This is my blog where I write about music, and myself. Vaudeville, burlesque, blues, jazz, novelties, and whatever else I feel like posting. Mostly from my own LPs and 78s. Comments and feedback always appreciated. Please do not link directly to mp3s. It's rude.

Party Platters
"Bits of Burlesque"
Newspaper Headlines








I didn't realize I have so many party records. I wanted to find something else Baltimore related. But mostly I want to get the post I entitled "vagina" down on the page since I'm trying to promote my blog and turn the world on to the lost art of party records. There will be some Baltimore stuff forthcoming... as well as "Farmer Brown's Jackass," which was too long for me to bother with tonight.

Labels: adult, burlesque, comedy, party records

Posted by: Kara Mae 1/31/2008  (0) comments

FUN party record
My Apartment
year unknown







I guess if I was an expert in "Party Records" I could estimate the date and origin by the label. I don't know where I can learn that from so if you have a lead, please share.
As for "My Apartment".. it speaks for itself. I did some hiss reduction so it may sound a little weird. I don't know which is better.
As for the "joke"... well, whatever. The next party record I'm gonna post is called "Farmer Brown's Jackass" and as you can guess from the title it's WAY more witty.

Labels: adult, comedy, party records

Posted by: Kara Mae 1/29/2008  (1) comments

??
China Night
1977 Gusto Records, Inc.

This one is from the same batch as Japanese Rumba way back when.
I can't translate the artist but the song is called "China Night." Internet searching gives me the impression that every American family stationed in Japan in the 50s had this record.
Turns out there's even another blog about it.

Labels: international, japanese

Posted by: Kara Mae 1/26/2008  (1) comments

Eubie Blake and His Shuffle Along Orchestra
Baltimore Buzz - Fox Trot
Victor 18791-A, 1921






I love 78s that say what type of song they contain.. Fox Trots always do. And of course old ragtime and blues songs made sure to have the words "rag" or "blues" right in the title.
I guess that's because people went out and bought records without hearing them more often. Nowadays we demand to hear it before we buy it... or own the song without buying it at all.

This here song is by the famous Eubie Blake who was of course from Baltimore and now has the Jazz and Cultural Center named for him. Despite living a block away for most of my Baltimore existence, I never stepped foot in the place. I'm glad it exists nonetheless.
Below the song title it says "Introducing 'In Honeysuckle Time'". I guess that never caught on.
I chose this song because it has the word "Baltimore" in the title. I've decided I'm going to start posting a lot of Baltimore-related songs.
Actually I might have decided that a long time ago, I can't remember. I've been in the habit of seeking out 78s that mention or originate from Baltimore for quite some time now.
So for all I know I've posted this song before. That's liable to happen from time to time, knowing me.

Labels: baltimore, jazz era

Posted by: Kara Mae 1/25/2008  (2) comments

I set up my record player goods the other day. I'm not too good with wires but I always figure it out eventually.
I have that usb turntable but I don't use the usb port. That record player sucks anyway and if I had loose change I'd buy a different one.
It goes in through the receiver and out to my computer. Same with my Califone. It has a 1/4 headphone jack so I plug it in there like that.
As I settled down into my new home I got a few blasts from the past.
First and foremost and oh-so-exciting is that the Lili St. Cyr biography finally came out.


I played a part in this however small and for that I am proud and grateful. Kelly DiNardo did a great job and I really encourage you to check it out.

Photographer Ed Fox has a new book out on Taschen featuring yours truly, circa 2001. Good memories of that wonderful trip to LA.

And oddly enough I got a little mention in the City Paper mail section just this week. A photographer I once worked with gave me a nod in regards to a story the City Paper had done about "neo-pinups" in Baltimore.

Meanwhile I've been making jewelry, painting house, tending houseplants and reading.

...and mp3-ifying some records. Nothing appropriate for here, yet though. I'll get right on it, I promise.
In the meantime here's a Doris Day song.

When I was 19 I knew nothing about "old music" but I wanted to learn. I'd search the internet for things like 'life is a bowl of cherries', and for Irving Berlin, who I learned of from songs performed by my beloved Eva Cassidy on the Live at Blues Alley record, (a record which changed my life for real.)
So the familiar name of Doris Day sounded like someone I would probably like, and I bought a CD called "Cocktail Hour" because that sounded like something I would probably like. Today, the first track from that CD evokes the memories of sitting around in my old apartment on Park Avenue with hot cups of tea during the cold winter, discovering new old music, getting excited about jazz and Irving Berlin and Tin Pan Alley and burlesque and just about anything that happened before I was born.

Doris Day
Someone Like You

Labels: books, burlesque

Posted by: Kara Mae 1/20/2008  (3) comments