Ben Selvin & His Orchestra – The Hits Collection 1919-34 – 4CD

Ben Selvin was a violinist, bandleader, record producer and record company executive who, in the early years of the industry made more records and had more hits than just about any other artist, as well as having one of the biggest sellers of the era with “Dardanella”. He recorded the style of middle-of-the-road dance band music which appealed to mainstream audiences during the 1920s and early ‘30s until he gave up leading his band to move into radio and record company management. This great-value 92-track 4-CD collection comprises most of his recordings which are listed as hits – there was simply not space to include them all. With releases on the Victor, Emerson, Vocalion, Brunswick, Banner and Columbia labels, it includes hits that he had under various names, including Selvin’s Novelty Orchestra, Selvin’s Dance Orchestra, The Cavaliers, The Knickerbockers. The Broadway Nitelites, The Kensington Serenaders and others. It features performances by a number of different vocalists, including Smith Ballew, Franklyn Bauer, Irving Kaufman, Jack Palmer, Ruth Etting, Dick Robertson, Eubie Blake and others. It’s a collection which captures the style of the era, including early recordings of many compositions which became classic standards.

Track Listing:

CD1:
Selvin's Novelty Orchestra: 1. I'm Forever Blowing Bubbles -   2. Medley - Mandy, A Pretty Girl Is Like A Melody -   3. Dardanella -   4. My Isle of Golden Dreams -   5. In Your Arms -   6. Wond'ring -   7. Dance-O-Mania -   Selvin's Orchestra: 8. Now And Then -   Selvin's Dance Orchestra: 9. Make Believe -   10. Cherie -   11. Say It With Music -   Selvin's Orchestra: 12. Love Will Find A Way -   Selvin's Dance Orchestra: 13. Angel Child -   Ben Selvin & His Orchestra: 14. Romany Love -   Roy Collins Orchestra: 15. Chicago -   Selvin's Dance Orchestra: 16. I'll Build A Stairway To Paradise -   17. Three O'Clock In The Morning -   18. Wonderful One -   Selvin's Orchestra: 19. Yes We Have No Bananas -   Selvin's Dance Orchestra: 20. Indiana Moon -   21. Dirty Hands! Dirty Face! -   22. So This Is Love -   23. Sleep -

CD2:
Selvin's Moulin Rouge Orchestra: 1. Take, Oh Take, Those Lips Away -   Selvin's Dance Orchestra: 2. Jealous -   The Cavaliers: 3. Honest And Truly -   4. All Alone -   Ben Selvin & His Orchestra: 5. Will You Remember Me -   The Knickerbockers: 6. The Original Charleston -   Ben Selvin & His Orchestra: 7. Let It Rain, Let It Pour -   The Cavaliers: 8. Oh How I Miss You Tonight -   The Knickerbockers: 9. Manhattan -   10. Sentimental Me -   Ben Selvin & His Orchestra: 11. I'm Tired Of Everything But You -   12. Brown Eyes, Why Are You Blue -   13. Sleepy-Time Gal -   The Cavaliers: 14. A Night Of Love -   Ben Selvin & His Orchestra: 15. Valencia -   16. Tamiami Trail -   The Kensington Serenaders: 17. Only You And Lonely Me -   Ben Selvin & His Orchestra: 18. Baby Face -   The Cavaliers: 19. Am I Wasting My Time On You? -   Ben Selvin & His Orchestra: 20. Barcelona -   The Cavaliers: 21. In A Little Spanish Town -   The Knickerbockers: 22. Blue Skies -   23. Rio Rita -   24. Miss Annabelle Lee -

CD3:
Ben Selvin & His Orchestra: 1. Ooh! Maybe It’s You -   Broadway Nitelites: 2. My Heart Stood Still -   3. Thou Swell -   Ben Selvin & His Orchestra: 4. Among My Souvenirs -   The Cavaliers: 5. My Stormy Weather Pal -   The Knickerbockers: 6. I Can't Give You Anything But Love -   7. I Must Have That Man -   Ben Selvin & His Orchestra: 8. Jeannine, I Dream Of 'Lilac Time' -   The Knickerbockers: 9. Masquerade -   10. Happy Days And Lonely Nights -   Broadway Nitelites: 11. You're The Cream In My Coffee -   12. I Wanna Be Loved By You -   13. Pompanola -   Ben Selvin & His Orchestra: 14. A Room With A View -   15. Carolina Moon -   16. Broadway Melody -   Broadway Nitelites: 17. You Were Meant For Me -   Ben Selvin & His Orchestra: 18. My Sin -   19. Honey -   20. My Song Of The Nile -   21. Love, Your Spell Is Everywhere -   22. Funny, Dear, What Love Can Do -   23. Happy Days Are Here Again -

CD4:
Ben Selvin & His Orchestra: 1. When It's Springtime In The Rockies -   2. Dancing With Tears In My Eyes -   3. Somewhere In Old Wyoming -   4. Moonlight On The Colorado -   The Cavaliers: 5. When The Organ Played At Twilight -   Ben Selvin & His Orchestra: 6. Yours And Mine -   7. Smile, Darn Ya, Smile -   8. Dancing In The Dark -   The Knickerbockers: 9. Slow But Sure -   The Cavaliers: 10. Call Me Darling (Call Me Sweetheart, Call Me Dear) -   Ben Selvin & His Orchestra: 11. Goodnight Moon -   12. You're My Everything -   The Knickerbockers: 13. Of Thee I Sing -   Ben Selvin & His Orchestra: 14. Just Friends -   15. Is I In Love? I Is -   16. (I've Got The Words, I've Got The Tune) Hummin' To Myself -   17. Street Of Dreams -   18. Sweetheart Darlin' -   19. Dinner At Eight -   20. The Prize Waltz -   21. I Only Have Eyes For You -   22. Born To Be Kissed -