Acoustic Recordings of the Banjo, 1898-1924
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DISC ONE (Phonozoic 201)

1. Ross’ Dog Trot.  “Black Face” Eddie Ross.  18815-A / 25541-1.
Recorded in New York City, August 31, 1921.

2. Grace And Beauty (Scott).  Fred Van Eps.  Pathé 021088 / N-70341-1.
Recorded in New York City, ca. September 28, 1923.

3. Motor March (George Rosey).  Vess L. Ossman.  A227 / 3569-2. 
Recorded in New York City, probably in December 1906.  Selection first released with this matrix number in March, 1907.  Orchestra directed by Charles A. Prince.

4. Keep Off the Grass (Harry Von Tilzer).  Fred Van Eps.  16266-A / B-22713-5.
Recorded in New York City, April 4, 1919.

5. Medley of Southern Airs.  Fred J. Bacon.  Edison 50674-L / 5109-A.
Recorded in New York City, October 28, 1916.

6. Daly’s Reel—One-Step and Buck Dance (Jos. M. Daly).  Fred Van Eps.  18116-A / B-17674-3. 
Recorded in New York City, June 1, 1916.

7. The Darkies Awakening.  With Clog Effect (George Lansing).  Vess L. Ossman.  A233 / 1704-6. 
Recorded ca. 1905-08. The selection was originally recorded under this matrix number ca. January, 1904; mx. 1704-4 is announced, whereas this one is not and is probably a later remake. 

8. Infanta March (Gregory).  Fred Van Eps.  16847-A / B-9879-3.
Recorded in New York City, February 28, 1911.

9. Somewhere in Dixie (Geo. L. Lansing).  Shirley Spaulding.  Pianoforte by John F. Burckhardt.  Edison 51052-R / 8593-B.
Recorded in New York City, September 15, 1922.

10. Cocoanut Dance (Herman).  Fred Van Eps.  A2983 / 79356-2.
Recorded in New York City, July 21, 1920.

11. Mississippi Bubble.  Vess L. Ossman. 1973 / B588-2. 
Recorded in New York City, October 23, 1903.  Piano by C. H. H. Booth.

12. Omena—Intermezzo (B. Hartz).  Fred Van Eps.  Edison 50312-L / 4180-C.
Recorded in New York City, ca. September-October, 1915.

13. The Invincible Eagle March.  Banjo Solo.  7” 462, VTM stamp.
Recorded prior to the "stealing" of Climax, probably ca. December, 1901. 

14. Invincible Eagle March.  Vess L. Ossman.  A587 / 462-3.
Recorded ca. 1903, an announced remake.  It is interesting to compare tracks 13 and 14: the earlier recording is very piano-heavy, while the later recording is very banjo-heavy.  Vess also messes up rather frequently during the recording!

15. The Lamb’s Gambol (Eccentric Dance) (Bendix).  Fred Van Eps.  17457-B / B-11955-1.
Recorded in New York City, March 1, 1912.

16. A Gay Gossoon (Kendall).  Vess L. Ossman.  16092-A (4589) / B-2853-1.
Recorded in New York City, November 1, 1905.

17. Silver Heels (Neil Moret).  Fred Van Eps.  16266-B / B-22712-3.
Recorded in New York City, March 13, 1919.

18. The Buffalo Rag (Tom Turpin).  Vess L. Ossman. A218 / 3360-3.
Recorded in New York City, ca. December 1905.

19. Ross’ Reel. “Black Face” Eddie Ross.  18815-B / 25542-2.
Recorded in New York City, ca. August 31, 1921.

20. A Footlight Favourite.  Shirley Spaulding.  Edison 51052-L / 8594-B. 
Recorded in New York City, September 15, 1922.

21. Persiflage (Francis).  Fred Van Eps.  A2983 / 79267-2.
Recorded in New York City, June 11, 1920.

22. A Coon Band Contest.  Banjo Solo by Vess L. Ossman.  3042-1.
Recorded January 21, 1901.  One of the first ten-inch banjo records made.  Composition by Arthur Pryor.

23. Dance of the Bugs—March (Will F. Dixon).  Fred Van Eps.  17834-B / B-11389-1.
Recorded in New York City, December 19, 1911.

24. Ross’ Juba.  “Black Face” Eddie Ross.  18926-B / B-26586-1.
Recorded in New York City, July 3, 1922.

25. The Oriole (Scott). Fred Van Eps.  Pathé 021088B / N-70342-1.
Recorded in New York City, ca. September 28, 1923; Frank Banta on piano.

26. Whistling Ruufus [sic].  Mr. Vess L. Ossman.  Berliner 092.
Recorded April 25, 1899.

DISC TWO (Phonozoic 202)

1. Thanks for the Lobster (Clarence M. Jones). Van Eps Banjo Orchestra A1593 / 39501-2.
Recorded in New York City, July 25, 1914, including William Van Eps (banjo), Felix Arndt (piano), and Howard Kopp (drums).

2. Musical Sam From Alabam’ (Arthur Thomas).  Peerless Quartet (Banjo by Fred Van Eps).  18350-B / 20002-1. 
Recorded in New York City, August 1, 1916.

3. St. Louis Tickle (Seymore). Ossman-Dudley Trio.  16092-B (4624) / B-3038-2.
Recorded in New York City, January 24, 1906.  Vess L. Ossman (banjo), Audley Dudley (mandolin), Roy Butin or George F. Dudley (harp-guitar).

