Roaring 20s: Abe Lyman's Sharps & Flats - San, 1928

Here's another amazing recording of this wonderful orchestra. It's original brand name was Abe Lyman's California Ambassador Hotel Orchestra, but they also recorded as "Abe Lyman's Sharps and Flats". The lyrics of the Lindsay McPhail & Walter Michels' song "San" (1920) -here presented in an instrumantal version - are "the Japanese love story", so I made also a slideshow composed of the vintage Japanese posters.

To see more of the astonishing possibilities of Abe Lyman's orchestra - sometimes it's difficult to believe, they played so in the Roaring Twenties, and not in the roick'n roll era - it's worth browsing a little thru You Tube collections, e.g. the fantastic movie with three tunes played by Abe Lyman's band, Merrihew upoloaded http://pl.youtube.com/watch?v=jRwtiu8cboQ , the 1926 tune "Shake That Thing" at kspm's site http://pl.youtube.com/watch?v=2D06FSF41V0, a very early recording "Queen Of Egypt" (1923) http://pl.youtube.com/watch?v=Znk7Rg1yYlA or soft and lovely "Never Swat A Fly" http://pl.youtube.com/watch?v=gfu4jw8tJGA

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• Twenties
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[rdfox76]

@baxterfilms Apparently, in the business, it's called the "trombone gobble." And yes, that's Orlando "Slim" Martin, who invented it, and the plunger mute "wah wah wah wah" effect used for the adults talking in all those Peanuts specials, and a bunch of other impossible sounds that became stock cartoon sound effects after the studio sound effects guys came up with ways to simulate them mechanically--not using brass instruments at all, though!

[dadoctah]

I love the poster at 0:29-0:41. Looks like a photographic recreation of an Utamaro print, except for that oh-so-modern record!

[mlaprarie]

Great to find this here, and in great sound too. Definitely one of the top three hottest records from the 1920's!

[baxterfilms]

1:13 That's who invented the WB "yada-yada-yada"

[Ullarobinlilly]

It made my day! Its grey and rainy and the best time to hear these powerful music! Than you!!!

[nwheeler1248]

The music is great, but what drew me to the video was the visual material. I teach East Asian history, and may show this in my classroom. Can you comment on where you found the visual materials? Are they from Japan in the 1920s? (That is what I am looking for.) N. Wheeler

[Twostrokefan]

Abe Lyman's Sharps & Flats That's very great, to heare, this very rare song in Original Schellacksound!

[Victrolaman1]

Was just about to upload this when I saw it was on.Recorded in Chicago May 18-1928.

[merrihew]

What a versatile band. When they played hot, they were REALLY hot.

[barbcard]

Sharp and clear as October light!