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Sound Files |
Ragtime |
It's not always easy to define ragtime recordings and some of these could be classed as Dance Band, but of a very early style. Also, some could be classed as "characteristic pieces", a term used at the time for what later became known as light music. What you will find is that all these recordings date from before 1924 and were acoustically recorded.
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
November 06, 2010.
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Adelphi Theatre
Orchestra Not really a dance or ragtime orchestra, this unit usually accompanied stage artists from the shows, but did sometimes make instrumental recordings |
| Recording Date | Tune Title | Label & Issue No. | Matrix No. | Upload Date |
| Sept 12, 1916 | Tingle-Ingling (from "High Jinks") (conductor & composer: Howard Talbot) | HMV C-719 | Ho-2164 | Nov 2010 |
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Beka London Orchestra House band for the British arm of the Beka Record Company. Despite the name, some of the recording issued thus are of German origin. |
| Recording Date | Tune Title | Label & Issue No. | Matrix No. | Upload Date |
| August 1908 | Dreams Of Ragtime | Beka 52 | 40398 | Jan 22, 2010 |
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Black Diamonds Band Zonophone's house band in the first 2 decades of the 20th century |
| Recording Date | Tune Title | Label & Issue No. | Matrix No. | Upload Date |
| June 1908 | Fidgety Phil | Cinch 5004 (as Royal Guards Band) | 8253e | Nov 11, 2009 |
| December 22, 1909 | Frozen Bill | Cinch 5004 (as Royal Guards Band) | 11115e | Nov 11, 2009 |
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Casino Orchestra A generic name on Columbia for Britsh and American recordings; these are British sides, directed by Albert W. Ketelbey |
| Recording Date | Tune Title | Label & Issue No. | Matrix No. | Upload Date |
| March 1912 | Grizzly Bear | Columbia-Rena 1885 | 27964 | Aug 8, 2009 |
| April 1912 | On The Road To Zag-A-Zig | Columbia-Rena 1885 | 28075 | Aug 8, 2009 |
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H.M. Coldstream Guards
Band (cond: J. MacKenzie-Rogan) Well-known military band which made hundreds of recordings, mainly, if not exclusively, for His Master's Voice. |
| Recording Date | Tune Title | Label & Issue No. | Matrix No. | Upload Date |
| Jan 27, 1919 | Hello, Hawaii, How Are You? | HMV C-886 | HO-3579 | Nov 2010 |
| Jan 27, 1919 | Hullo, Girls | HMV C-885 | HO-3581 | Nov 2010 |
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Conway's Band American bandmaster Patrick Conway made a number of recordings for Victor in the early part of the 20th century. |
| Recording Date | Tune Title | Label & Issue No. | Matrix No. | Upload Date |
| circa 1918 | Have A Heart (medley fox trot) | HMV C-875 (as Metropolitan Dance Band) | A-18064 | Nov 2010 |
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El Cota
(xylophone, with orchestra,
directed by Charles A Prince) These American recordings were issued in Britain under the name of Lawrence Coates. |
| Recording Date | Tune Title | Label & Issue No. | Matrix No. | Upload Date |
| December 15, 1911 | Black And White Ragtime | Columbia-Rena 2075 | 19690 | Aug 8, 2009 |
| January 26, 1912 | Red Pepper Rag | Columbia-Rena 2075 | 19737 | Aug 8, 2009 |
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Court Symphony
Orchestra A British studio orchestra, probably directed by Albert W. Ketelbey |
| Recording Date | Tune Title | Label & Issue No. | Matrix No. | Upload Date |