4. Where the Lanterns Glow—Medley Fox Trot.  Introducing, “My Dreamy Little Lotus Flower.”  Van Eps Trio.  18640-A / B-23328-2.
Recorded in New York City, November 6, 1919.  Fred Van Eps (banjo), Nathan Glantz (alto saxophone), Frank Banta (piano).

5. Angelina (Browne).  Harry C. Browne and Male Quartette.  A3769 / 80410-2.
Recorded June 20, 1920.

6. The Last Waltz (Ford T. Dabney).  Sisty and Seitz’s Banjo Orchestra.  Edison 50312-R / 4165-A.
Leader: N. A. Sisty; other details unknown.  Recorded in New York City before Nov 30, 1915.  This was the group's first recording.

7. Carry Me Back to Tennessee (Sep. Winner).  Carroll Clark.  A852 / 4445-2. 
Recorded in New York City, ca. April 1910.  Vess Ossman played the banjo on these early Carroll Clark recordings.  Clark was an African-American recording pioneer whose race was concealed in company catalogues.

8. The Original Fox Trot.  Introducing, “When the Turkey in the Straw Danced the Chicken Reel” (F. Henri Klickman).  Van Eps Trio.  17677-A / 15632-1. 
Recorded in New York City, January 27, 1915.  Fred Van Eps (banjo), Felix Arndt (piano), Eddie King (drums).

9. Oh, Boys, Carry Me ’Long (Foster).  Harry C. Browne.  A2622 / 77946-3.
Recorded in New York City, July 9, 1918.

10. Yo-San (Jean Hazard).  Van Eps Specialty Four.  Emerson 10242 / 41277-3.
Recorded in New York City, ca. July, 1920.  Fred Van Eps (banjo), Nathan Glantz (alto saxophone), Frank Banta (piano), Green (xylophone).

11. By the Sycamore Tree Medley (By the Sycamore Tree—The Gambling Man—Up in a Cocoanut Tree—Show the Whites of Yo’ Eyes—Pretty Little Dinah Jones).  Ossman and Hunter.  2784 / B1195-2.
Recorded in New York City, April 7, 1904.  Vess Ossman and William Parke Hunter (banjo) with piano accompaniment.

12. Ching Chong—One-Step (Introducing—“Alexander’s Back From Dixie with His Ragtime Band”) (Lee S. Roberts). Van Eps Trio.  18404-A / 20501-1.
Recorded in New York City, August 13, 1917.  Fred Van Eps (banjo) Nathan Glantz (alto saxophone), Frank Banta (piano). 

13. Hear Dem Bells (McCosh).  Harry C. Browne and Peerless Quartette, A2853 / 78796-2.
Recorded November 5, 1919.

14. Snuggle (Close to my Heart) – Fox Trot (Spencer).  Van Eps Quartet.  Aeolian-Vocalion A14177 / 7256.
Recorded in New York City, late March 1921.

15. Koontown Koffee Klatsch.  March and Two-Step.  (J. P. Greenberg).  Ossman-Dudley Trio. A218 / 3476-5.
Recorded in New York City, ca. July 1906.  Vess L. Ossman (banjo), Audley Dudley (mandolin), Roy Butin or George F. Dudley (harp-guitar).

16. My Hindoo Man (Eugene).  Van Eps Banjo Orchestra.  A1593 / 39500-2.
Recorded in New York City, July 25, 1914, including William Van Eps (banjo), Felix Arndt (piano), Howard Kopp (drums).

17. De Darkies’ Jubilee (Browne).  Harry C. Browne and Male Quartette.  A3769 / 80049-6.
Recorded June 20, 1922.

18. So Long, Oo-Long (How Long You Gonna Be Gone?) – Fox Trot.  Introducing, “Jean.”  (Kalmar—Ruby—Brooks).  Van Eps Quartet.  18681-A / 24085-3.
Recorded in New York City, June 15, 1920.  Banjo, saxophone, xylophone, and piano.

19. Na poskok (Jumping)—Polka. Hoyer-jev instrumentalni tercet (Hoyer Instrumental Trio).  77915-A, B-31239-1.
Recorded in Cleveland, Ohio, November 30, 1924.  Accordion, Guitar and Banjo.

20. Kakūda—Chinese One-Step (Felix Arndt).  Van Eps Trio.  35400-B / 15162-4.
Recorded in New York City, September 4, 1914.

21. Keemo Kimo (Arranged by Sedgwick).  Harry C. Browne and Peerless Quartette.  A2853 / 78797-3.  
Recorded November 5, 1919.

22. Chicken Chowder.  Two-step.  Ossman-Dudley Trio.  Silvertone 3591-1.
Recorded ca. January, 1907.  Vess L. Ossman (banjo), Audley Dudley (mandolin), Roy Butin or George F. Dudley (harp-guitar).

23. Moonbeams—Fox Trot (Price—Stept).  Van Eps Quartet.  Aeolian-Vocalion B14177 / 7256. 
Recorded New York City, late March, 1921.

24. Massa’s in De Cold, Cold Ground (S. C. Foster).  Carroll Clark.  A852 / 4446-2.
Recorded in New York City, ca. April, 1910.

25. Berkeley March.  Cullen and Collins.  Berliner 481.  Recorded March, 1898. 

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