WURLITZER 165 SOUND FILES
This page is an annex to my online catalog of
Wurlitzer Style 165 Band Organ rolls, to which you can be
transported by clicking HERE
All the tunes you will hear were recorded from Style 165 band organ
rolls played on various Wurlitzer Style 165 band organs, particulars
for which are given with each selection.
The first group of tunes are ones that nobody has yet been able to
identify, the labels on their rolls being lost and no Wurlitzer
literature having surfaced that gives the program for the roll the
tune comes from. ** Nos. 8, 9, 14 and 15 still unidentified
**
If by a stroke of luck or genius you recognize a tune in this group,
please email me, Matthew Caulfield, RIGHT HERE
UNKNOWN TUNES
No. 1. A march from roll 6504, made ca. 1919-1920. This
recording was made from the Glen Echo Park Wurlitzer 165 band organ
owned by the U.S. National Park Service and expertly maintained by
Durward Center, a mechanical music restoration man in Baltimore, Md.
The Glen Echo band organ, built in 1926, is the only Wurlitzer 165
still playing on its own
merry-go-round.
We now know that the roll called 6504 is actually
roll 6532 (February 1922) and that this tune is no. 3 on that
roll, "Old Reliable," by Abe Losch.
No. 2. A raggy tune from before 1915 found on roll 6505-A,
made in 1914 or early 1915. The recording was made from the
Wurlitzer Style 165 band organ formerly of Carrousel Music,
Chambersburg, Pa., now in the American Treasure Tour collection,
Oaks, Pa.
Identified 3-23-14 by Andrew Barrett as "Cross The
Great Divide" by George W. Meyer (1913)
No. 3. A waltz from roll 6505-A, which dates the waltz before
1915. This was also recorded from the Carrousel Music Wurlitzer 165.
Identified 7-24-15 by Mikey Mills as "That
Hesitation Waltz; Dream Waltz," by Ted S. Barron (Feb 21, 1914)
No. 4. A peppy march or two-step from roll 6505, probably
made in 1917 or shortly thereafter, recorded from the Carrousel
Music Wurlitzer 165.
Identified 8-9-13 by Andrew Barrett as "Under The
Big Tent," by Ned Brill (May 1, 1913)
No. 5. An unidentified march, probably a medley composition,
from roll 6505, made in late 1917 or 1918. The organ playing is the
new Seabreeze Park Verbeeck 165. The tune was incorrectly identified
on recut labels as J. S. Zamecnik's "Spirit Of America (A Patriotic
Patrol)."
Identified 4-24-22 by Ian Fraser as "Uncle
Sam," by Noonan & Bell (Feb 10, 1910)
No. 6. An unidentified waltz, a rather melancholy one, from
roll 6509-A, made in early 1915. The organ is the Glen Echo Park
Wurlitzer 165 in Glen Echo, Md., just inside the Washington Beltway
on the Potomac River.
Identified 7-9-14 by Mikey Mills as "Parfum
d'Amour = Love's Perfume," by S. R. Henry (Aug 11, 1914)
No. 7. A fox trot from roll 6509-A, also recorded on the Glen
Echo 165.
Identified 3-12-06 by Michael J. Phillips as "In
The Candle-Light," by Fleta Jan Brown (Oct 27, 1913)
No. 8. A waltz, probably from 1914 or 1915, on roll 6516-A,
issued in 1915. Played on the Carrousel Music Wurlitzer 165.
No. 9. A waltz from 1915 or 1916 on roll 6521, issued in
1916. Played on the Carrousel Music Wurlitzer 165.
No. 10. A one-step from the same roll and organ as no. 9
Identified 4-7-14 by Mikey Mills as "Good-bye, Old
Mexico," by Billy Johnson and James Brockman (May 16, 1914)
No. 11. A second waltz from the same roll and organ as no. 9.
Identified 1-6-14 by Mikey Mills as "Muriel
Waltz," by Joseph M. Daly (1915)
No. 12. A very lively waltz from roll 6523-A, a spirited roll
from mid-1916. The organ heard here is not a Wurlitzer, but a German
organ made by A. Ruth & Sohn, now playing 165 rolls at Crescent
Park, Riverside, R.I.
Identified 3-12-06 by Michael J. Phillips as
"Mo-ana; Hawaiian Waltz," by Harry B. Olsen (May 5, 1916)
No. 13. Roll 6529-A from early 1917 contains this
unidentified march, played here on the Carrousel Music Wurlitzer
165.
