Charles Delaunay

by Frank M. Roberts

October 2015

416.(bad form - starting a sentence with a number) That is the number of pages in what is probably the most concise collection of information on what the French call, "Le Jazz Hot."

The artists' names and their recordings are complete in a volume written in 1938 by music historian, Charles Delaunay. I came across it recently while rummaging through a hunk of oldies stuff in my garage. I'm 86 and have carried it around with me since I was about 14.

It is a collector's item, one I wouldn't part with for any amount of money unless that figure had four numbers. Yes, it has sentimental value but, more importantly, the information it contains is invaluable. Who put it together? Jazz is an American art form largely unappreciated by Americans. The French have always loved it.

On the first page is a signature - scribbly, very difficult to decipher but, it looks like it was penned by Louis Armstrong. The book was re-printed by the Commodore Music Shop in NYC which was a hotbed of items and information about jazz. In a foreword, American music historian Walter E. Schaap notes that jazz - true jazz, not the commercial stuff - "achieved intellectual recognition only when endorsed by European critics, who did the work our own writers should have done, but lamentably failed to do." Whew - tell it like it is, bro.

"Hot Discography" was the first systematic attempt to list all hot records together with the personnel of the recording orchestras. "For an American this would have been a difficult task," Schaap said, adding, "for a foreigner it was overwhelming."

How do you put something this complex together in the pre-computer days? You correspond with critics and collectors around the world, and you listen carefully to the records to identify each musician's style.

Delaunay himself said that several thousand copies, "are scattered throughout the globe." He asked his readers to write to him if/when they find any textual errors.

First in the book, as expected, is the Original Dixieland Jazz-Band, and the first entry dates back to 1917, a piece called, "Dixieland Jass (the orignal spelling) One Step." On the flip side - "Livery Stable Blues." That was followed that year by the still familiar, "The Darktown Strutters Ball," and "Indiana."

There are such familiar names as Artie Shaw and Glenn Miller, although most of the entries are their early and less familiar items. And, you don't go thru "Hot Discography" without knowing who plays what instrument. There are oodles of less familiar names such as J. H. Shayne and Cripple Clarence Lofton.

Alphabetically, the last listing is for Albert Wynn's Creole Jazz Band which recorded under the name, Wynn's Gut Bucket Five.

If you have any problems, the index is complete. Commodore, which published the book, has several ads for itself, and I can remember visiting them at 156 East 42nd St., not far from Times Square. Record companies such as Decca and Columbia advertised their wares. Altogether, "Hot Discography" is not only a rare publication, its contents are valuable. So, a tip of the hat to the genius behind it - the workhorse - Charles Delaunay.

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Also in my musty garage collection, I found early GSPs - known as maps. The American Automobile Association put them out. I have one for the U. S. A. and one for New York State. When my mother got the last minute urge to travel, the two of us packed up and piled in her Hudson Terraplane. One trip, we wound up in Montreal - another, Mississippi where I saw my first chain gang which, to be honest, was a scary sight for a kid of around 10. I was in charge of map reading and, when she wanted directions for a side trip, it was my job to find the 'how-to-get-there' information.

It took a heap of folding and unfolding those American Automobile Association maps. If I didn't find it fast enough, we had a routine. She hurried me on with - "well, dummy?"

My mom, Sophia, known as Sister Susie, the oldest of 12 who were brought up in an orphanage, was a fairly strict but carefree soul who often packed the two of us in a Baltimore and Ohio Railroad car for a trip to see the family in Baltimore. The train was called The Royal Purple. It was beautiful and clean. It had to leave from New Jersey. The Pennsylvania Railroad wouldn't let the B&O Railroad come into their Pennsylvania Station."

I was looking forward to seeing my cousins - sisters Barbara and Ellin, and my other cuz, Florence who, for some unknown reason, my mother called 'Floppy Ears'. Anyway, mama, the family character who literally brought up her sisters and brothers, was a smart cookie, a RN who was head nurse in one of New York City's larger hospitals, Queens General-Triboro in Jamaica, Long Island.

We took many car trips together, and I was in charge of map reading. When she wanted directions for side trips, it was my job to find the info. It took a heap of map folding and unfolding and, if I didn't get the information fast enough she smilingly hurried me on with - "well - dummy?" It was a great ego buster. Nowadays, the GPS gets you there swiftly and accurately.

Mama was the family 'character' and smiled when she called me names. She was a smart cookie - head nurse in one of New York's largest hospitals - Queens General Triboro. A couple summers, she got me a job as a mailboy there and, I must say, I delivered.

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Back to music and a few titles you'll find in 'Hot Discography'. They include, "You Got Everything A Sweet Mama Needs But Me," "Get Canibal," "Slumming On Park Avenue," "Prince Of Wails," "Mamma Gonna Slow You Down," "Cheese And Crackers," "Mello As A Cello," "Joe Louis Stomp," "Bucket Of Blood," "Fifteen Cents," and, of course, "Mary Had A Little Lamb." (That surprised the doctor and her human hubby).

Here's a bit of music history - albeit, rock music history: The classic rock band, The Who, briefly changed their name to 'The High Numbers' in 1964, releasing only one single - "Zoot Suit" and "I'm the Face." Then, they reverted back to The Who. And, that's what's what about the group named after a pet owl.

Also on the subject of music, there are the most commonly played songs at weddings: "Unforgettable," by Nat 'King' Cole, "Can't Help Falling in Love," by Elvis, and "It Had To Be You," by Harry Connick Jr. On the other hand, these songs are considered uncouth to play at the ceremony: "King Of Pain" by Sting, "All Apologies" by Nirvana, and "You Oughta Know," by Alanis Morissette.

Speaking of weddings 'n marriages, Katharine Hepburn had this to say: "If you want to sacrifice the admiration of many men for the criticism of one, go ahead and get married." OOooo!

That brings me to these numbers: Average cost of weddings in the United States is $26,327; Average cost of divorce in the United States is $27,500; Average cost of a round of marriage therapy: between $3,000 and $4,000.

And, I wind up with this oldie from Mae West: "Marriage is a great institution, but I'm not ready for an institution."