| Spring 1910 | I've Got Rings On My Fingers | Rena 1365 | 26903 | May 19, 2009 |
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Empire Military Band A name covering the house bands recording for Beka from 1911. |
| Recording Date | Tune Title | Label & Issue No. | Matrix No. | Upload Date |
| c. September 1912 | Girl In The Taxi | Albion 1379 | 41772 | Jan 22, 2010 |
| c, September 1912 | Waiting For The Robert E. Lee (vocal: Harry Cove) | Ariel 1033 | 41783 | Jan 22, 2010 |
| c. September 1912 | Hitchy Koo (vocal: Harry Cove) | Ariel 1033 | 41785 | Jan 22, 2010 |
| December 1912 | The Wedding Glide | Beka 651 | 41923 | Jan 22, 2010 |
| c. March 1913 | Jolly Japanese | Beka 651 | 14536 | Jan 22, 2010 |
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Grammavox Military Band Studio band of Grammavox Records. |
| Recording Date | Tune Title | Label & Issue No. | Matrix No. | Upload Date |
| c. April 1912 | Georgia Camp Meeting | Ariel 4423 | 58 | Jan 22, 2010 |
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Iff's Orchestra Wilhelm Iff was a popular band learder of the pre-WWI period, and is known to have played for the Royal Family at Balmoral |
| Recording Date | Tune Title | Label & Issue No. | Matrix No. | Upload Date |
| May 5, 1909 | Topeka Two-Step | Gramophone 0624 | 4176 | Nov 2010 |
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Imperial Orchestra Studio orchestra directed usually by Arthur Crudge |
| Recording Date | Tune Title | Label & Issue No. | Matrix No. | Upload Date |
| probably 1908 | On The Mississippi (Morse) | Arrow A-107 | 2930 | Jan 22 2010 |
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Jumbo Military Band Studio Orchestra name on Jumbo records, for both British and German recordings, |
| Recording Date | Tune Title | Label & Issue No. | Matrix No. | Upload Date |
| c 1910 | Smokey Mokes | Ariel 1949 | XBo-2091 | Jan 22, 2010 |
| c 1910 | Soldiers In The Park | Ariel 1949 | XBo- | Jan 22, 2010 |
| King's Colonial Band |
| Recording Date | Tune Title | Label & Issue No. | Matrix No. | Upload Date |
| February 1910 | Peaceful Henry | Bell Disc 182 | 2405 | Jan 22, 2010 |
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London Concert
Orchestra Studio orchestra on Edison Bell recordings, directed by Arthur Smith. |
| Recording Date | Tune Title | Label & Issue No. | Matrix No. | Upload Date |
| March 1908 | Silver Heels | Bell Disc 2 | 2029 | Jan 22 2010 |
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The London Orchestra The house band on Cinch records. Cinch was launched in 1913 as the Gramophone Company's answer to the cheap German imports. There was a mixture of things previously issued on Zonophone, plus a lot of newly recorded sides, such as these here. |
| Recording Date | Tune Title | Label & Issue No. | Matrix No. | Upload Date |
| May 1, 1913 | That Fussy Rag | Cinch 5067 | Ho-399-ab | Nov 11, 2009 |
| May 1, 1913 | Oh, That Ragged Rag | Cinch 5067 | Ho-402-ab | Nov 11, 2009 |
| May 1, 1913 | Lancashire Clogs | Cinch 5092 | Ho-408-ab | Nov 11, 2009 |
| May 1, 1913 | Mr. Goldberg's Jew's Harp Band | Cinch 5068 | Ho-413-ab | Nov 11, 2009 |
| May 3, 1913 | Oh, You Little Bear | Cinch 5069 | Ho-446-ab | Nov 11, 2009 |
| May 3, 1913 | It's The Pretty Things You Say | Cinch 5069 | Ho-448-ab | Nov 11, 2009 |
| June 18, 1913 | Mississippi Bubble | Cinch 5116 | Ho-602-ab | Nov 11, 2009 |
| June 18, 1913 | Laughing Water | Cinch 5116 | Ho-605-ab | Nov 11, 2009 |
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Mayfair (Dance)
