This is my blog where I write about music, jewelry, and myself. Vaudeville, burlesque, blues, jazz, songs about baltimore, novelties, and whatever else I feel like posting. Mostly from my own LPs and 78s. Subscribe via any of the methods in the right-hand column. Please do not link directly to the mp3 files.

From the Wikipedia Mandopop entry:

1930s-1940s: The Seven Great Singing Stars era

The original "Seven Great Singing Stars" of the Republic of China essentially paved the way for the industry. Their individual style was unique to any Chinese music before it. The young film industry benefited greatly with their acting and soundtrack roles. Zhou Xuan is generally considered the most remarkable Chinese popstar of the era due to her successful dual singing and film career. By the end of this generation, female singers went from "song girls" to "stars". The era, however, would be short lived as Shanghai became occupied with the Second Sino-Japanese War and eventually World War II.

I've downloaded some compilations and tracks of these glamorous "1930s Shanghai Lounge Divas." I've uploaded the 2nd CD from this one. I believe the first CD is just a bunch of "remixes for today," which I am not too interested in.
This is uploaded into two zips because of megaupload restrictions.

Various Artists: Shanghai Lounge Divas
part 1
part 2

Labels: 1930s, glamorous, international

Posted by: Kara Mae 12/09/2008 09:57:00 PM  (1) comments

This is a piano-roll disc of "Scott Joplin's New Rag," on ebay. I wish it was a 78. I need to look and see if that song was ever recorded from a contemporary piano roll or on a 78. I have the version of Max Morath playing it and I like it a lot. I never learned any ragtime aside from The Entertainer. Outside of that it was all classical stuff, and I regret that. If I'd known about jazz when I was young enough to learn things I'd have learned to play it.
I was recording some songs with this guy Tim Kaye a few years ago and he had the sheet music for all of Scott Joplin's songs, so I made him play it for me. And he did, because he can actually read music. Like.. look right at it and play it. There's a lot of people in the world who can do that but I've only ever met a few and I envy them all.
If I could still learn things I'd learn "Scott Joplin's New Rag." But I'd also be happy to have an old scratchy record of it. No lovely clear tones recorded on a nice piano in the 1970s.
I like having things on 78 because all the best music is on 78rpm records. I've known this from the first time I noticed them being played, at the Circle Bar in New Orleans, around Christmas 2000 or 2001.
I finally found a few podcasts catering to my tastes. Unfortunately I don't think most of them are still being updated.
I really like Shellac Stack but it hasn't been updated in months and seems defunct. It's good and always averages in the 45-50 minute range.
The Sound of 78s is about as good but its only about 20 minutes long.
The Antique Phonograph Music program on WFMU is over an hour but some of that hour is the beginning of the show after it. Plus, there's not archives of the show except in RealAudio.

And now, an update on China Night. I noticed tonight that I have another record with the exact same song... sung in English. And the singer is "Grace Amemiya." Searching her name turns up very little but it's nice to know anyway. A friend commented that the song can be attributed to "Hamako something and the Columbia Orchestra." These answers probably consolidate somehow.
It is with great regret that I warn you that the record is scratched. So I also put up the B-Side, a song which reminds me of an old Disney fairy tale cartoon.


Grace Amemiya
China Night
Apple Song
late 1940s - Nippon Columbia

Labels: international, japanese, jazz era, podcasts

Posted by: Kara Mae 12/02/2008 08:35:00 PM  (2) comments

??
China Night
Nippon Columbia

This one is from the same batch as Japanese Rumba way back when.
I can't translate the artist but the song is called "China Night." Internet searching gives me the impression that every American family stationed in Japan in the 50s had this record.
Turns out there's even another blog about it.

Labels: international, japanese

Posted by: Kara Mae 1/26/2008 07:05:00 PM  (1) comments

Na Zisi E Nyfi Ki'O Gambros

"Bouzoukee music can rightfully be called Greek jazz.
Today, the bouzoukee bistros in new York, besides doing a roaring trade, boast a following of renowned aficionados. Among the sophisticated members of the bouzoukee cult are singer Tommy Sands, actress Sophia Loren, actor Dana Andrews, playwrights Tennessee Williams and William Inge not to mention socialites, college students and tourists from all corners of the world.
That is not to say, of course, that the Greek people, to whom this haunting and hypnotic music really belongs, aren't among its most devoted camp followers. For on any night during the week, braving summer rains or winter snow storms, you'll find youthful sailors from the just-harbored Hellenic ships, middle aged Greek business men with their wives, raucous old bachelors sitting back in their favorite bouzoukee clubs to revel in the rhythms of the bouzoukee.
"And what exactly is a bouzoukee?" the uninitiated ask.
A bouzoukee is a long-handled, gourd-shaped, handmade instrument that dates back to the long-gone days of the old Byzantium. Yet, it's remained a favorite instrument in the Bohemian atmosphere of the open-air tavernas along the colorful waterfront of Piraeus in Greece, providing the musical background for solo dances of fishermen and mariners who oftentimes balance tumblers of drinking water or wine on their heads while twirling to the bouzoukee's stirring music.
Now in New York, there's bouzoukee music to please all tastes from sensuous tsiftetellis to mournful laments of lost loves to taxims (or solo improvisations) at the crowded bouzoukee hideaways in Manhattan's fur district.
Usually seated on a rose-lighted bandstand at the far end of the nightclub, the bouzoukee player plucks the strings so effortlessly he's likely not to call much attention to himself or to his instrument of handsome inlaid ebony wood with mother-of-pearl trim. Bouzoukee players sit; one never has an image of them at their feet. And, judging by the dozens I've known, they all affect black, bushy moustaches (all except young Yanni Tattasopoulos and Yanni Stamatiou whose bouzoukee is heard in this album) which accent their gold-capped teeth whenever they break into a smile.
While the bouzoukee is played, some youngish man with eyes dreamy from his drink of ouzo will step forward and snap his fingers as he begins tracing intricate, syncopated patterns on the hardwood dance floor. Sometimes he dances alone, sometimes with a male friend, occasionally with a girlfriend or wife.
With Nina's latest "Bouzoukee Party" album, you can hear the outstanding music of Yanni Tattasopoulos and Yanni Stamatiou, two of Athens' best bouzoukee players. Miss Poly Panou, renowned in Greek circles for her singing artistry, adds richness to the bouzoukee music with her earthy interpretations of a number of songs.
They are all accompanied by a lively orchestra. And with every spin of the turntable, this inimitable Greek jazz will fill you full of good-time partying spirit."

Bouzoukee Nights

Labels: international

Posted by: Kara Mae 12/19/2005 02:26:00 AM  (1) comments