Behold the voice of the once ubiquitous, now nearly forgotten Mr. Irving Kaufman. From his first recordings in 1914 he was soon recognized as a rare master of the arcane art of effective acoustic recording. He was also known as a very quick study, who often learned his songs in minutes just before recording them. From 1915 to 1925 he ranked alongside Billy Murray and Henry Burr at the top of the recording profession, recording hundreds of sides for dozens of labels. After the advent of electrical recording his services, like Murray's, were less in demand, but he had no problem accepting a wide variety of less prestigious assignments for budget labels. In the late 1920s he displayed his talent for imitating almost anyone from Al Jolson to Vernon Dalhart. After 1930 he made few records but continued to sing on radio. At the end of WWII his flair for Jewish-style comedy, now and then hinted at in earlier years, found an outlet with the Sterling label, better known nowadays for Hank Williams' debut discs. With Sterling he also ventured into the so-called "Gay 90s" retro style then in vogue.
IRVING KAUFMAN
"Yiddisha Charleston"
Here is an admittely eccentric sampling of Mr. Kaufman's nearly bottomless recorded oeuvre.
REVOLUTIONARY RHYTHMS
01 Blackin' Blues (M. La Porte-Nat. Nathanson) JACK GARDNER'S ORCHESTRA (8752B) OK 40265A e- Dallas, 10-24
02 Stomp Off, Let's Go-Shimmy FT (Elmer Schoebel) FRED HAMM AND HIS ORCHESTRA (A Benson Organization) (-9) Vi 19672A e 4-30-25
03 She's Got 'Im (Isham Jones) FRED HAMM AND HIS ORCHESTRA (A Benson Organization) Vi 19737B e- 5-1-25
04 Deep Elm (You Tell 'Em I'm Blue) (Willard Robinson) [sic] LOUIS FORBSTEIN'S ROYAL SYNCOPATORS Singing Chorus by Rex Newman (9115a) OK 40379A KC, 5-15-25 v+
05 Down and Out Blues (Arthur Sizemore) LOUIS FORBSTEIN'S ROYAL SYNCOPATORS (9129a) OK 40417B e KC, 5-18-25
06 That's All There Is There Ain't No More (Harry Woods) LOUIS FORBSTEIN'S ROYAL SYNCOPATORS VC Rex Newman (9130a) OK 40417A e- KC, 5-18-25
07 Melancholy Lou (Ray Hibbeler) HOWARD LANIN'S BEN FRANKLIN HOTEL ORCHESTRA (-2) Vi 19797A e- 9-29-25
08 Don't Wake Me Up Let Me Dream (Gilbert-Baer-Wayne) HOWARD LANIN'S BEN FRANKLIN HOTEL ORCHESTRA (-5) Vi 19797B e- 9-29-25
09 The Camel Walk (Mack-Schafer-Smith-Brymn) ART LANDRY AND HIS ORCHESTRA (-4) Vi 19858A e- 11-14-25 Fox Trot for Dance Orchestra--swift, spasm tempo--piano tricks--good for Charleston--grotesque trumpet work. -Victor stock sleeve
10 Everybody Stomp (Billy Meyers-Elmer Schoebel) ART LANDRY AND HIS ORCHESTRA (-6) Vi 19858B e- 11-19-25
11 Sugar Foot Stomp (Joe Oliver-Louis Armstrong) FRED HAMM AND HIS ORCHESTRA (A Benson Organization) (-4) Vi 20023A v 12-17-25
