To commemorate the end of the century, Sony Music assembled the gargantuan 26-disc box set Sony Music 100 Years: Soundtrack for a Century. The title was imposing, as was the idea behind it -- to chronicle the life of the oldest record label in the music industry. To be clear, Sony Music has not existed for 100 years, but the heart of its catalog, Columbia Records, was founded early in the 20th century. Sony acquired Columbia and its various subsidiaries in the late '80s, purchasing one of the richest catalogs in pop history, as the box set proves again and again. Sony realized that most consumers wouldn't invest in a 26-disc box, no matter how impressive it was, so they simultaneously released a series of 12 genre-specific double-disc sets that culled highlights from the box. That left two discs exclusive to the box, which was appropriate, since anyone who spends over $300 on an album deserves a little bonus. As it turns out, the double-disc sets are every bit as impressive as the big box, perhaps more so, because they're easily digestible. Even so, the scope of the 50-track Pop Music: The Early Years 1890-1950 is impressive. Columbia was one of the biggest labels in the early days of the record industry, which is clear from the featured artists on this set. Many of the biggest names in pop and jazz recorded for Columbia at some point -- Al Jolson, Eddie Cantor, Bing Crosby, Louis Armstrong, Kate Smith, Jack Teagarden, Cab Calloway, Duke Ellington, the Mills Brothers, Louis Prima, Artie Shaw, Benny Goodman, Teddy Wilson, Harry James, Ray Noble, Dinah Shore, Gene Autry, Frank Sinatra -- and they're all here, usually represented by their best-known songs. It's more than an effective collection -- it's educational, entertaining, and astounding, as it traces vaudeville through big band, jazz, and swing. Few other sets capture this period quite so well -- and it's all the more amazing when you realize that it all comes from the same label. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All Music Guide
Pop Music: The Early Years 1890-1950
10/12/1999
All Music Guide Review
Pop Music: The Early Years 1890-1950 Track Listing
Credits of Pop Music: The Early Years 1890-1950
- Sam Marowitz
- Sax (Alto)
- George Marsh
- Drums
- Leroy Maxey
- Drums
- Jimmy Maxwell
- Trumpet
- Herbert Mills
- Guitar, Vocals, Vocal Effect
- Toots Mondello
- Sax (Alto)
- Chauncey Morehouse
- Drums
- Joe Tricky Sam Nanton
- Trombone
- Benny Payne
- Piano
- Fred Petry
- Sax (Tenor)
- Bob Poland
- Sax (Baritone)
- Bill Rank
- Trombone
- Don Raye
- Vocals
- Dick Reynolds
- Piano
- Les Robinson
- Sax (Alto)
- Harry Rodgers
- Trombone
- Arthur Rollini
- Sax (Tenor)
- Mischa Russell
- Violin
- Jack Ryan
- String Bass
- Eddie Sauter
- Arranger
- Hymie Schertzer
- Sax (Alto)
- Arthur Schutt
- Piano
- Raymond Scott
- Piano, Director
- Ben Selvin
- Director, Producer
- Frank Signorelli
- Piano
- Jimmy Smith
- String Bass
- Bob Stephens
- Producer
- Jimmy Strong
- Clarinet, Sax (Tenor)
- Edwin Swayzee
- Trumpet
- Juan Tizol
- Trombone
- Dave Tough
- Drums
- Ted Vesely
- Trombone
- Jon Walton
- Sax (Tenor)
- Crawford Wethington
- Sax (Alto)
- De Priest Wheeler
- Trombone
- Arthur Whetsol
- Trumpet
- Morris White
- Banjo
- Bert Williams
- Vocals, Performer
- Lammar Wright, Sr.
