The Knickerbockers (Ben Selvin) - Rosy Cheeks, 1927

[Turkeydoodlers]

Where do you get your music from

You have good taste

[dukesgal39]

A great toe tapper!

[jozefsterkens]

great *****

[mesophyte]

This is quite a catchy tune, but I suspect that its resemblance to Benny Davis's and Harry Akst's near-contemporaneous "Baby Face" is not merely coincidental.

[kaleidoxkopio]

The song is charming... but the collage of poupées is even better: deliciously kitsch! Thanks a bunch.

[merrihew]

Yes, Columbia Viva Tonals are the best sounding records from the late 1920's. They sound good even when they look worn.

[merrihew]

One of his records I hadn't heard before (of course, he made over 9000 so that's no surprise). Anyway, this is a good one.

[jd03150]

You statement points up something that continues to astound me. Bands of this era in both the United States and Europe made immense numbers of recordings. You say that Selvin made 9,000! When did they have any time to sleep? I suppose it had to do with the fact that recordings were less expensive to make then and salaries for musicians were miniscule. If someone has a more informed explanation, I would love to hear it.

[merrihew]

His daughter lives near me and I visited with him several times. He kept all of the cancelled paychecks of his band members and they were paid pretty good money for the time. The records were made very quickly. They were rarely rehearsed - arrangements made up as they went along. Only possible because they were such great musicians.

[jd03150]

Your explanation is most pleasant to hear but I suppose should come as no surprise. Today, some 17 year old picks up a guitar and fancies himself a musician (and sometimes gets paid millions for the noises that he makes). It seems evident from your description -- and I suspect this was true with many other bands -- that Selvin's musicians were well-trained and very versatile. If they worked without written arrangements, that only adds to my respect and my amazement at the fantastic results.