Paramount Hot Dance Obscurities 1927-28 CD

These are Paramount Hot Dance Obscurities rare sides (the first volume) recorded by the New York Recording Laboratories for issue on its Broadway and Paramount labels. This CD includes the best of the sides recorded by Bill Haid's Cubs and related bands

Performers include: Bill Haid's Cubs, Midnight Serenaders, Castle Farms Serenaders, The Black Pirates.
Includes liner notes by Alex Van Der Tuuk & Joel O'Sickey.
Personnel: Diana Dell, Frank Wells, Erwin Taylor, George Moore , J. Allen (vocals); Bill Haid, Joe Daley Trio (guitar, banjo); Art Cope (violin, clarinet, tenor saxophone); Leo Steck (violin); John Garnett (clarinet, soprano saxophone, alto saxophone, tenor saxophone, baritone saxophone); Norbert Stammer (clarinet, alto saxophone, tenor saxophone); Harold Theill, John Thiell (clarinet, alto saxophone); Hugo Weinfurter (clarinet, tenor saxophone); Abe Belling (trumpet, Mellotron); Ted Carlson, Bob Pope (trumpet); Jack Reseton, Rex Downing (trombone); Benny Sans, Dick "Decks" Booth (piano); Tony Monico (drums).
Audio Remasterer: John R.T. Davies.
Liner Note Author: Alex Van Der Tuuk.
Recording information: Chicago, IL (09/1927-12/1928).
Directors: Harold Menning; Bill Haid.
Arrangers: Jack Reseton; John Garnett.
This is a collection of extremely rare 78s recorded by the New York Recording Laboratories for release on its Broadway and Paramount labels in the late '20s and centers around banjo player Bill Haid and his various groups, who recorded under a number of monikers including the Black Pirates, the Manhattan Entertainers, the Castle Farm Serenaders, and Bill Haid's Cubs. There are some wonderful pieces here, like the half-paced version of "Slue Foot," but much of it is fairly generic dance music of the time. The sound quality is also a problem, ranging from passable to awful depending on the track, making this archival release of interest to only collectors and historians. ~ Steve Leggett