, in the form of the James Brady Urological Institute. Johns Hopkins came to his aid when his lifestyle caught up to him, and he lived up to his nickname in giving back.
I'll be posting more from this compilation because it's got some gems.

Come Down My Evenin' Star
Lillian Russell
from "They Stopped The Show" Audio Rarities compilation 1969

Lillian Russell, competitive eater, sex symbol

Labels: glamorous, vaudeville

Posted by: Kara Mae 4/16/2008  (0) comments

"Burlesque" Party Novelty
Biltomore
year: ??





Here's another "party record" to pass a few minutes of your time. It's pretty low quality and skips at the beginning but the point is pretty easy to understand. What I can't understand is whether "Party Novelty's" was intentionally possessive or just plain old bad grammar. I guess lowlife's have had bad grammar for decades at least.

Labels: adult, burlesque, comedy, party records

Posted by: Kara Mae 4/02/2008  (0) comments

Erskine Hawkins and his Orchestra
Baltimore Bounce
1938





This is the kind of song I can never have too many of. It's nothin special but nice background music for when the mood strikes. 1938... just on the cusp of when this kind of music loses my interest. Erskine Hawkins doesn't get much action on Wikipedia and Sammy Low doesn't have an entry at all. Sorry dudes. I'll try to get more songs of theirs to keep the flame alive.
The brief alien cellphone interference at the beginning of the song is left in to convey the ambiance of my surroundings a bit.

Labels: baltimore, jazz era

Posted by: Kara Mae 3/23/2008  (0) comments

Esmereldy and Her Novelty Band
Slap Her Down Again Paw
1948




As much as I tend to avoid encouraging negative stereotypes against hillbillies, hicks, yokels, etc., this song is a bizarre piece of "comedy" that must be heard to believe. This song is about the singer's sister Bessie, a hussy who has been cavorting with a traveling salesman with "City slickin' ways." As for the rest, the title says it all.
Internet searching leads me to believe it's from 1948. If you really love the song and want to share it, there's a better quality version to be found here. Don't ask me why I made my own mp3... I guess it just felt like stealing otherwise.

Labels: comedy, country

Posted by: Kara Mae 3/16/2008  (1) comments