Under the pseudonym “Carl Fenton,” Gus Haenschen led some of the tightest orchestra recordings of the 1920s—but he also oversaw the musical direction at the Brunswick label, where he signed Isham Jones, Al Jolson, Nick Lucas, Abe Lyman, the Happiness Boys, and even Charlie Chaplin. Haenschen probably would not have gotten that job had it not been for his reputation as a musically innovative student of Scott Joplin—and especially for his recording of six personal sides in 1916 that are the stuff of legend. All but a couple were thought lost to history, but now, together with researcher Colin Hancock, Archeophone is proud to present all six of Haenschen’s explosive 1916 recordings, along with 19 other tracks that show his influence on the music industry. Move over ODJB. These six sides change the game, and they and their creator, Gus Haenschen, are the missing link between ragtime and jazz. List price: $16.99
OVERVIEW
- Catalogue number: ARCH 6011
- UPC: 860003210000
- Original release date: February 21, 2020
- Running length: 25 tracks / 77 minutes
- Notes & packaging: Includes a 32-page full-color booklet
- Tracks recorded: 1914-1925 (and 1975)
- In Archeophone’s Jazz, Dance & Blues series
- Awards: 63rd GRAMMY Nominee, Best Album Notes
Sample all tracks
| Tracklist | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Sunset Medley | Haenschen’s Orchestra (W. G. Haenschen piano, T. T. Schiffer drums) | 1916 | |
| 2. | Country Club Medley | Haenschen’s Orchestra (W. G. Haenschen piano, T. T. Schiffer drums) | 1916 | |
| 3. | Admiration | W. G. Haenschen’s Banjo Orchestra | 1916 | |
| 4. | I Left Her on the Beach at Honolulu | W. G. Haenschen’s Banjo Orchestra | 1916 | |
| 5. | Honky Tonky | W. G. Haenschen’s Banjo Orchestra | 1916 | |
| 6. | Maple Leaf Rag | W. G. Haenschen’s Banjo Orchestra | 1916 | |
| 7. | Interview/Under the Japanese Moon | Irving Caesar and Gus Haenschen/Gus Haenschen | 1975 | |
| 8. | The Moorish (“Maurice”) Glide | Victor Military Band | 1914 | |
| 9. | Underneath the Japanese Moon | Irving Kaufman | 1914 | |
| 10. | Karavan | Carl Fenton’s Orchestra | 1919 | |
| 11. | Read ‘Em and Weep | Al Bernard | 1920 | |
| 12. | Bow-Wow | Wiedoeft Wadsworth Quartet | 1920 | |
| 13. | I Love You Sunday | Isham Jones Rainbo Orchestra | 1920 | |
| 14. | By The Pyramids | Gene Rodemich’s Orchestra | 1921 | |
| 15. | Honey Babe | Lyman’s California Ambassador Hotel Orchestra | 1923 | |
| 16. | Pesticatin’ Mamma | Paul Ash and His Granada Orchestra | 1923 | |
| 17. | Shake It and Break It | Vic Meyers’ Hotel Butler Orchestra | 1923 | |
| 18. | Rosita | International Novelty Orchestra | 1923 | |
| 19. | Steppin’ Out | Al Jolson with Isham Jones Orchestra | 1924 | |
| 20. | Tenth Interval Rag | Gene Rodemich’s Orchestra | 1924 | |
| 21. | What’ll I Do | Carl Fenton’s Orchestra | 1924 | |
| 22. | San | Mound City Blue Blowers | 1924 | |
| 23. | My Best Girl | Nick Lucas | 1924 | |
| 24. | With You, Dear, in Bombay | Abe Lyman’s California Orchestra conducted by Charlie Chaplin | 1925 | |
| 25. | Maple Leaf Rag | Herb Wiedoeft’s Cinderella Roof Orchestra | 1924 | |
The Vinyl District
“Of the three Archeophone releases covered in this column this week (which shape up the label’s Spring 2020 entries to their catalog), this one is the most purely enjoyable while simultaneously providing revelatory insight into the recorded history of early jazz, so it gets the archival pick even though it’s CD-only…Haenschen’s own bands were boldly innovative, but what makes The Missing Link such a treat is how the subsequent music he directed pushed jazz forward rather than simply popularizing it.” A
Read the full review →
Mainspring Press
“Archeophone has done a remarkable job of recovering what’s there while preserving the integrity of the original recordings…Archeophone productions are notable for their accompanying booklets, and this one (at a generous thirty pages) is no exception, with an expertly researched and well-written biography and listening guide by Colin Hancock, a detailed discography, and many rare illustrations.” Read the full review →
GRAMMY Awards
- GRAMMY Nominee, Best Album Notes, 2020
FROM OUR BLOG
The Hunt for the Banjo Orchestra Records
posted: February 11, 2020
One Night in June . . . Looking for the First Jazz Records in Scott Joplin’s Stomping Ground
posted: February 3, 2020