12 Rosy Cheeks (Seymour Simons-Richard A. Whiting) HENRY HALSTEAD AND HIS ORCHESTRA (-5) Vi 20691A e- LA, 3-16-27
13 Ain't That Too Bad? (Chick Endor-Eddie Ward) HENRY HALSTEAD AND HIS ORCHESTRA (-4) Vi 20691B e- LA, 3-16-27
14 I'm In Love Again (Cole Porter) THE SIX HOTTENTOTS VC Irving Kaufman (7173-2) Re 8289A e- 3-27 Nichols, Mole, JD
15 South Wind (De Sylva-Brown-Henderson) WALTER DAVISON'S LOUISVILLE LOONS (143985-3) Co 989D e- 4-19-27
16 I'm Blue Over Two Blue Eyes (Rose) HOLLYWOOD DANCE ORCHESTRA (7307-2) Ba 6024B v+ Adrian Schubert - good gtr.
17 St. Louis Shuffle (Pettis-Waller) PAUL SPECHT'S DANCE ORCHESTRA (144550-2) Co 1307D v (noisy start) 8-3-27
18 You'll Do It Someday (So Why Not Now) (Al. Wrubel) YALE COLLEGIANS (Dir. Les Laden) (11912) Ed 52108L e- (a few stripped grooves near start) 9-26-27 Early Rudy Vallée
19 Atlanta Gal (Fulcher) CHARLES FULCHER AND HIS ORCHESTRA (147952-3) Co 1734D e+ 2-11-29
20 Revolutionary Rhythm Theme Song from Motion Picture "Illusion" (Davis-Coots-Speier) FRED RICH & HIS ORCH. VR Rollickers Qt. (148973-2) Co 1965D e- 9-5-29
21 Bottoms Up From "George White's Scandals" (Friend-White) MAJESTIC DANCE ORCHESTRA VC Bonner Sisters Pe 15238B e 10-16-29 Sam Lanin
22 Excerpts From A Typical Perfect Circle Radio Program: Mean To Me (--) CHARLIE DAVIS AND HIS ORCHESTRA [Gnt] 20353A v+ Richmond, 6-29-29
23 Excerpts From A Typical Perfect Circle Radio Program: On The Road To Mandalay (--) CHARLIE DAVIS AND HIS ORCHESTRA [Gnt] 20353B v+ Richmond, 6-29-29
24 Red Hot And Blue Rhythm from the musical comedy "Sons O' Guns" (Davis-Coots-Swanstrom) THE HIGH HATTERS VR Johnny Marvin (-3) Vi 22314B e 1-17-30
25 Business In F (Bleyer) JOEL SHAW & HIS ORCH. (1628-1) Crown 3271B e ~1-32
DR. D'S DANCE HALL Disc #1: Acoustic Adventures
01 Dance and Grow Thin (Geo. W. Meyer) JOSEPH C. SMITH'S ORCHESTRA (-3) Vi 18313A 5-4-17 e-
02 Smiles (Lee Roberts) JOSEPH C. SMITH'S ORCHESTRA [VR Harry Macdonough) Vi 18473A 6-3-18 e- The first dance band record to hit #1 on Joel Whitburn's hypothetical sales charts
03 Mary (Geo. L. Stoddard-Hugo Frey) JOSEPH C. SMITH'S ORCHESTRA [VR Charles Harrison-Lewis James-Harry Macdonough] (-2) Vi 18500A e- 7-29-18 Said to be the first pop song to become a hit on records before the sheet music was published
04 The Vamp (Byron Gay) JOSEPH C. SMITH'S ORCHESTRA [VR Harry Macdonough-Billy Murray] (-3) Vi 18594B e 6-25-19
05 On the Streets of Cairo-One Step (Hulten) ART HICKMAN'S ORCHESTRA (78607) Co A2811 v+ 9-18-19
06 Rose Room (Hickman) ART HICKMAN'S ORCESTRA (78676-2) Co A2858 e 9-20-19
07 Fast Asleep In Poppy Land-One Step (Byron Gay) PAUL BIESE AND HIS NOVELTY ORCHESTRA (7165C) e OK 4061A 12-19
08 Yellow Dog Blues (W. C. Handy) PAUL BIESE AND HIS NOVELTY ORCHESTRA (7163B) OK 4061B e- 12-19
09 Wimmin (I Got To Have 'Em That's All)-One Step JOSEPH SAMUELS' JAZZ BAND (10283C) OKeh 4474A e 10-21
