Ben Selvin's Novelty Orchestra - Dardanella (1919)

Ben Selvin (March 5,1898 - July 15,1980), son of Russian-immigrant Jewish parents, was a musician, bandleader, record producer and innovator in recorded music. He was known as The Dean of Recorded Music.

Selvin started his professional life at age 15 as a fiddle player in New York City night clubs. A "husky" lad, he looked older than he was and as such was permitted into such establishments.

A mere six years later, as leader of his own dance band, the "Novelty Orchestra," Selvin released the biggest-selling popular song in the first quarter-century of recorded music. That single, Dardanella, eventually went on to sell more than 5 million copies and an additional 2 million pieces of sheet music.

During the Columbia era, he recorded under many different names including "The Broadway Nightlites", "The Knickerbockers", "The Columbians", "The Cavaliers", "Barney Trimble and his Oklahomans", "Perley Stevens and his Orchestra", "Jerry Mason and his Californians", "The Harmonians", "Rudy Marlow and his Orchestra", "Columbia Photo Players", "Frank Auburn and his Orchestra", "Kolster Dance Orchestra", "Lloyd Keating and his Music", "Earl Marlow and his Orchestra", "Ed Loyd and his Orchestra", "Ray Seeley and his Orchestra", "Sam Nash and his Orchestra", "Mickie Alpert and his Orchestra", "Johnny Walker and his Orchestra", "Chester Leighton and his Sophomores", "Wally Edwards and his Orchestra", "Roy Carroll and his Sands Point Orchestra", "Buddy Campbell and his Orchestra", "Golden Terrace Orchestra", "Bar Harbor Society Orchestra", "Ted Raph and his Orchestra", "Georgia Moonlight Serenaders", "Cloverdale Country Club Orchestra", and "Ed Parker and his Orchestra"

According to The Guinness Book of World Records, Selvin recorded more musical sides (on 78-rpm discs) than any other person. One reason for this prolific output is that he recorded for dozens of different labels during this high-growth time in the industry, using a different name (or slightly different name) for each label. Selvin's output has been estimated at 13,000 to 20,000 song titles.


Ben Selvin's Novelty Orchestra - Dardanella (1919)

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• Selvin
• 1919
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[XylophoneNoir]

Too bad there's not a cleaner version of Selvin's recording of "Dardanella" available. In the band you can hear the xylophone virtuoso GEORGE HAMILTON GREEN who is seen in the publicity photo raising a mallet up to Selvin. By 1919 Green was commanding vast audiences and recording for multiple leaders as well as under his own name.

[hmuncy1]

This song makes me want to puff a fat bowl of opium, while receiving felatio from a girthy dame. For old times sake.

[pompenel]

EXCELLENT

[Mizzilycool]

this is my Great Great Grandfather

[briedank]

@spike6060 The only reason there would have scratches and pops is because people hadn't changed the needle properly. 78s hold up really well is cared for properly.

[djdavemick]

I believe this sold over 5 million 78s and over 3 million in sheet music in 1920 alone in the US. In my all-time top 200--impressive, when virtually everything else is between 1940 till 1999.

[spike6060]

i love this recording but sounds to clean with all the scratches removed which would have been there with original 78

[killerlady1955]

I had a pet rat named Dardenella - after this tune :) I used to call her "Nellie".

[pompenel]

Remarquable!!!!

[JonFrumTheFirst]

Somehow I never heard of this before - I just stumbled on a reference to the song online. Live and learn.