The Jungle Band (Duke Ellington and Cab Calloway) 78 RPM Phonograph Records
$
20
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Description
As many Jazz 78 collectors know, the Duke Ellington Orchestra was also known (in the early years) as the Jungle Band. For auction, I'm offering two Brunswick records with credit given to the Jungle Band. However, one disc was recorded by Duke Ellington and the other by Cab Calloway. The Brunswick Phonograph Company used the pseudonym "The Jungle Band" for both Duke Ellington and Cab Calloway! These two discs were recorded just 6 months apart. The first, in 1929 by Duke and the second, in 1930 by Cab. I have played them both with correct stylus and speed and they both exist in about the same condition. I grade them at VG+. They have surface scratches and some graying of the grooves. No chips, cracks or needle drops. Since they are electrical recordings, they really do sound great. I have included a link below to a Youtube page where you can listen to a bit of both. Just cut and paste into your browser. I'm sorry but I don't know how to make the link "live" on my auction page.
https://youtu.be/P1yOmwMlEsc
Brunswick 4238 Tiger Rag - Part 1 by The Jungle Band (Duke Ellington Orchestra) recorded January 8, 1929 Tiger Rag - Part 2 by The Jungle Band (Duke Ellington Orchestra) recorded January 8, 1929 Brunswick 4936 St. Louis Blues by The Jungle Band (Cab Calloway and the Missourians) Cab Calloway, vocal. recorded July 24, 1930 Gotta Darn Good Reason Now by The Jungle Band (Cab Calloway and the Missourians) Cab Calloway, vocal. July 24, 1930 From the Web:
This record was made soon after Cab took control of the excellent Harlem band, the Missourians, who had played at the Cotton Club under Andy Preer in the middle of the 1920s. After departing from their Cotton Club engagement when Preer died and Duke Ellington replaced them in 1927, they returned in the early 1930s under the leadership of Cab Calloway. Brunswick 4936 was recorded July 24, 1930 in New York City. The band includes the same basic personnel as the Missourians, with R.Q. Dickerson, Wendell Culley, and Lammar Wright on trumpets, De Priest Wheeler on trombone, William Thornton Blue on clarinet and alto sax, Andrew Brown on clarinet, alto sax, and bass-clarinet, Walter “Foots” Thomas on tenor sax, alto sax, and baritone sax, Earres Prince on piano, Morris White on banjo, Jimmy Smith on tuba, and Leroy Maxey on the drums. You may note that the first issue label credits “The Jungle Band”, a pseudonym that was typically given to Duke Ellington’s recordings on Brunswick, the only exceptions that I know of being this one and Chick Webb’s first recording. Two takes were recorded of Cab Calloway’s very first recording, “Gotta Darn Good Reason Now (For Bein’ Good)”. The second take was released first, presumably because either Cab or the producers at Brunswick preferred that take, and it seems more polished than the first, where Cab seems more hesitant. Later pressings used the first take, likely because the original stamper was beginning to wear out.
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