Background information about the recordings can be found below the audio selections.
“Where’s My Sweetie Hiding?”
Arcadia Peacock Orchestra of St Louis; Chic Harvey, vocal
(OKeh 40254-B mx 8764-A) November 29, 1924
“Let Me Be The First To Kiss You Good Morning”
Arcadia Peacock Orchestra of St Louis
(OKeh 40254-A mx8767-B) November 29, 1924
From the Edward Mitchell Collection, here are two sides by an excellent St. Louis jazz band, directed by violinist Jack Ford, which took its name from the city’s long-since-demolished Arcadia Ballroom.
This band had a rather distinctive, and I think very nice, style. It’s unfortunate that its entire recorded output of twelve sides, made for OKeh between January 1924 and March 1925, was produced with the soon-to-be-obsolete pre-microphone era acoustic recording technology. (The British Parlophone label issued a 1927 electrical recording credited to the Arcadia Peacock Orchestra of St. Louis, but the band on it is the Sol S. Wagner Orchestra.)
In my opinion, both of these recordings are outstanding. “Where’s My Sweetie Hiding?” is by far the jazziest of the two, but I think the band’s arrangement of “Let Me Be the First to Kiss You Good Morning” is incredibly charming, making it my favorite.
While digging around online for information about the band, I came across this interesting article on the Syncopated Times’ website about its banjo player, Porter Brown.
I know that at least one additional record by this band exists in Eddie’s collection. But I am not sure where within the collection it is located. Once I come across it, I will definitely prioritize it for digitization.