Band,
Pop and Jazz
A.k.a. I Compagni Allegri International Novelty Quartette
The International Novelty Quartet and The International Novelty Orchestra started appearing in record catalogues in the late 1920's and during the 1930's, becoming extremely popular with a string of best selling discs. No known serious study seems to have been made on the different groups formed solely as studio units to make records, with the xylophone and clever arrangements being always a special feature. They brought together some of the best musicians in England and also USA. Information on the participants is scant. These 'house bands' released discs in Europe under the this name also. The International Novelty Orchestra in the USA was a pseudonym for the Victor house band that made records by a band that Nat Shilkret conducted in the Victor studios. The pseudonym was first used in March 1922. The session data for US recordings has been published in Brian Rust's 'American Dance Band Discography'. Between 1922 and 1927 a total of 135 tracks were recorded, 36 of these were rejected and 99 were released on Victor in USA. Seventeen different vocalists were used but many tracks were no vocal. The International Novelty Quartet and The International Novelty Orchestra name was also applied to English domestic studio recordings of the same variety of music as that done in USA. The titles recorded in England seemed to be of 'foreign' material, thus giving the 'International' look. Brian Rust has been able to provide data from his journals for me, which has not been published in his books. The Bert and John Firman Orchestra directed some early sessions (1929-1930) [eg Zon T-5489 The Dickey Bird Hop]. The 'Choristers Waltz' recorded on 27th January 1930 used Sylvester Ahola (trumpet), clarinet, alto sax, Bert Read (piano), Rudy Starita (drums-vibraphone-xylophone) and was directed by John Firman. George Scott-Wood directed many later recordings. Both Rudy Starita and Harry Robbins seem likely zylophonists. George Scott Wood probably played piano and/or accordion on the discs that he directed. Harry Leader may have been involved in the mid 1930's. Few vocalists have been identified, except for two tracks by Sam Browne on RZ in 1932 and Ronnie Hill in 1937 on two tracks. They were released in Australia on Zonophone, HMV and Regal Zonophone labels. The earliest disc listed in the 1946 EMI Australian catalogue was 'Cuckoo and Lena' on Zonophone EE67 for The International Novelty Quartet [1926 USA, matrix 8472 & 8473]. The first listed for The International Novelty Orchestra was 'Amoureuse and Jolly Fellows' on Zonophone EF27. Not all their recordings were still listed in this 1946 edition. Probably the most prized vocal recording remembered is 'Silver Bell' on RZ G-22050 recorded on 22nd January 1934 by the quartet. This track used 2 trumpets, trombone, piccolo, 2 pianos, string bass, drums/xylophone and vocal duet. It was classified as 'The Quartet'!
Track list and 30sec audio provided by
Title | Artist | Year | Type |
---|---|---|---|
Puzzle Record-Part 1 / Puzzle Record-Part 2 | International Novelty Orchestra | 1931 | Album |
Puzzle Record, No. 2 | International Novelty Orchestra | 1931 | Album |
Tap Dance / The Daughter Of Rosie O'Grady | International Novelty Orchestra | 1931 | Album |
Sari Waltz / Waltz Dream | International Novelty Orchestra | 1930 | Album |
Gold And Silver Waltz / Emperor Waltz | International Novelty Orchestra | 1929 | Album |
Y Como Le Va? / El Choclo | International Novelty Orchestra | 1928 | Album |
Jolly Fellows / Amoureuse | International Novelty Orchestra | 1928 | Album |
Who'll Buy My Violets / Amapola | Nat Shilkret And The Victor Orchestra / International Novelty Orchestra | 1927 | Album |
Paree / Here I Come | International Novelty Orchestra | 1927 | Album |
Dream Tango (Le Tango Du Reve) / Tango-Fate (Valentino) | International Novelty Orchestra | 1927 | Album |
Always / Pretty Little Baby | International Novelty Orchestra | 1926 | Album |
Oh, How I've Waited For You / No One's Ever Kissed Me | George Olsen's Music / International Novelty Orchestra | 1926 | Album |
Song Of The Vagabonds / Only A Rose | International Novelty Orchestra | 1926 | Album |
Four Little Farms / To Die Dreaming | International Novelty Orchestra | 1926 | Album |
Barcelona / On The Riviera | International Novelty Orchestra | 1926 | Album |
Poor Little Rich Girl / What Do I Care? | Paul Whiteman And His Orchestra / International Novelty Orchestra | 1926 | Album |
What Do We Care If It's One O'Clock / Let Us Waltz As We Say Goodbye | International Novelty Orchestra | 1926 | Album |
It Must Be Love / I Was Blue | International Novelty Orchestra | 1926 | Album |
The Prisoner's Song / After The Ball | International Novelty Orchestra | 1925 | Album |
Funny / Croon A Little Lullaby | Jack Shilkret's Orchestra, International Novelty Orchestra | 1925 | Album |
All Alone / Peter Pan | International Novelty Orchestra / Fred Waring & The Pennsylvanians | 1925 | Album |
Midnight Waltz / In Shadowland | International Novelty Orchestra / The Troubadours | 1925 | Album |
Daisy Bell (A Bicycle Made For Two) / After The Ball | International Novelty Orchestra | 1925 | Album |
O, Katharina! / Titina | International Novelty Orchestra | 1925 | Album |
So That's The Kind Of A Girl You Are / Speech | Johnny Hamp's Kentucky Serenaders / International Novelty Orchestra | 1925 | Album |
