[78-L] Arthur Murrray Bluebirds?

[Michael Biel]

Does Arthur Murray or someone else continue to speak on these records or
is it just the music after the start?   I love those old acoustical
Columbia dance instruction records by G. Hepburn Willson or somebody
like that.  Fred Astaire sponsored a series of RCA Victor LPs and EPs in
the 50s of different dance styles but nobody speaks on those.  Some
interesting sides were reissued on these.

Mike Biel  mbiel at mbiel.com  


 ----- Original Message ----- 
 From: "Taylor Bowie" <bowiebks at isomedia.com>
 >I recently bought Bluebird 5734, 5735 and 5736...all three are labeled
as
 > Arthur Murray with "orchestra" for learning different dance steps.
 > Tyrone says they were all recorded Nov 13, 1934.
 > What is curious is that there are some actual and not-bad jazz solos
on
 > almost every side, including clarinet, open and muted trumpet, 
 > trombone, tenor sax, etc.
 > Anyone have a clue who might be responsible for these...possibly Tom
 > Berwick, Leonard Joy, Ken MacComber, or who? The ensembles are not
 > exactly tight but the records are kind of enjoyable anyway, even at
the
 > beginnings what a voice (Murray?) counts off "one, two, three, four" 
 > to start you off on your buck-and-wing, soft shoe, or whatever.
 
 IIRC, there was a sort of "Bluebird 'house band'" in the label's early 
 years;
 it recorded under several different names, including Tom Berwick. IIRC,
 the band and its usual players are listed in ADBD under the several
 identities used...?!
 
 Steven C. Barr