10 I Want A Pretty Girl (from the musical comedy "Jack and Jill") (Otto Harbach-William Daley) BROOKE JOHNS AND HIS ORCHESTRA Under the direction of Jack Shilkret (-4) Vi 19051A v+ 4-2-23
11 You Tell Her - I Stutter (Rose-Friend) ART LANDRY AND HIS CALL OF THE NORTH ORCHESTRA (11497) Ge 5171A v+ Richmond, 6-1-23
12 Rip Saw Blues (Landry-Hager-DeKay-Megson) ART LANDRY AND HIS CALL OF THE NORTH ORCH. (11510B) Ge 5255B v Richmond, 6-15-23
13 Sally's Got the Blues (Lopez-Schonberger-Lyman) ABE LYMAN'S CALIFORNIA ORCHESTRA Br 2780B e- 6-17-24
14 Bye, Bye, Baby-One Step (Motzam-Bloom) PAUL BIESE AND HIS ORCHESTRA (-4) Vi 19474B e- Oakland, 9-6-24 Biese's last record
15 Frantic (Leo Flanders) HENRY HALSTEAD AND HIS ORCHESTRA (-2) Vi 19513A v Oakland, 6-20-24
16 Tessie! Stop Teasing Me (Johns-Perkins) HENRY HALSTEAD AND HIS ORCHESTRA (-2) Vi 19474A e- Oakland, 8-30-24
17 China Girl (Halstead-Warner-Singer) HENRY HALSTEAD AND HIS ORCHESTRA (-1) Vi 19498A v (diff. catalog # shown in Rust) Oakland, 9-12-24
18 On the Way to Monterey (Ben Black-Neil Morét) HENRY HALSTEAD AND HIS ORCHESTRA (-4) Vi 19579A e Oakland, 1-23-25
19 This Time Is the Last Time (You're Ever Goin' To Two Time Me) (Chamberlin-Stross-Burtnett) ART HICKMAN'S ORCHESTRA Vi 19734B e Oakland, 3-6-25
20 I'm Sitting On Top Of The World (Henderson-Rose) HANK FRYE AND HIS HOTEL VIRGINIA ORCHESTRA (A1131) Silver Screen 145 e ca. 1925 (unlisted in Rust)
21 Show Me The Way To Go Home (King) HANK FRYE AND HIS HOTEL VIRGINIA ORCHESTRA (B1131) Silver Screen 145 e- ca. 1925 (unlisted in Rust)
22 The Tia Juana Trot (Herrera) THE HOLLYWOOD NIGHT OWLS Ch 15022A e- 6-25
23 Poor Papa (Rose-Woods) RAY GILL'S MOVIELAND ORCHESTRA Hy Kasch, Director Sunset 1153A e (mended 1/4" bite) ca. 1926 (unlisted in Rust)
24 Let's Talk About My Sweetie (Kahn-Donaldson) RAY GILL'S MOVIELAND ORCHESTRA Hy Kasch, Director Sunset 1160A e ca. 1926 (unlisted in Rust)
25 Catalina Nights (Dolph-Pelliciotti) RAY GILL'S MOVIELAND ORCHESTRA Hy Kasch, Director Sunset 1160B e- ca. 1926 (unlisted in Rust)
26 Somebody New (Pelliciotti-Kasch-Dolph) RAY GILL'S MOVIELAND ORCHESTRA Hy Kasch, Director Sunset 1153B e (mended 1/4" bite) ca. 1926 (unlisted in Rust)
DR. D'S DANCE HALL Disc #2: Dancing With the Daffodils
01 Want A Little Lovin' (Warren-Davis) ROSS GORMAN AND HIS EARL CARROLL ORCHESTRA Incidental singing by Harry & Charles Warren (140919-3) Co 460-D e 9-9-25
02 Down and Out Blues (W. Earthman Farrell-Arthur Sizemore) ROGER WOLFE KAHN AND HIS HOTEL BILTMORE ORCHESTRA (-5) Vi 19866A e- 11-27-25
03 Give Me To-Day (And You Can Have Tomorrow) (Paul Titsworth-Harold Bell) HENRY HALSTEAD AND HIS ORCHESTRA (-3) Vi 20061A e- LA, 5-12-26
04 Why Do You Want To Know Why? (Berlin) IPANA TROUBADOURS - S. C. Lanin-Director (142373-1) Co 696-D v+ 7-8-26
05 Baby Face (Benny Davis-Harry Akst) JAN GARBER AND HIS ORCHESTRA VR Benny Davis (-3) Vi 20105B e 6-29-26