Show Me The Way To Go Home | International Novelty Orchestra | 1925 | Album |
The Flapper Wife / Who Takes Care Of The Caretaker's Daughter | International Novelty Orchestra / Whitey Kaufman's Original Pennsylvania Serenaders | 1925 | Album |
No Wonder / Betty Lee | International Novelty Orchestra, Jack Shilkret's Orchestra | 1925 | Album |
Beale Street Blues / Boll Weevil Blues | George Olsen's Music / International Novelty Orchestra | 1924 | Album |
Dreamer Of Dreams / Let Me Call You Sweetheart | International Novelty Orchestra | 1924 | Album |
All Alone With You In A Little Rendevous / The Pal That I Loved Stole The Gal That I Loved | International Novelty Orchestra / Charles Dornberger & His Orchestra | 1924 | Album |
Honeymoon Chimes / Waltzing The Blues | International Novelty Orchestra / Victor Arden, Phil Ohman And Their Orchestra | 1924 | Album |
Sax-o-phun / Hey! Hey! and Hee! Hee! | George Olsen's Music / International Novelty Orchestra | 1924 | Album |
Maytime / Plain Jane | Fred Waring & The Pennsylvanians / International Novelty Orchestra | 1924 | Album |
My Beautiful Brunette / Love Me - Tango | International Novelty Orchestra | 1924 | Album |
Innocent Eyes / Say It Again | International Novelty Orchestra | 1924 | Album |
Charley, My Boy / A New Kind Of Man | Billy Murray With International Novelty Orchestra / Aileen Stanley | 1924 | Album |
June Night / Only You | Fred Waring & The Pennsylvanians / International Novelty Orchestra | 1924 | Album |
Jealous / Waitin' Around | International Novelty Orchestra / Garber-Davis Orchestra | 1924 | Album |
It Ain't Gonna Rain No Mo' / Hayseed Rag | International Novelty Orchestra / Dizzy Trio | 1924 | Album |
La Paloma / O Solo Mio | International Novelty Orchestra | 1923 | Album |
Mississippi Ripples / Roll Along Missouri | International Novelty Orchestra / Green-Arden Orchestra | 1923 | Album |
University Lancers | International Novelty Orchestra | 1923 | Album |
Moonlight Kisses | Joe Raymond And His Orchestra / International Novelty Orchestra | 1923 | Album |
When Will The Sun Shine for me? / Gone | International Novelty Orchestra | 1923 | Album |
The Gold-Digger / Chick-A-Dee | Charles Dornberger & His Orchestra / International Novelty Orchestra | 1923 | Album |
Little Rover (Don't Forget To Come Back Home) (El Andorrero) / Runnin' Wild! (Delirios) | International Novelty Orchestra | 1923 | Album |
I Love Me / No No Nora | International Novelty Orchestra / The Benson Orchestra Of Chicago | 1923 | Album |
My Buddy / When Winter Comes | International Novelty Orchestra | 1923 | Album |
Swanee River Moon / Do It Again! | International Novelty Orchestra / Paul Whiteman And His Orchestra | 1922 | Album |
'Twas In The Month Of May-Katinka / Chinese Billikens | International Novelty Orchestra | 1922 | Album |
Parade Of The Wooden Soldiers / El Sonriente San Pedro | Orquesta Internacional = International Novelty Orchestra / Victor Symphony Orchestra | 1922 | Album |
Parade Of The Wooden Soldiers / Twinkling Star | International Novelty Orchestra | 1922 | Album |
Popular Songs Of Yesterday | International Novelty Orchestra | 1922 | Album |
Love's Lament / Gold And Silver | International Novelty Orchestra | 1922 | Album |
Only You / Ce N'Est Pas La Mêm' Chose | International Novelty Orchestra / Orchestre Billy Max | Album | |
She Loves Me / Sioux City Sue | The Virginians, International Novelty Orchestra, Billy Murray | Album | |
L' Or Et L' Argent / Valse De L' Empereur | International Concert Orchestra, International Novelty Orchestra | Album | |
Take A Little One-Step / There's Nobody Else But You | International Novelty Orchestra, Joe Raymond And His Orchestra | Album | |
Moonlight Memories / Tell Me You'll Forgive Me | Vincent Rose And His Orchestra / International Novelty Orchestra | Album | |
Colonel Bogey / Teddy Bears' Picnic | International Novelty Orchestra | Album | |
While We Danced Till Dawn / Beside A Silv'ry Stream | International Novelty Orchestra | Album | |
Soffrimento De Amor / Minha Teresita | International Novelty Orchestra | Album | |
The Grasshoppers' Dance / Tu Sasis (You Know) | International Novelty Orchestra | Album | |
You Can Have Ev'ry Light On Broadway (Give Me That One Little Light At Home) / Lovey Dove | International Novelty Orchestra / Club Royal Orchestra | Album | |
See Me Dance The Polka / Over The Waves | International Novelty Orchestra | Album | |
Rosita | International Novelty Orchestra | Album | |
Rosita- Tango Fox Trot | International Novelty Orchestra | Album | |
A Thousand Kisses | International Novelty Orchestra | Album | |
Eva-Walzer / Carmen-Sylva-Walzer | International Novelty Orchestra | Album | |
Florida / Me Neenyah | International Novelty Orchestra | Album | |
Cigarette / The Cup Of Sorrow | International Novelty Orchestra | Album | |
There Are Some Things You Never Forget / Your Lips | International Novelty Orchestra | Album | |
On The Way To Monterey / Midnight Waltz | Henry Halstead And His Orchestra / International Novelty Orchestra | Album | |
The Virgin Of Regla / Faded Flower | International Novelty Orchestra | Album | |
Tu Sais / Grasshoppers Dance | International Novelty Orchestra | Album | |
My Sweetie Turned Me Down / One Smile | International Novelty Orchestra | Album | |
Joanna / Nora Lee | International Novelty Orchestra | Album | |
Squeeze The Bottle / Hot Tips | Will Glahé Und Sein Musette-Orchester / International Novelty Orchestra | Album |