Michael Thomas' Website

Sound Files

Music Hall

This is a tricky one. Basically this page will be devoted to early popular vocal records, generally pre-1920. This will be a mixture of Music Hall, Ragtime and other popular songs, such as Coon Songs (as they were called).  Recording dates shown are very approximate due to lack of documentation of this type of music. Many records were issued under pseudonyms and these are shown after the label & Catalogue number.

These are all mp3 files. They have been transferred by myself from original 78s in my own collection. You should have something on your computer already which will play these.   
The files are listed by artist. Within each artist the titles are listed by recording date. 


TO PLAY:
If you have a fast connection (broadband), then you can just click on the title of the piece and your media player should automatically start; otherwise right click on the title and choose "save target as" and browse to a place on your computer where you wish to save it. This will download the file to your computer so you can play it at your leisure. The file sizes are between 1.2MB and 1.5MB.

PLEASE NOTE: These are for your own listening pleasure only. Please respect this and DON'T sell them or put them up onto your own website as your own files.      

Page last updated December 30, 2009.

Jack Charman
Probably THE most prolific recording artist of this sort of material in the pre-dance band era. This means he will probably dominate this page somewhat. Despite the number of many labels which Billy Williams recorded for, he made few for Beka and is songs were often covered by Charman in a very lifelike Williams style.
Recording Date Tune Title Label & Issue No. Matrix No. Upload Date
? c. October 1911 Hello, Silvery Sea Scala 181 41306 Dec 30, 2009
? c. February 1912 You Must Come Round On Saturday Scala 170   Dec 30, 2009
c. February 1912 Come, Boys And Follow The Crowd Scala 170 41450 Dec 30, 2009
? c. August 1912 He Played On His Fiddle-De-Dee Scala 210 (as Max Darent)   Dec 30, 2009
c. August 1912 Who Were You With Last Night? Scala 221 41713 Dec 30, 2009
? c. Augist 1910 Let's All Go Into The Ballroom Scala 221   Dec 30, 2009
? c. December 1912 I Wish It Were Sunday Night Scala 259 (as F. Elliot)   Dec 30, 2009
c. March 1913 All The Girls Are Lovely By The Seaside Scala 338 (as F. Elliot)   Dec 30, 2009
c. March 1913 I Do Like You, Susie, In Your Sunday Clothes Scala 350 (as F. Elliot) 35006 Dec 30, 2009

 

Jack and Nancy Charman
Jack made a number of recordings with his sister, Nancy. Here is one, to begin with.
Recording Date Tune Title Label & Issue No. Matrix No. Upload Date
c. April 1913 Hello, Cupid Scala 338 (as F. Elliot) 35133 Dec 30, 2009

 

Harry Cove
Not far behind Jack Charman as a prolific recording artist, is Harry Cove.
Recording Date Tune Title Label & Issue No. Matrix No. Upload Date
c. March 1913 Hear That Orchestra Rag Scala 330 (as Max Darent) 35008 Dec 30, 2009
c. March 1913 Way Down South Scala 330 (as Max Darent) 35034 Dec 30, 2009

 

Harry Cove & Will Thompson
They were the most prolific duettists on record at the time. Many of their records were issued as The Elliotts (Winner), The Two Filberts (Beka, Jumbo etc), Fanning & Fortune (Guardsman) and a host of other names.
Recording Date Tune Title Label & Issue No. Matrix No. Upload Date
c. October 1915 Sprinkle Me With Kisses Scala 776 (as Robins & White) 36312 Dec 30, 2009
c. May 1916 Back Home In Tennessee Scala 858 (as Robins & White) 36604 Dec 30, 2009

 

Arthur Franklin
I don't know if this is a "real" person, but I haven't been able to identify him.
Recording Date Tune Title Label & Issue No. Matrix No. Upload Date
c. January 1912 You've Got To Sing In Ragtime (with assistant) Scala 167 (as Stanley Barnes) 41474 Dec 30, 2009

 

Stanley Kirkby
Real name: James Baker. Stanley Kirkby was immensely versatile, able to cover anything from operetta to nonsense songs. He worked on the halls both in partnership with Harry Hudson and with his own concert party. What you'll find here is his lighter side.
Recording Date Tune Title Label & Issue No. Matrix No. Upload Date
c. early 1912 You Can Do A Lot Of Things At The Seaside Scala 181 (as Stanley Barnes)   Dec 30, 2009
c. early 1912 Let's Make A Night Of It To-Night Scala 259 (as F. Elliot)   Dec 30, 2009

 

Lionel Rothery
Rothery was both a performer and songwriter, though he didn't make that mane solo recordings.
Recording Date Tune Title Label & Issue No. Matrix No. Upload Date
? c. 1915 I Want Loving Scala 776 (as J. C. Hughes)   Dec 30, 2009

 

Will Thompson & Will Brockton
Popular duettists.
Recording Date Tune Title Label & Issue No. Matrix No. Upload Date
c. June 1915 A Little Lovin' Every Day Scala 743 (as Robins & White) 36072 Dec 30, 2009

Page last updated December 30, 2009.