- Trumpet
- Victor Young
- Producer
- Bernie Hanighen
- Producer
- Sam Weiss
- Drums
- Harry Barth
- Tuba
- Sterling Bose
- Trumpet
- Helvetia "Vet" Boswell
- Trumpet
- Charlie Butterfield
- Trombone
- Joe Catalyne
- Clarinet, Sax (Tenor)
- Max Farley
- Clarinet, Arranger, Sax (Tenor)
- Tony Gerhardi
- Banjo
- Harry Grey
- Producer
- Garry McAdams
- Guitar
- Dick McDonough
- Guica
- Frank Pinero
- Piano
- Justin Ring
- Producer
- Tommy Rockwell
- Producer
- Joe Tarto
- String Bass
- Roy Bargy
- Piano
- Mickey Bloom
- Trumpet
- Fuzzy Farrar
- Trumpet
- Tony Faso
- Trumpet
- Clint Neagley
- Sax (Alto)
- Pete Pumiglio
- Clarinet, Sax (Alto)
- Hank Stern
- Tuba
- Herb Weil
- Drums
- Charlie Castaldo
- Trombone
- Arnold Covey
- Guitar
- Forrest Crawford
- Sax (Tenor)
- Carroll Dickerson
- Violin
- Harry Goldfield
- Trumpet
- Jack Hansen
- Tuba
- Charlie Kegley
- Drums
- Matty Malneck
- Violin
- Fulton McGrath
- Piano
- Mike Pingatore
- Banjo
- Jack Purvis
- Trumpet
- Fred Robinson
- Trombone
- Leonard Sims
- Sax (Tenor)
- Charles Strickfaden
- Oboe, Sax (Baritone)
- Frank Walker
- Producer
- Harry White
- Trombone
- Johnny Williams
- Drums, String Bass
- Nora Bayes
- Vocals, Performer
- Andrew Brown
- Clarinet (Bass), Sax (Tenor)
- Seger Ellis
- Vocals
- Elmer Feldkamp
- Vocals
- John Jackson
- Research
- Lee Morse
- Vocals, Performer
- Harry Raderman
- Trombone
- Don Voorhees
- Performer
- Artie Shaw & His Orchestra
- Performer
- Benny Goodman & His Orchestra
- Performer
- Bunny Berigan & His Orchestra
- Performer
- Cab Calloway & His Orchestra
- Performer
- Duke Ellington & His Orchestra
- Performer
- Harry James & His Orchestra
- Performer
- Jack Teagarden Orchestra
- Performer
- Louis Armstrong & His Orchestra
- Performer
- Paul Whiteman Orchestra
- Performer
- Ted Lewis Orchestra
- Performer
- Teddy Wilson & His Orchestra
- Performer
- Woody Herman & His Orchestra
- Performer
- Louis Prima & His Orchestra
- Performer
- Eddy Duchin & His Orchestra
- Performer
- Kay Kyser & His Orchestra
- Performer
- Ray Noble & His Orchestra
- Performer
- Frank Froeba & His Swing Band
- Performer
- Don Voorhees & His Orchestra
- Performer
- Arnold Levine
- Art Direction
- Marc Kirkeby
- Research
- Ed Kirkeby
- Director, Producer
- Nat Brewster
- Research
- Mancy Carr
- Banjo
- Walter Kahn
- Trumpet
- Janet Boye
- Art Direction
- Boyce Cullen
- Trombone
- Harry Freeman
- Sax (Alto)
- Malcolm Crain
- Trumpet
- Wilbur Hall
- Trombone
- Slats Long
- Clarinet
- Charlie Margulis
- Trumpet
- Walter "Foots" Thomas
- Sax (Alto), Sax (Tenor), Sax (Baritone)
- Mike Trafficante
- String Bass
- Izzy Friedman