06 What Do I Care What Somebody Said (Sidney Clare-Harry Woods) JAN GARBER AND HIS ORCHESTRA (-1) Vi 20754B e 5-16-27
07 You Don't Like It - Not Much (Miller-Kahn-Cohn) JAN GARBER AND HIS ORCHESTRA (-1) Vi 20676B e- 5-18-27
08 Beautiful (Shay-Gillespie) TRACY-BROWN'S ORCHESTRA (145819-2) Co 1344-D v+ Chicago, 3-20-28
09 Hello Montreal! (Rose-Dixon-Warren) JACK DENNY AND HIS ORCHESTRA VC Scrappy Lambert Br 3884A v+ Montreal, 4-28
10 When Sweet Susie Goes Steppin' By (Kaufman-Kelly-Bibo) NAT SHILKRET AND THE VICTOR ORCHESTRA Vi 21515B (45648-1) n- 6-19-28
11 Sure Enough Blues (Bergner-Moore) ANON. ("Fox Trot with Vocal Chorus") (3050A) Radiex 7028 v- ~summer 1928
12 We'll Find Our Shelter Before the Rain (Grossman-Sizemore) CAROLINA COLLEGIANS VC George Beaver (2098-2) Ba 6319B 2-21-29 v+ analog transfer Hal Kemp, with Irving Kaufman - nice Bixian tpt
13 Breakaway (from "Fox Movietone Follies of 1929") (Gottler-Mitchell-Conrad) MILT SHAW AND HIS ORCHESTRA (148159-3) Co 1811D e- 4-2-29
14 Hittin' the Ceiling Theme Song from Motion Picture "Broadway" (Gottler-Mitchell-Conrad) PAUL SPECHT AND HIS ORCHESTRA (148518-3) Co 1836-D e 5-13-29
15 Wa Da Ja Da Blues (Mosiello) ATLANTA MERRYMAKERS (3673B) Madison 1935a v 81 rpm ~7-29
16 Sweet Tootsies (W. Greager) HOOSIER PLAYERS (3633A) Virginia (?Fr) 103B v ~9-29 Clear transparent flexidisc from Grey Gull master
17 (Oh My My It's Almost) Courtin' Time (Stoddard-Coburn-Burtnett) EARL BURTNETT AND HIS LOS ANGELES BILTMORE HOTEL ORCHESTRA Br 4754 v+ LA, 2-14-30
18 Blue Is The Night (from "Their Own Desire") (Fred Fisher) BOB TAMMS' ORCHESTRA VC Herman Peterson (L201-1) Bwy 1372B Grafton, WI, 2-30 v Local talent kept Broadway going after the company couldn't afford NYC studio musicians anymore
19 'Neath a Blanket Of Stars (Schonberg-Waggner) JOHN ROBINSON AND HIS VARSITY VAGABONDS (T332) Br 4989 e Unlisted in Rust, ca. 11-30
20 Night (Davis-Simons) JOHN ROBINSON AND HIS VARSITY VAGABONDS (T334) Br 4989- e Unlisted in Rust, ca. 11-30
21 Humoresque (Modern Orchestra) (Dvorak-de Fillippi) EUGENE ORMANDY & HIS SALON ORCH. Judson 490 e-
22 Naila (Modern Arrangement) (Delibes-Lange) EUGENE ORMANDY & HIS SALON ORCH. Judson 662 v+ The Judsons are single-faced 12" 78rpm Columbia pressings for radio, recorded inside-out. Recording dates unknown
23 Running Between the Raindrops (Dyrenforth-Gibbons) ANDY SANNELLA & HIS PENNZOIL ORCHESTRA VC Chick Bullock (10430-2) Ro 1583A v+ 2-18-31
24 Hello! Beautiful! (Walter Donaldson) WAYNE KING AND HIS ORCHESTRA (-1) RCA Vi 22642A Chicago, 2-20-31 n- (c1948 master pressing)
25 Dancing With The Daffodils JACQUES RENARD AND HIS ORCHESTRA Br 6148 e- 4-19-31
26 Do the New York (from "Ziegfeld Follies") (Murray-Travers-Oakland) BEN SELVIN & HIS ORCHESTRA (151680-3) Co 2499-D e+ 7-14-31 BG, TD
DR. D'S DANCE HALL Disc #3: Potatoes Are Cheaper...
