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For the first time, all data for recordings of non-classical piano made for issue on disc and cylinder records prior to 1935 are brought together in this work. The majority of the listing consists of material which has never been published in any form. The volume includes piano solos, duets, trios, and quartets, as well as selected titles where a soloist is featured within a recording by a dance band or orchestra. It covers a wide variety of pianists and piano styles including ragtime, stride, novelty-syncopated, boogie, and blues. This work will be of interest to major libraries, archives, and schools of music, as well as researchers and collectors.
The recordings covered in this work range from the earliest known piano recordings which were made in 1889 as cylinder records for the North American Phonograph Company through recordings of the early 1930s by some of the great jazz pianists of that era (Mary Lou Williams, Garland Wilson, Herman Chittison, Art Tatum, and Teddy Wilson). In between are a wide variety of pianists and piano styles from around the world. While many of the solos recorded were of popular tunes of the day, there is also a fascinating selection of piano compositions, often played by the composer. They include such well-known names as Felix Arndt, Nacio Herb Brown, Hoagy Carmichael, Rudolf Friml, George Gershwin, John W. Green, Ferdie Grofe, Ralph Rainger, Leslie Stuart, Clarence Williams, and Vincent Youmans. A comprehensive title index includes composer credits for the majority of titles listed.
List of contents
IntroductionScope of the listings and criteria for inclusion
Sources of discographical data
Artist credits
Place of recording
Date of recording
Matrix numbers
Title
Record issues
Recommended readings
Acknowledgments
Additions and corrections
Record label abbreviationsLabel illustrations
DiscographyAddenda
AppendixNon-solo instrumental recordings by selected pianists
Index to titles
About the author
ROSS LAIRD is a Senior Librarian for a major international company as well as a discographer and archivist. He has published more than 30 volumes of discographical research including Tantalizing Tingles: A Discography of Early Ragtime, Jazz, and Novelty Syncopated Piano Recordings, 1889-1934 (Greenwood, 1995) and is working on a multi-volume discography of the Brunswick label.