- Clarinet, Sax (Tenor)
- Chet Hazlett
- Clarinet, Clarinet (Bass), Sax (Alto)
- David Katzenstein
- Back Cover, Cover Photo
- Red Mayer
- Flute, Bassoon
- Randall Martin
- Label Design
- Leo McConville
- Trumpet
- Otto Hardwick
- Sax (Alto), Sax (Bass)
- Mario Perry
- Violin
- Charlie Sarrica
- Graphic Design
- Bill Trone
- Mellophone
- Candy Candido
- String Bass
- Matt Cavaluzzo
- Transfers
- Bob Effros
- Trumpet
- Sandy Lorenzo
- Marketing
- Fred Morrow
- Clarinet, Sax (Alto)
- Morty Palitz
- Producer
- Culver Pictures
- Photography
- Lou Shoobe
- String Bass
- Pinky Tomlin
- Vocals, Performer
- Carrol Walrond
- String Bass
- Michael Brooks
- Compilation Producer, Research
- Dave Wade
- Trumpet
- Harry Coster
- Engineer, Restoration
- Rosemary Mulligan
- Marketing
- Larry Abbott
- Clarinet
- Al Brackman
- Producer
- Andy Sannella
- Sax (Soprano)
- Artie Yeranian
- Graphic Design
- Patti Matheny
- Project Coordinator
- Shawn King
- Photography
- Jim Cassidy
- Trombone
- Ben Selvin Orchestra
- Performer
- Aunt Jemima
- Performer
- Max Terr
- Piano
- Ilene Bellovin
- Photo Research
- Lori Berkowitz
- Photo Research
- Jenny Friel
- Photo Research
- Ron Juliano
- Graphic Design
- Greg Lord
- Photography
- Tina McCarthy
- Research
- John Naatjes
- Tape Research
- Jeffrey Peisch
- Series Producer
- Erik Ryding
- Research
- Tracy Sham
- Photography
- Laura Lee Spence
- Research
- Joel Staniszewski
- Photography
- Judy Thomas
- Tape Research
- Dianne Spoto Shattuck
- Marketing
- Marni Elliott
- Marketing
- Gene Greene
- Vocals
- Pinafores
- Performer
- Kate Smith & Her Swanee Music
- Performer
- Joe Blue Four Ventui's
- Performer
- Walter Huston
- Vocals
- Louis Prima & His New Orleans Gang
- Performer
- Raymond Scott Quintette
- Performer
- Darren Salmieri
- Copy Coordination
- Brad Wellman
- String Bass
- Hymie Farberman
- Trumpet
- Herb Spencer
- Sax (Tenor)
- Clayton Duerr
- Guitar
- Otto "Coco" Heimel
- Guitar
- Marguerite Hisen
- Marketing
- Jimmy Lenner, Jr.
- Photography
- Lew Cobey
- Piano
- Ward Ley
- String Bass
- Cliff Hill
- String Bass
- Dave Harris
- Sax (Tenor)
- Sammy Lewis
- Trombone
- Herman Rose
- Producer
- Frank Collection Driggs
- Photography
- Michelle Kerrigan
- Marketing
- Doug McKeown
- Marketing
- Phil Gleason
- Clarinet, Sax (Alto)
- California Ramblers
- Performer
- Ruth Etting
- Vocals, Performer
- Frank Froeba
- Piano
- Slim & Slam
- Performer
- Sophie Tucker
- Vocals
- Eddie Cantor
- Vocals, Performer
- Mary Martin
- Performer
- Cliff "Ukelele Ike" Edwards
- Ukulele, Vocals, Performer
- Marty Martin
- Vocals
- Slim Gaillard
- Guitar
- Kitty Kallen
- Vocals
- John Mills, Sr.
