“Played by the Ambassadors” 20 Hot Dance Favorites (1923-1926)

Featuring Austin, Nichols, Patricola, Kaufman, Mole, Pettis, Reser, Farberman, etc. 1. Sun-Kist Cottage in California [0:00] 2. Pleasure Mad [2:54] 3. Old Fashioned Love (Intro: Charleston) [5:52] 4. Doodle-Doo-Doo…v. Isabella Patricola [8:54] 5. 1. Oh, Peter - 2. Some of These Days [11:54] 6. 1. June Night - 2. Ida (Sweet as Apple Cider) [17:17] 7. Savannah (The Georgianna Blues) [22:25] 8. Oh Baby [25:29] 9. Doo Wacka Doo…v. Isabella Patricola [28:20] 10. Me and the Boyfriend…v. Isabella Patricola [31:09] 11. That’s Georgia…v. Isabella Patricola [34:10] 12. Throw Down Blues [37:12] 13. Oh! How I Love My Darling (1)…v. Irving Kaufman [40:19] 14. Oh! How I Love My Darling (2)…v. Irving Kaufman [43:09] 15. Choo Choo–I Gotta Hurry Home…v. Gene Austin [45:57] 16. No One Knows What it’s All About… Isabella Patricola [49:05] 17. Can’t Your Friend Get a Friend For Me [52:03] 18. That’s My Girl [55:04] 19. Lulu Belle [58:12] 20. Proud (of a Baby Like You) [1:01:16] Transferred with 3.0 lateral styli in VM670SP cartridge and 3.0 lateral stylus in VM95SP cartridge via Audiotechnica AT-LP120. Discs from Colin Hancock Collection. Declicked and given light EQ by Colin Hancock. Discographical and Historical Information from DAHR, Brian Rust’s “Jazz Records” and “American Dance Band Discography,” Johnson and Shirley’s “American Dance Bands on Record, Colin Hancock, Vince Giordano, and Javier Soria Laso. Thanks to David Sager for hipping me to the band’s 12 inch disc. Among the most popular of 1920s hot dance bands is the Ambassadors–half ace recording band and half popular ballroom dance orchestra–on Red Vocalion records (and a few later Black ones too.) In addition to recording a ton of material over several years (and, for that matter beautifully recorded by Vocalion’s state-of-the art acoustic process), the Ambassadors’ discs are consistent in their high quality music. The performances are snappy, often jazzy, and always bounce along in a perfect manner for dancing. But for connoisseurs of the hot solo, there are plenty of those as well, often thanks to such greats as Red Nichols, Jack Pettis, Hymie Farberman, and Mannie Klein who frequented the band’s sessions or played regularly with them on stage. The Ambassadors were founded by founded New York trumpeter Louis Katzman, who at the time wasn’t so much in the business of leading a band as much as managing one. As such, drummer Willie Creager served as the musical director of the group during their engagement at the popular Cinderella Ballroom in New York City, 1924. As the years went by different personnel came and went, but the quality of recordings remained high. This set of 20 original 78rpm records by the Ambassadors highlights just a few of the gems this band recorded. Included are several great vocal selections by Irving Kaufman, Isabella Patricola, and Gene Austin, slow drag blueses like “Pleasure Mad” and “Choo Choo,” the incredible 12 inch dance record by the band resulting in the two medleys (both taken at a loping pace), and two takes of the fun 1924 number “Oh! How I Love My Darling.” Of note are the three selection by Isabella Patricola which feature a young Red Nichols (tracks 9, 10, and 11). "That's Georgia" features a lovely relaxed solo from Nichols, while "Doo Wacka Doo" has him soloing in a mute during the second half of the record.