Orchestra The house band on His Master Voice, basically the same musicians as "The London Orchestra" on Cinch, and "The Peerles Orchestra" on Zonophone. |
| Recording Date | Tune Title | Label & Issue No. | Matrix No. | Upload Date |
| February 3, 1912 | Red Pepper Rag | HMV C-214 | Z-5965 | Nov 2010 |
| October 25, 1912 | Hitchy Koo | HMV C-212 | Z-6720 | Nov 2010 |
| October 25, 1912 | Oh, You Beautiful Doll | HMV C-212 | Z-6723 | Nov 2010 |
| October 25, 1912 | The Rum-Tum-Tiddle Dance | HMV C-214 | Z-6727 | Nov 2010 |
| November 3, 1914 | All Aboard For Dixieland | HMV C-385 (as Metropolitan Dance Band) | Ho-604 | Nov 2010 |
| February 21, 1919 | The Jazz Nightmare | HMV C-891 | Ho-3618 | Nov 2010 |
| June 24, 1919 | Indianola | HMV C-906 | Ho-3834 | Nov 2010 |
| August 26, 1919 | How Ya Gonna Keep 'Em Down On The Farm? | HMV C-920 | Ho-3923 | Nov 2010 |
| September 5, 1919 | 'N' Everything | HMV C-918 | Ho-3945 | Nov 2010 |
| September 12, 1919 | Kelly's Come Back | HMV C-918 | Ho-3960 | Nov 2010 |
| September 12, 1919 | Havanola | HMV C-920 | Ho-3961 | Nov 2010 |
| October 10, 1919 | Li'l Liza Jane | HMV C-923 | Ho-3999 | Nov 2010 |
| October 16, 1919 | Sand Dunes | HMV C-923 | Ho-4007 | Nov 2010 |
| October 16, 1919 | Russian Rag | HMV C-924 | Ho-4008 | Nov 2010 |
| October 16, 1919 | Fidgety Feet | HMV C-924 | Ho-4011 | Nov 2010 |
| January 15, 1920 | Can You Tame Wild Wimmen? | HMV C-949 | Ho-4229 | Nov 2010 |
| February 3, 1920 | Allah's Holiday | HMV C-949 | Ho-4260 | Nov 2010 |
| March 24, 1920 | And He'd Say "Oo-La-La, Wee-Wee" | HMV C-962 | Ho-4317 | Nov 2010 |
| March 29, 1920 | Me-Ow (vocal effects by the orchestra) | HMV C-962 | Ho-4330 | Nov 2010 |
| June 29, 1920 | Egyptland | HMV C-983 | Ho-4416 | Nov 2010 |
| July 21, 1920 | Patches | HMV C-983 | Ho-4507 | Nov 2010 |
| July 21, 1920 | I'm Getting Tired Playing Second Fiddle | HMV C-984 | Ho-4508 | Nov 2010 |
| November 9, 1920 | Puck-A-Pu (vocal: Ernest Pike) | HMV C-1004 | Ho-4600 | Nov 2010 |
| November 9, 1920 | Cannibal Island (vocal effects by the orchestra) | HMV C-1004 | Ho-4601 | Nov 2010 |
| November 12, 1920 | Naughty! Naughty! | HMV C-1003 | Ho-4606 | Nov 2010 |
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Pathe Dance Orchestra A British studio orchestra, conductor unknown. |
| Recording Date | Tune Title | Label & Issue No. | Matrix No. | Upload Date |
| October 1921 | Whose Baby Are You? | Pathe Actuelle 10173 | 94433 | May 19, 2009 |
| October 1923 | Oh! Harold | Pathe Actuelle 10548 | 94585 | May 19, 2009 |
| October 1923 | Get Me Going | Pathe Actuelle 10548 | 94586 | May 19, 2009 |
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The Peerless Orchestra Studio orchestra for Zonophone Records, essentially the same band as the Mayfair (Dance) Orchestra on HMV and The London Orchestra on Cinch Records. |
| Recording Date | Tune Title | Label & Issue No. | Matrix No. | Upload Date |
| May 9, 1913 | Sandy Mac | Ariel 328 (as Ariel Dance Orchestra) | Y-16581-e | Jan 22 2010 |
| November 30, 1921 | Last Night | Ariel 328 (as Ariel Dance Orchestra) | Bb-729-1 | Jan 22 2010 |
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Prince's Orchestra Charles A. Prince was the musical director for Columbia Records in New York. He made hundreds of recordings, many of which are excellent examples of ragtime. For some reason, many of his recordings were issued in England under pseudonyms, often King's Military Band (a play on the Monarchy theme). |
| Recording Date | Tune Title | Label & Issue No. | Matrix No. | Upload Date |
| early 1910 | The Cubanola Glide | Rena 1365 | 4343 | May 19, 2009 |
