The craziest Charleston by Howard Lanin's Orch. - Melancholy Lou, 1925

Howard Lanin's Ben Franklin Dance Orchestra - Melancholy Lou, Fox Trot, Victor 1925 (USA)
NOTE: This is not fox trot, but definetely, a charleston beat! Very often - perhaps, for commercial reasons (in its early days, the charleston was relatively lesser known) the pure charleston compositions were labelled on records as fox trots - and this is the case. Howard Lanin was one of three Lanin brothers - Howard, Sam and Lester. All of them were excellent American bandleaders from Philadelphia, and their orchestras (often nicknamed on their numerous recordings) gave a start to the whole array of first-row jazz instrumentalists, including Ray Nichols, the Dorsey Brothers or Artie Shaw.

[@VictrolaJazz]

I've had this record nearly 50 years and it's still one of my favorites! Love that echo sound! How those church walls must have vibrated!

[@TuanBasikal]

I have also had this record for about 53 years -- it was the one (and the other side of it) that really redirected my musical interests way from swing and toward hot jazz. The echo is typical of early electric Victors. They were still learning what kind of acoustics worked best with the new technology. By 1928 they had it all figured out.

[@jeffreycraven8154]

The middle gal in the pic with the sax player on a horse looks like my exwife but she wasn't born until '55, me '57. I was dancing around the house to this record as a preschooler about 59 years ago. Wow I miss my pixie girl when I think about her now & then.

[@gunnarthefeisty]

@@TuanBasikal that echo sure is strange. I sure wonder if this was recorded before Whiteman's Charleston, as Whiteman's, despite being a real early VE.

[@Tadfafty]

This song implants happiness into my brain.

[@TuanBasikal]

This was THE record (both sides) that got me interested in 20s jazz when I was given a copy of it when I was 14.

[@muana13]

OH YES !!!! Fantastic music and sound Let´s dance....

[@mainaccount131]

Super excellent with good photos

[@VictrolaJazz]

You're right! Absoutely one of the best 100% Charlestons recorded in the 20's!

[@vertxxgg]

superb ...and Joan Crawford dancing ...Those Dancing Daughters¡

[@6dBperOctave]

Recorded 29 Sept 1925 in Studio 1 of Victor's two studios in the former Camden Trinity Baptist Church Buildings. Studio 1 was the actual church; hence the acoustic. Victor acquired/converted the building in 1918, and recorded in it until 1935. It was at 114 North 5th St, Camden NJ and is now a car park opposite the Tabernacle of Faith. Victor's main building & tower, on Market St, is now condos etc. All else is gone.

[@hankwilliams150]

Love those C soprano saxes and the artwork here is superb!! Barzo dobry!

[@ThePhonographStop]

This is fantastic!!! Thanks for posting!!

[@1920sfan1]

I am not sure whether this is the craziest but surely one of the very best!

[@Trombonology]

Fantastic sound -- and a quintessential Charleston record. It seems the reason we're still making frequent reference to that crazy dance all these decades later is that it was so pervasive then -- as your video demonstrates. I love the shot of Ginger Rogers and Ann Miller, two great hoofers, giving it, The Charleston, a whirl.

[@janettewalker3991]

Superb - love charleston and the great visuals, thank you so much.

[@earlnut]

You know, early on Victor tried to "impose" the acoustics of large rooms into their recordings. I've always really liked this record and when I play it on my Credenza it makes my chest shake. It's very strident. I met an old gal that did recordings for Victor with the Duncan Sisters and she said they had a lot of fun making the early electric records.

[@johnwhitehead3360]

GREAT THANK YOU

[@bornhoffer]

What you say about the beat rhymes with me. I teach Charleston and Foxtrot dancing, twenties style, and when you pick records, you choose completely different music for the two dances. This is a perfect Charleston. You need that hard four beat bounce. Foxtrot asks for music that is softer and more alla breve.

[@bill3murr]

some of those '25 victors have that same sound; some, not all, the waring recordings were made in the no. 1 studio in the church in that year. it is a great sound. enjoy this recording and the great images. thank you for another great post. cool air from canada has been here for the last few days...nice break from the heat; it feels like early fall. take care and i hope you get some relief from the heat soon.

[@rickysmithe9443]

Great sound

[@dick12235]

Wonderful Posting. Thanks.

[@BlueWellyWellies]

Lovely yet again! I do love to watch your videos.

[@cjosephmadison9769]

Sure wish I could find these on CD!

[@fredjmp]

Excellent my colleague!

[@TuanBasikal]

This is the flip side of Don't Wake Me Up, Let Me Dream.

[@240252]

Thanks for information - explaining that somewhat odd sound - a kind of resounding - exacly, like it was played in a huge hall. I love that sound, though :-))

[@mainaccount131]

Delightful

[@dick12235]

Back again. Thanks again.

[@SG-ql7nw]

Does this song have lyrics anywhere? I can't find them and I swear the first bars of the melody sound like "Melancholy Lou" would fit there perfectly! There must be a score with lyrics lying around somewhere...

[@tango3721]

Hello Grzegorz - I hope that the heat wave cooled off for you. Chicago had the almost the coldest July weekend on record - 52 F - thank God the wind didn't blow from Lake Michigan. The cool weather doesn't bother me - since the last summer's heat waves were awful. This vid looks and sounds super. The new line dance which the youngsters adore - has tons of charleston moves in it. Joan Crawford could dance well - and even though she was a big star - I never liked her movies. Great new week to you!

[@duggydugg3937]

nice

[@mainaccount131]

Great

[@michaelmills2625]

Studio sounds like the old church in Camden.

[@onlythewise1]

back when some things was best of the best

[@user-fk6vj9fm8d]

THE ROARING YEARS OR -VANITY FAIR.......

[@jourwalis-8875]

Very good! But the text captions is far to short in duration to catch up reading!

[@jourwalis-8875]

A Stereo-microphone!?

[@dancehistory]

Of course the more eccentric people danced the Charleston, but to the rest of the room it was still a Fox Trot, which is most basic dance to do when it's not a Waltz, Polka, Tango or Rumba... There is a Host of dances to do to Fox Trot music, besides the Charleston...

[@240252]

Dancing the charleston with an elephant - ok, but how about dancing with the shock-absorber?! :-((

[@jeffreycraven8154]

Fill up the tires to 32 pressure or what's recommended for your ride & say to you two, 240252, thank you for your uploads.

[@birdandthe]

dubious acoustic, i do NOT like the photo of young elphant forced to charleston !!! great track somewhat spoiled