- Guitar, Vocal Effect, Vocals
- Sonny Greer
- Drums
- United States Marine Band
- Performer
- Maurice Abravanel
- Director
- Sam Allen
- Piano
- Billy Altman
- Editorial Director
- Gene Anderson
- Piano
- Louis Armstrong
- Trumpet, Vocals
- George Arus
- Trombone
- Gene Austin
- Piano, Vocals, Performer
- Al Avola
- Guitar
- Red Ballard
- Trombone
- Bus Bassey
- Saxophone
- Artie Bernstein
- String Bass
- Emmett Berry
- Trumpet
- Vic Berton
- Drums
- Barney Bigard
- Clarinet, Sax (Tenor)
- Billie Holiday
- Vocals
- Adam Block
- Project Manager
- Rube Bloom
- Piano, Vocals
- Pete Briggs
- Tuba
- Arnold Brillhardt
- Sax (Alto)
- Vernon Brown
- Trombone
- George Brunies
- Trombone
- Harry Carney
- Clarinet, Sax (Baritone), Sax (Alto)
- Paul Cartwright
- Clarinet, Sax (Soprano), Sax (Tenor)
- Tony Colucci
- Banjo, Guitar
- Bert Curry
- Sax (Alto)
- Kurt Dieterle
- Violin
- Jimmy Dorsey
- Clarinet, Sax (Baritone), Sax (Alto)
- Tommy Dorsey
- Trombone, Trumpet
- Eddie Dougherty
- Drums
- Duke Ellington
- Piano, Arranger
- Buff Estes
- Sax (Alto)
- Nick Fatool
- Drums
- Fletcher Henderson
- Piano
- Doc Goldberg
- String Bass
- Fred Guy
- Guitar
- Jimmy Hamilton
- Clarinet
- John Hammond
- Producer
- Arville Harris
- Clarinet, Sax (Alto)
- Herbie Haymer
- Sax (Tenor)
- Lennie Hayton
- Banjo, Piano, Celeste
- J.C. Heard
- Drums
- Homer Hobson
- Trumpet
- Marjorie Hyams
- Vibraphone
- Freddie Jenkins
- Trumpet
- Jeff Jones
- Executive Producer
- Kathryn King
- Editorial Production
- Stan King
- Drums
- Manny Klein
- Trumpet
- Nappy Lamare
- Guitar
- Cliff Leeman
- Drums
- Fud Livingston
- Arranger
- John Lucas
- Drums
- Lawrence Lucie
- Guitar
- Ferde Grofé
- Arranger
- John Philip Sousa
- Conductor
- Gene Autry
- Vocals, Performer
- Golden Gate Quartet
- Performer
- The Boswell Sisters
- Performer
- Bing Crosby
- Vocals, Performer
- Annette Hanshaw
- Vocals, Performer
- Peggy Lee
- Vocals, Performer
- The Mills Brothers
- Performer
- Louis Prima
- Trumpet, Vocals
- Dinah Shore
- Vocals, Performer
- Frank Sinatra
- Vocals, Performer
- Prince Charles
- Director
- Mildred Bailey
- Vocals
- Billy Bauer
- Guitar
- Bunny Berigan
- Trumpet, Performer, Vocals
- Will Bradley
- Director, Performer
- Cab Calloway
- Director, Vocals
- Eddie Condon
- Guitar
- Eddy Duchin
- Piano, Director
- Benny Goodman
- Clarinet, Director
- Bill Harris
- Trombone
- Woody Herman
- Clarinet, Vocals, Director
- Johnny Hodges
- Clarinet, Sax (Soprano), Sax (Alto)
- Lena Horne
- Vocals
- Harry James
- Trumpet, Director
- Al Jolson
- Vocals, Performer
- Jonah Jones
- Trumpet
- John Kirby
- String Bass
- Kay Kyser
- Director, Performer
- Eddie Lang
- Guitar
- Flip Phillips
- Sax (Tenor)
- Mel Powell
- Piano, Arranger
- Pee Wee Russell
- Clarinet
- Artie Shaw
- Clarinet
- Slam Stewart
- String Bass
- Jack Teagarden
- Trombone
- Joe Venuti
- Violin
- Fats Waller
- Piano
- Ethel Waters
- Vocals, Performer
- Lee Wiley
- Vocals, Performer
- Teddy Wilson
- Piano, Performer
- Cootie Williams
- Trumpet
- Red Nichols
- Cornet
- Dave Barbour
- Guitar
- Lawrence Brown
- Trombone
- Ralph Burns
- Piano, Arranger
- Joe Bushkin
- Piano
- Pete Candoli
- Trumpet
- Cozy Cole
- Drums
- Ziggy Elman
- Trumpet
- Chubby Jackson
- String Bass
- Carl Kress
- Banjo
- Ted Lewis
- Clarinet, Violin, Sax (Alto), Performer
- Lou McGarity
- Trombone
- Ray McKinley
- Drums, Vocals
- Miff Mole
- Trombone
- Benny Morton
- Trombone
- Ray Noble
- Assistant Director
- Tony Pastor
- Sax (Tenor)
- Adrian Rollini
- Bass, Saxophone
- Zutty Singleton
- Drums
- Freddie Slack
- Piano
- Charlie Teagarden
- Trumpet
- Frankie Trumbauer
- Bassoon, Saxophone











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