Caruso singing La Donna e Mobile from Verdi's Rigoletto for Victor in 1907. The correct playing speed is 75 rpm which I did not know when I uploaded this record. I played it at 78.26 rpm. Some of Caruso's earlier records played at much slower speeds and I have adjusted those postings accordingly.
This is a strange record. Its music that Carl Orff wrote for the 1936 German Olympics. A youth orchestra is conducted by Gunild Keetman. Although famous for Carmina Burana, Orff mostly wrote music for children to play, often collaborating with Keetman. Certainly not the bombast you would except from the Nazi's Olympics.
The Mills Brothers performing Hold That Tiger and I Ain't Got Nobody in 1932. The 2nd song has been posted before but the video and sound quality of the earlier posting is not so good. I hope the Youtuber is not offended.
Another specific Gigli request. Beniamino Gigli singing Mi Par D'Udir Ancora from Act 1 of Bizet's Pearlfishers, recorded for HMV in 1931. Interesting to compare with the Tino Rossi version I posted previously. Totally different. I'm not going to offer an opinion other than to say that it is beautiful singing
The Frank Black Orch. featuring Oscar Levant on the piano performing Gershwin's Rhapsody In Blue for Brunswick in late 1927, a few months after the Whiteman electric version. Similar arrangement to Whiteman's but Levant's piano playing is quite different.
Now something completely different. Vita Sackville-West (1892-1962) reading from her most famous poem The Land. Recorded by Columbia in 1931 for the International Education Society. Wonderful voice and especially good sound for 1931. Check the Wikipedia entry for her. She lead an extraordinary life.
My last Gigli post for today. Beniamino Gigli singing Una Furtiva Lagrima from Donizetti's L'Elisir D'Amore for Victor in 1930. Now I feel guilty for criticizing him in my Tosca post. However, the run at the very end of this record is really sloppy - but the beauty of his voice compensates.
Tino Rossi (1907-1983) singing an aria from Bizet's Pearlfishers in 1936. A small but extraordinarily beautiful voice. He was immensely popular as a pop singer from the early 30's until his death.
The Jimmie Lunceford Orch. playing Nagasaki. My guess is that this was probably filmed around 1934. The middle trumpeter is Sy Oliver, one of the greatest jazz arrangers of all time. The talent here is extraordinary, Where can you find players today who can match those in this band?
The Coleman Hawkins Swing Four performing The Man I Love for Signature in the mid 1940's. Hawkins on tenor sax, Eddie Heywood on piano, Shelly Manne on drums and Oscar Pettiford on bass.
![Mills Bros. - Hold That Tiger & I Ain\](http://img.youtube.com/vi/aTyKPP2-B5k/2.jpg "Mills Bros. - Hold That Tiger & I Ain\")
![Gigli - Pearlfishers - Nadir\](http://img.youtube.com/vi/Pn5XnM5Fg9E/2.jpg "Gigli - Pearlfishers - Nadir\")
