[78-L] Just a Passing Glantz

[Steven C. Barr]

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Taylor Bowie" <bowiebks at isomedia.com>
> It took me a long time to start paying any attention to a lot of these
> acoustic studio band records,  but I've been very impressed with a lot of
> the records issued by Nathan Glantz,  ditto Joe Samuels.  It is 
> interesting
> that neither of them made very many electric records...I can't recall off
> hand if Samuels made any at all.  I guess both of them were somewhat older
> than the other studio band guys like Lanin,  Rich, Selvin,  etc.  so maybe
> by the mid- and late 20s they were just ready to start winding down.
>
Basically, several things happened around 1926...not the least of which was 
the
electrification of recordings and the ensuing changes in the sound of "pop 
dance
music!"

First...most of the dance records of the 1919-25 era were made with a 
handful
of studio-experienced players...many of whom may have retired or left the 
business
from 1926 onward.

Second, the "up and coming" bands of the 1926-28 period...like Guy 
Lombardo...
abandoned the two-beat "jazz" sound for a softer, slower and more danceable
style. This would in the next few years evolve into the "hotel band" sound 
of
1930-36...!

Third, the ordinary dance-music fan of the mid-twenties was 
college-age...quite
a bit younger that the older leaders like Glantz and Samuels...!

Fourth, the wide popularity of live dance music meant that record buyers
wanted to see their favourites, and dance to them, live...usually in dance
halls or hotel ballrooms. The early leaders, like Samuels and Glantz. didn't
do much of this type of playing...!

...stevenc