01 At a Georgia Camp Meeting (Mills) SOUSA’S BAND Vi 16402A e+ First recorded by this band in 1899; this version 10-23-08

02 Hu-la Hu-la Cake Walk (--) SOUSA’S BAND Monarch 3263 85 rpm v ca. 1900

03 Creole Belles (--) SOUSA’S BAND Vi 1182 72 rpm e- 1905

04 Maple Leaf Rag (Joplin) U. S. MARINE BAND Vi 16792B e+ First recorded by this band in 1906; this version 1909

05 Darkies’ Spring Song - March (Ragtime Two-Step) (Van Alstyne) ARTHUR PRYOR’S BAND Vi 5395 e- 1909

06 Black and White - Ragtime Two-Step (Botsford) PRINCE’S ORCHESTRA Co A711 (4117-1) v- 1909

07 The Darkies Dream (Reeves) VICTOR MILITARY BAND Vi 16469A e 1909

08 Temptation Rag (Henry Lodge) PRINCE’S MILITARY BAND Co A854 (4585-1) v ~May 1910

09 I’m Alabama Bound (Robt. Hoffman) PRINCE’S ORCHESTRA Co A901 (4552-2) v- ~May 1910

10 Porcupine Rag - Two Step (Chas. J. Johnson) PRINCE’S BAND Co A901 (4586- ) v- ~May 1910

11 Red Pepper - A Spicy Rag (Henry Lodge) PRINCE’S BAND Co A1031 (19897-1) v 6-7-1911

12 Slippery Place Rag (Hacker) VICTOR MILITARY BAND Vi 17006B e 9-27-1911

13 Down Home Rag (Sweatman) VICTOR MILITARY BAND Vi 17340B e- 1912

14 On The Mississippi - Turkey-trot Dance Music (Carroll-Fields) PRINCE’S BAND Co A1307 (38643-1) e- 1913

15 The Memphis Blues, or Mister Crump - Fox-trot (W. C. Handy) PRINCE’S BAND (Under the supervision of G. Hepburn Wilson) Co A5591 (37010-2) v 7-24-14

16 The Hesitating Blues - Fox-trot - Dance Music (Handy) as #15 Co A5772 (37439-2) e+ 10-21-1915

17 St. Louis Blues - Fox-trot - Dance Music (W. C. Handy) as #15 Co A5772 (37476-3) e+ 12-18-1915

18 Hesitation Blues - One-Step - For Dancing (Billy Smythe) -3 VICTOR MILITARY BAND Vi 18163A e- 9-15-1916

19 Kansas City Blues - Fox Trot - For Dancing (E. L. Bowman) -1 VICTOR MILITARY BAND Vi 18163B e- 9-15-1916

20 Nigger Blues - Fox Trot - For Dancing (Leroy White) ("Lasses") -2 VICTOR MILITARY BAND Vi 18174A ~1916

21 Joe Turner Blues - Medley Fox Trot (Introducing "St. Louis Blues") (Handy) -5 VICTOR MILITARY BAND Vi 18174B -1916

CAKEWALKS, RAGS AND BLUES - MILITARY STYLE Notes

Although one might well wish to hear these pieces played by whorehouse pianists or street guitarists, in preference to these records with their rigorous rhythms and repetitious arrangements, the fact remains that Americans danced to these records very enthusiastically in the years before dance bands as we know them were invited into the recording studios, and well before many white Americans had the chance to hear more "authentic" performances of these numbers.

A 1914 Victor sleeve spotlights dance records "used by Mr. and Mrs. Vernon Castle for Teaching Modern Dances in the Castle House, New York City". The Victor Military Band accounts for almost half the recommended titles, and most of the others are by other brass bands.

The blues numbers here were among the last dance records made by military bands before smaller dance bands took over. Now and then, today, in parades and at football games, one hears school and college bands play "St. Louis Blues" and other blues standards, and it might be interesting to compare the arrangements with those heard here.

#2, #3 - The playback speed is admittedly just a guesstimate; these were made before speeds were standardized, and could have been recorded at anything from 70 to 90 rpm.

#3 - Mississippi John Hurt used to sing this song. Many listeners will also find this (and other items here) reminiscent of carousel music.

#7 - Unlike the others this record was probably not meant for dancing. The East Texas Serenaders, a country dance band, recorded the fast melody as "Acorn Stomp" circa 1930.

#9 - sorry, level is a bit low on this one. Leadbelly recorded this song at about half this tempo, leading to this song becoming familiar among folk revivalists of the late 1950s-early 1960s.

#16 & 18 are the same song, despite different composer credits.

#17 - was this the first recording of this immortal tune???

#20 - this simple twelve-bar melody, with no contrasting strain, must have put a severe strain on the arranger!