01 Now's The Time To Fall In Love (Sherman-Lewis) PHIL SPITALNY'S MUSIC Featuring Paul Small (1188) HOW A2-3 12-31 e- noisy start
02 I Guess I'll Have To Change My Plan (The Blue Pajamas Song) (Dietz-Schwartz) HAROLD WHITE AND HIS ORCHESTRA VC Will Osborne Pe 15665A (12205-1) 7-18-32 e-
03 Love Me Tonight (Crosby-Washington-Young) ANSON WEEKS AND HIS ORCHESTRA VC Bill Moreing (A-1) Br 6341 e SF, 6-32
04 Strange Interlude (Bernie-Hirsch-Baker) ANSON WEEKS AND HIS ORCHESTRA VC Pete Fylling (C-1) Br 6341- e SF, 6-32
05 Everyone Says "I Love You" from the Paramount Picture "Horse Feathers" (Kalmar-Ruby) ANSON WEEKS AND HIS ORCHESTRA VC - the Moreing Sisters (SF 10A) Br 6391 v SF, 9-32 Uses some different lyrics vs. the film
06 Uncle Joe's Music Store (Baxter) JOE HAYMES AND HIS ORCHESTRA (152405-2) Co 2781D e+ 6-1-33
07 I Cover the Waterfront (Green-Heyman) JOE HAYMES AND HIS ORCHESTRA (152406-1) Co 2781D e+ 6-1-33
08 Sittin' On a Log (Pettin' My Dog) (Byron Gay-Zez Confrey) SAM ROBBINS AND HIS HOTEL McALPIN ORCHESTRA [VR Sam Robbins] BB B-5268B v+ 11-22-33
09 A Bowl Of Chop Suey And You-ee (from the Ben Bernie Paramount film "Shoot the Works" (Bernie-Goering-Bullock) SAM ROBBINS AND HIS HOTEL McALPIN ORCH. VR Sam Robbins BB B-5480A e+ 4-27-34
10 Dilly Dally (From RKO Film "Cockeyed Cavaliers" (Val Burton-Will Jason) ANTHONY TRINI AND THE VILLAGE BARN ORCHESTRA [VR Beth Challis] BB B-5551A v 7-3-34
11 (I Went Hunting) And The Big Bad Wolf Was Dead (From RKO Film "Cockeyed Cavaliers" (Val Burton-Will Jason) ANTHONY TRINI AND THE VILLAGE BARN ORCHESTRA [VR Beth Challis] BB B-5551B v+ rim flake 7-3-34
12 I Only Have Eyes For You from "Dames" (Dubin-Warren) ANSON WEEKS AND HIS ORCHESTRA VC Kay St. Germain (152623A) LA, Br 6944 e- 7-20-34
13 The Breeze (That's Bringin' My Honey Back To Me) (Sacco-Smith-Lewis) ANSON WEEKS AND HIS ORCHESTRA VC Kay St. Germain (152624A) Br 6946 e noisy start LA, 7-20-34
14 Mary Lou (Lyman-Waggner-Robinson) VIC BERTON AND HIS ORCHESTRA VC Chick Bullock (17175-1) Vo 2944 v rim flake 3-25-35 Pedal tympani!
15 In Blinky Winky Chinky Chinatown (Jerome-Schwartz) VIC BERTON AND HIS ORCHESTRA VC Chick Bullock (17176-1) Vo 2964 e- 3-25-35
16 You Opened My Eyes (Loman-Roberts-Kent) BILL BARRY AND HIS ORCHESTRA VR Bill Barry BB B-5890A e 3-22-35 This group not in Rust dance band book
17 You're a Heavenly Thing (Joe Young-Little Jack Little) BILL BARRY AND HIS ORCHESTRA VR Bill Barry BB B-5890B e 3-22-35
18 No Other One (Seymour-Lawnhurst) LITTLE JACK LITTLE AND HIS ORCHESTRA VR Little Jack Little (CO 18173-1) Co 3095D e- 10-16-35
19 On the Isle of Kitchi-Mi-Boko (Pola-Chase) LITTLE JACK LITTLE AND HIS ORCHESTRA VR Little Jack Little (20848-1) Vo 3521 e+ 3-19-37
20 I Was Saying To The Moon (from the Paramount film "Go West Young Man") (John Burke-Arthur Johnston) GEORGE HAMILTON DIRECTING: THE VELOZ & YOLANDA DANCING MUSIC VR Lee Horton Vi 25449A e 10-29-36
21 Who Is My Babby Gonna Love All Winter Now That Summer Is Gone (Seymour Simons) STERLING YOUNG AND HIS ORCHESTRA VC Sterling Young Trio (LA 1184A) Me 7-01-02 e LA, 10-16-36
22 Peter Piper (Mercer-Whiting) STERLING YOUNG AND HIS ORCHESTRA VC Sterling Young Trio (LA 1181A) e+ LA, 10-16-36
23 I'm Bubbling Over from "Wake Up And Live" (Gordon-Revel) STERLING YOUNG AND HIS ORCHESTRA VC Donna Lee (LA 1264A) Me 7-05-21 e LA, 3-2-37
24 Whispers In the Dark from "Artists and Models" (Robin-Hollander) STERLING YOUNG AND HIS ORCHESTRA VC Donna Lee (LA 1294A) Me 7-08-06 e- LA, 7-24-37
25 Stop - You're Breakin' My Heart from "Artists and Models" (Koehler-Lane) STERLING YOUNG AND HIS ORCHESTRA VC Donna Lee Me 7-08-06 (LA 1295A) v+ LA, 6-24-37
26 Never In A Million Years from "Wake Up and Live" (Gordon-Revel) STERLING YOUNG AND HIS ORCHESTRA VC Billy Mozet (LA1265A) e LA, 3-2-37
