Another in a long string of polite dance music recordings made by Ben Selvin who, after "Dardenella" was recorded, rose to the top of the dance band food chain alongside Paul Whiteman. He later would serve as head of artists and
repertoire for Columbia and helped to develop the "Muzak" system in the 1930s (see the Wikipedia entry about him to read more). This recording for Brunswick,
made in May of 1922, was typical: no real solos, just ensemble passages that stuck close to the melody line, but always solid and professional. Those who listen to a great deal of Edison dance band sides will hear the similarities in
the arrangment, right down to the up-front banjo, and realize where Dave Kaplan (serving as Edison's A and R man) got his inspiration. The tune was written by Hugh Hirsch (co-authored songs for Broadway musical "Lola in Love,"
including "If Wives Were Put On Sale") with lyrics by Alice Mattulath (mainly known for translating song lyrics from one language to another in sheet music, also contributed lyrics for "The Old Refrain - Dee-ol-ee-ay"). The record
had been played a fair amount, so there was some hiss in the groove. Most of the noise has been tamed but enough left in so that the music itself did not suffer.
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