| June 7, 1911 | Red Pepper | Columbia-Rena 1910 (as King's Military Band) | 19397 | May 19, 2009 |
| November 4, 1911 | Ramshackle Rag | Columbia-Rena 1910 (as King's Military Band) | 19652 | May 19, 2009 |
| December 1911 | Alexander's Ragtime Band | Columbia-Rena 1907 (as King's Military Band) | 19716 | May 19, 2009 |
| December 1911 | That Mysterious Rag | Columbia-Rena 1907 (as King's Military Band) | 19718 | May 19, 2009 |
| January 1912 | The Gaby Glide | Columbia-Rena 1958 (as Casino Orchestra) | 19726 | May 19, 2009 |
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HM Royal Artillery Band Regimantal band directed by E. c. Stretton |
| Recording Date | Tune Title | Label & Issue No. | Matrix No. | Upload Date |
| December 1907 | Silver Heels | Beka 53 | 40129 | Jan 22, 2010 |
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Royal Court Orchestra Studio band on Edison Bell records, often directed by Arthur Crudge. |
| Recording Date | Tune Title | Label & Issue No. | Matrix No. | Upload Date |
| c. January 1911 | Black Cat Capers | Bell Disc 257 | 2522-1 | Jan 22 2010 |
| c. February 1911 | Down In Jungle Town | Bell Disc 292 | 2662 | Jan 22 2010 |
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HM Scots Guards Band Regimantal band directed by Fred W. Wood |
| Recording Date | Tune Title | Label & Issue No. | Matrix No. | Upload Date |
| 1906 | Dixieland | Albion 1176 | 301 | Jan 22, 2010 |
| 1906 | Laughing Water | Albion 1176 | 303 | Jan 22, 2010 |
| c late 1910 | I'll Dance Till The Sun Breaks Through | Columbia-Rena 1470 | 27156 | Aug 8, 2009 |
| September 1912 |
Ragtime Medley, part 1 (intro: Everybody's Doing It / That Mysterious Rag / He Played It On His Fiddle-Dee-Dee / Oh, You Beautiful Doll / Rum-Tum-Tiddle) |
Columbia-Rena 2047 | 28314 | Aug 8, 2009 |
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Victor Military Band /
Victor Dance Orchestra The house band at Victor used both names, but seems to be essentially the same unit. Walter B. Rogers was usually the conductor. |
| Recording Date | Tune Title | Label & Issue No. | Matrix No. | Upload Date |
| c. February 1915 | Tickling Love Taps | HMV C-602 (as Metropolitan Dance Band) | A-15692 | Nov 2010 |
| c. February 1915 | By Heck! | HMV C-602 (as Metropolitan Dance Band) | A-15693 | Nov 2010 |
| c. 1916 |
Have A Heart (medley fox trot) (intro: You Said Something; I Am All Alone) |
Victor 35621 | Nov 2010 | |
| c. 1916 | Love O' Mike | Victor 35621 | Nov 2010 |
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Vocalion Dance
Orchestra This was the house band for English Vocalion records. Debroy Somers was the director, just prior to his appointment at the Savoy Hotel to direct the new Savoy Orpheans. These are really early dance band recordings including banjo and with an occasional saxophone, but I place them in the ragtime idiom. The Aco issues were labelled as "Venetian Dance Orchestra", but were actually reissues of the original Vocalions. |
| Recording Date | Tune Title | Label & Issue No. | Matrix No. | Upload Date |
| October 1921 | Je N' Peux Pas Vivre Sans Amour | Aco G-15004 | 02544 (C-5004) | August 8, 2009 |
| January 1922 | Whose Baby Are You? (intro: The Bull-Frog Patrol) | Aco G-15005 | 02631 (C-5009) | August 8, 2009 |
| February 1922 | Play Again, Piano Man | Aco G-15002 | 02665 (C-5008) | August 8, 2009 |
| February 1922 | On The Streets Of Cairo | Aco G-15002 | 02668 (C-5005) | August 8, 2009 |
| February 1922 | Da-Da | Aco G-15003 | 02693 (C-5003) | August 8, 2009 |
This page was first created on May 19th, 2009. Updated November 06, 2010.