Eddie Calvert - Oh Mein Papa / Mystery St.

So soon after the last post? I know, it should be at least six weeks, but this is AMAZING.

From a little pile of 78s I found in a charity shop in Frome, where as you may know (if you've ever visited shotsoffreedom.blogspot.co.uk) I get about half my records.

This is a single which apparently got to number 1 in the UK in 1953. The single itself ('Oh Mein Papa') is pretty good, but nothing terribly special. Sounds like it might have got to number 1 in the UK in 1953, that kind of thing.

The b-side is astonishing! It's some kind of Mexican ghost tango. Which incidentally has become my new genre of choice. Give it a whirl, it's great.

Hope you like it. Here.

Paul Whiteman and his Concert Orchestra (with Paul Robeson) - Ol' Man River / Showboat - Vocal Gems

Great stuff all round, here. I have no idea if this is a classic version of this song, it might be all over every CD of Paul Robeson everywhere, but it's a good version. Some excellent backing vocals popping up at the end, too. 'Showboat - Vocal Gems' is a collection of bits of other tracks from the... film? This seems to be quite common on 78s, there's a kind of a medley of greatest hits from the soundtrack, rather than individual songs.

It's here for you all.

Lonnie Donegan - Putting On The Style / Gamblin' Man

Seems somehow appropriate to start with the last record ever to get to number 1 (in the UK at least) released only on 78rpm.

Listen here.