Starting around 1918, pianist Emil Coleman (born in Odessa, Russia on June 19, 1892) led one of THE most popular dance bands, starting out at the Montmartre Hotel in New York City where, remaining to about 1929, he developed the "medley" form of dance band repertoire soon to be emulated by all who played at such venues. Over the years his aggregations were also featured at the Riviera, Central Park Casino, Plaza, St. Regis, Hotel Pierre, The Trocadero, Mocambo, Versailles Club and, his most enduring, the famed Waldorf-Astoria. Between 1923 and 1934 he also registered 12 hits on the U.S. national Pop charts for Vocalion, Brunswick and Colombia, and yet, unlike many of his contemporaries, not only is there no full CD devoted to his music, very little is known about the man (one CD-R “on demand” is available reproducing a 45-rpm E.P containing 4 rumba selections - Rumba Walter Winchell, Linda Mujer, La Television, Un Poquito De Tu Amor - but the sound transfer is poor).He was active right up to the time of his death in New York on January 26, 1965 as the result of a kidney infection, as these Decca, Roulette and Philips vinyl LPs show:“Let Yourself Go To The Latin Rhythms Of Emil Coleman And His Orchestra” - Decca DL 8183 - 1956: A1. Paso Dobles (Spanish Two Step); A2. Cielo Andaluz; A3. El Relicario; A4. Espana Cani; A5. Punao De Rosas; A6. Suspiros De Espana; B1. Que Sabroso; B2. Bogota; B3. Guabina Chiquinquirena; B4. Alma Llanera; B5. Chispa; B6. El Llanero:“Emil Coleman At The Waldorf-Astoria” - Roulette R-25040 - 1958: Side A: 1. Medley of Rosalie - Easy To Love - Do I Love You? - How High The Moon - Ridin' High; 2. Medley of That's Entertainment - Have You Met Miss Jones? - You Couldn't Be Cuter - The Gentleman Is A Dope - Rhode Island Is Famous For You; 3. Medley of By Myself - A Fine Romance - Say Something Nice About Me - So In Love - I've Got My Eyes On You. Side B: 1. Medley of I Won't Dance - All The Things You Are - The Lady Is A Tramp - Sailboat In The Moonlight - A Foggy Day - This is It; 2. Medley of I Can't Get Started - The Folks Who Live On The Hill - Chasing Shadows - Little Man You've Had A Busy Day; 3. Medley of Sunny - Who Made My Little Boy Blue? - Let's Call The Whole Thing Off - When The Leaves Bid The Trees Goodbye - Nice Work If You Can Get It:“Emil Coleman Lights Up The Plaza” - Philips 200-041) - early 1960s A1. Who Cares?; A2. The Man I Love; A3. Give Me The Simple Life; A4. Eso Es El Amor (Cha-Cha); A5. St. Louis Blues; A6. Do It Again; B1. I've Got A Crush On You; B2. I Wish I Were In Love Again (from "Babes In Arms"); B3. Soon; B4. Similau; B5. Ballin' The Jack; B6. Love Is Sweeping The Country.Perhaps someone such as Collector's Choice will see their way clear to reproduce the albums in CD format, but what we really need to see is such a compilation containing all 12 singles he put onto the national charts and their B-sides. Those are shown in the Comments below for your information.
