Bamboola - Jack Stillman's Orchestra - Bell 385

[@rjtwigg1]

Bell Records always had good orchestras with good fidelity, in spite of the wear of some of their recordings and surface noise.

[@bluesserenader]

Werner Benecke, a now-deceased collector friend of mine, did own a copy of Bell 385, and on the "Bamboola" side, 3051-2 was visible in the wax. This very likely is a control number, NOT a true matrix number. Another example of Bell using a control number is the following: I own two copies of Bell 500, and the -B side of each of them has the following two numbers in wax: 383-B [which means that Bell 500-B is a reissue of Bell 383-B] 3039-2 [which is a control number; 3039-2 is also visible in handwriting under each label of the two copies of Bell 500-B] Still another example of Bell records of this period using control numbers is Bell 379, which shows the following numbers in the wax: 3722-1 [Matrix] and 3047- [Control] 3758-2 [Matrix] and 3048- [Control] I agree with you, Markus, that this version of "Bamboola" was probably recorded by the "Consolidated Record Corporation" at its studio at 10 West 33rd Street, NYC, who between late 1925 and September 1927, provided masters for the Emerson label, and also for the Bell label. Ralph Wondraschek

[@paulfurth7985]

Interesting discussion regarding this recording. Here's my 2 cents, for what it's worth. Bell 385 of BAMBOOLA has matrix #2414 take 1 under the name Jack Stillman's Orchestra (most likely a studio band, using the name of one of the musicians), recorded January 1926, still acoustically. It was issued, and apparently first issued on Paramount 20437 [that matrix series is concurrent with this labels for this period] under the same name. I can find no other issue of this number in the US of this side - not on Emerson, Gennett, nor Puritan - labels that often shared recordings prior to the ARC acquisitions. This song was also recorded for the Plaza related music labels, issued on Banner 1680A under the pseudonym MISSOURI JAZZ BAND {Peabody's Orchestra} with matrix #6349 take 3 recorded on December 18, 1925. This recording also has vocalist Arthur Hall. The Edison Bell Winner 4496 { kzbin.info/www/bejne/Z5LHkpedrb6ro6s } sounds like the same band as the Bell 385, perhaps a different take. Thanks for posting this bouncy number.

[@bluesserenader]

- the two versions (Bell 385 & EBW 4496) are aurally different - most probably two unrelated orchestras - studio balance & recording quality is different

[@bluesserenader]

Markus, I agree with you that: - the two versions (Bell 385 & EBW 4496) are aurally different - most probably two unrelated orchestras - studio balance & recording quality is different Ralph Wondraschek

[@alexandersimon1031]

This title on Bell was recorded 15.01.1926 and has same matrix 2414=1

[@mamemu]

Are you sure? There is a version of "Bamboola" on Edison Bell Winner 4496 on KZbin which is also mentioned in the American Dance Band discography under matrix 2414-1. But if you compare my version with the EBW you can hear the differences, so I don't think my Bell copy features 2414-1. Also (at least in my opinion) it sounds way better than the acoustic Paramount recordings of early 1926.