Shellac Stack No. 64 offers another diverse stack of 78s ranging from fleet-fingered Irish fiddling by Patrick J. Cawley to nimble-fingered piano playing by Frank Banta, Raie Da Costa and Paul Estabrook. We’ll listen to some birds, share a few laughs, dance to Bob Haring’s Orchestra, and hoot and holler with Red “Pepper” Sam (Billy Costello). Don’t miss it!

If you like the Frank Banta and Raie Da Costa records played this week, please consider showing your support for The Shellac Stack by picking up a copy of either Frank Banta: Upright and Grand or Dainty Debutantes: Female Novelty Pianists of the 1930s. Both are CDs on the Rivermont label that I helped to produce (with novelty piano expert Alex Hassan), and they feature some truly dazzling popular pianistics.

Podcast: Download (Duration: 51:19 — 23.6MB)

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Shellac Stack No. 63 spans nearly 50 years, from Bert Williams in 1906 to George Girard in 1953. We salute the late Kitty Kallen and look forward to Valentine’s Day. Today’s stack includes discs by blues pianist Mike Jackson, bandleaders Bennie Moten, Paul Whiteman, Eddy Duchin, and others. With Iowa on the nation’s mind this past week, we also listen to the American Legion Official Band, direct from Sioux City, Iowa.

The American Legion Official Band (Monahan Post, Sioux City, Iowa) in Paris, France, 1927

Podcast: Download (Duration: 52:48 — 24.3MB)

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Shellac Stack No. 62 brings you the voice of Betty Boop (Mae Questel), jazz from Chicago and Australia (Johnny Dodds and Dave Dallwitz, respectively), dance music from Freddy Martin, Russ Morgan, and George Olsen, and even some Bavarian yodeling, courtesy of George P. Watson. Pull up a chair, fix your favorite hot beverage, and let those icicles form… we’ve got great 78s to keep warm!

In other news, don’t forget to check out The Syncopated Times, edited and published by my friend Andy Senior (host of Radiola!). As the successor to the venerable American Rag, The Syncopated Times promises to deliver news and feature articles of interest to traditional jazz and ragtime enthusiasts. I’ve sent in for my subscription — I hope you will too!

Podcast: Download (Duration: 52:39 — 24.2MB)

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Shellac Stack No. 61 rattles into action with Brother Bones and His Shadows. We compare two versions of “My Sweetie Turned Me Down,” listen to some old-time music from Ernest Stoneman and Fiddling Doc Roberts, enjoy dance music from the Al Katz and Fred Rich Orchestras, and salute a couple early Dixieland bands. And don’t miss Elsie Clark singing “You’re a Good Car But You Can’t Climb Hills”!

Last month, I inaugurated a YouTube channel, 3milstylus, to post additional interesting and obscure 78 rpm records between “Shellac Stacks.” I’ll add to the offerings occasionally as time permits. At the moment, there are about 30 records posted. I hope you’ll take a look (and a listen) here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UClWntxfr2NwHP5KV290F7nw

Podcast: Download (Duration: 53:54 — 24.8MB)

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Shellac Stack No. 60 wishes you a Happy Holiday season with a selection of Christmas and winter-themed 78s. We begin with the delightful obscurity “Tap, Tap, Tapping Santa” sung by Pat Harrington and from there sample some well-loved favorites, in performances you might not have previously heard. From Harry E. Humphrey to Dick Robertson to Jimmy Durante to Francis J. Lapitino to Mark Andrews to Leo Watson and then some… Merry Christmas from the Shellac Stack!

Podcast: Download (Duration: 1:02:25 — 28.7MB)

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Shellac Stack No. 59 pays homage to a favorite producer of films for children (and adults) with records by Freddie Rich, Charlie Spivak, Dinah Shore, Johnny Mercer, Kay Kyser, Ernie Rudy, and more.

Podcast: Download (Duration: 47:49 — 22.0MB)

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Shellac Stack No. 58 wishes you a “relaxing” Labor Day weekend with the usual eclectic mix of 78s, from stride pianist Cliff Jackson to Fred Elizalde, Helen Ward, Rex Stewart, Patrick Conway’s Band, Henry Burr, and more.

Podcast: Download (Duration: 58:19 — 26.8MB)

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Shellac Stack No. 57 invites you to pour a tall glass of iced tea (or your preferred beverage) and settle back for records by Lou Gold, Scrappy Lambert, Rose Murphy, Johnny Wittwer, Joe Haymes, Marty Grosz, Bix Beiderbecke, and more. We also celebrate the music of Mel B. Kaufman in honor of the new CD from the Peacherine Ragtime Society Orchestra devoted to Kaufman’s music. We listen to several period recordings of Kaufman compositions by Earl Fuller’s Rector Novelty Orchestra and Vincent Lopez and sample the new PRSO disc.

Full disclosure: I had a hand in producing the Peacherine Ragtime Society Orchestra’s new Mel Kaufman CD (Step With Pep), but don’t let that scare you away! Director Andrew Greene and his musicians bring vitality and virtuosic musicianship to their performances, and the 40-page booklet that accompanies the CD is worth the price of admission alone. I couldn’t be prouder of the CD, and if you enjoy the Shellac Stack, the best way to support the podcast (and get something nice for yourself in the process!) is to order a copy of the CD from Rivermont Records. Thanks!

Podcast: Download (Duration: 56:54 — 26.1MB)

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Shellac Stack No. 56 casts an eye — and an ear — skyward with songs about the moon, the sun, stars, and space in general as we celebrate New Horizons’ flyby of Pluto this week. Dr. Hoffman gives us an “otherworldly” theremin treatment of Beethoven’s Moonlight Sonata; recording in Paris, Hubert Rostaing delivers an exquisite saxophone solo of “Stardust”; and Lou Gold, Glenn Miller, Dick Robertson, Skitch Henderson, Paul Whiteman and more are on hand for another (almost) hour of 78s!

Correction: Leon Theremin was the inventor of the theremin (not “Victor” Theremin). I guess I got my wires crossed just a bit! I knew that RCA (Radio-Victor) manufactured theremins commercially in the 1920s and early ’30s, so when I wanted to mention the inventor’s name, “Victor” naturally came to mind. Oh well. Sorry, Leon!

Podcast: Download (Duration: 51:47 — 23.8MB)

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Shellac Stack No. 55 celebrates a hard-won legal victory. We’ve got songs about love and marriage from Benny Goodman, Nat Shilkret, and Fred Hall to Billie Holiday, Ralph Sutton, and Ted Weems. We’ve got jazz bands, dance bands, Irish pipers, cabaret performers, and a Jo Stafford record that defies classification. Enjoy!

Podcast: Download (Duration: 57:30 — 26.4MB)

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