Identified 1-12-14 by Andrew Barrett as "Pull The
Cork Out Of Erin (And Let The River Shannon Flow)" by Fred Fisher
(Feb 2, 1917).
No. 14. A march or two-step from roll 6532 (mid-1917),
recorded by Carrousel Music.
Montie Soderquist notes a strong similarity to "Hello! Ma Baby,"
written in 1899 by Howard & Emerson. But the consensus of
those consulted says that it is not the same tune. This would not
be the first time a later melody echoes that of an earlier popular
tune.
No. 15. A waltz from 1930 or 1931, found on roll 6661 from
early 1931. It is played here on a church-pipe organ formerly owned
by the late Ray Siou, of Oakland, Calif. The recording is missing
the beginning section of the tune.
9-25-2012: Steve Berry notes a similarity to "I Want To
Dream By The Old Mill Stream," by Bryan, Meskill & Rose
(1931).
No. 16. A waltz, probably from the 1923-1926 era, on roll
6636, issued in mid-1926. This excerpt was recorded from the
Wurlitzer 165 owned by Glenn Thomas.
Identified 6-04-2015 by Glenn Thomas (from an
original Wurlitzer label for roll 6636) as "Sympathy Waltz (Just A
Bit Of Sympathy)," by Irving Bibo (1926).
No. 17. This final unidentified tune, lost up to now but
discovered in the collection of Donald Neilson, is a two-step from
the WW I era, found on roll 6532 from 1917. It was recorded from the
new Seabreeze Verbeeck 165.
Identified 10-2-00 by Tim Trager as "Ching Chong,"
by Lee S. Roberts (1917).
FAVORITE TUNES
Now that we have the obligatory stuff out of the way, it's time to
offer you some of the best (in my opinion) tunes that the Rudolph
Wurlitzer Company arranged for its Style 165 rolls -- and I have
them all, over 105 ten-tune rolls and 53 six-tune rolls.
Salut a Pesth, by Henri Kowalski (1877). A lively Hungarian
concert march from roll 6522, played on the Glen Echo organ.
Mi Teresita, by Teresa Carreño (1898). This waltz, sometimes
called "Petite Waltz," was written by the Venezuelan composer for
her little daughter, Teresa Tagliapietra (the title means "My Little
Teresa"). Wurlitzer arranged it in 1923 for roll 6535-A, heard here
from the Glen Echo 165.
Boston Commandery, by T.M. Carter (1892). A march from the
very popular march/waltz roll 6502, recorded from the old Seabreeze
Wurlitzer 165
The Triumphant Banner, by E. T. Paull (1907). Another march
from the very popular march/waltz roll 6502, recorded from the
Play-Rite Wurlitzer 165
Go Home And Tell Your Mother (That I Love You), by Baer,
Russell & Schuster (1927). This fox trot, from the show "Love In
The Rough," is on roll 6643 and is played here on the Glen Echo
Wurlitzer 165.
The Alley Cat Song, by Frank Bjørn (1962). A clever fox trot
arrangement by Ralph Tussing, successor to Wurlitzer's band organ
business, in 1962 on roll 6722. It was recorded in too-cold weather
from the Glen Echo organ.
Roll 'Em Girls (Roll Your Own), by Marr, Heath & Fletcher
(1925). A fox trot celebrating the daring fashion of wearing
stockings rolled down to the ankles. The tune was included on roll
6633 from late 1925, and is recorded here on the old Seabreeze 165
when it used a wood block rather than tympani action, sounding like
a crazed woodpecker.
Good Night, by Wood, Bibo & Conrad (1923). A waltz
lullaby on roll 6617, made in mid-1923. Recorded from the Glen Echo
Wurlitzer 165.
A Midsummer Night's Dream (Op. 61), by Felix Mendelssohn
(1844); arranged by Sidney Smith. From roll 6514, recorded from the
Glen Echo Wurlitzer 165.
Maggie Murphy's Home, by Dave Braham (1890). A waltz from the
1890 musical comedy "Reilly And The 400," which was included on roll
6519, a re-issue of roll 6551 (1919). Recorded from the Glen Echo
organ.
Santiago, by A. Corbin (1911). A Spanish waltz from roll
6529, made in late 1921. Recorded from the new Seabreeze Verbeeck
Wurlitzer-165 replica.
Repasz Band, by Charles C. Sweeley (1901). The signature
march of the award-winning Williamsport, Pa., band of the same name,
from roll 6530, made in late 1921. Recorded, a bit too fast, from
the old Seabreeze Wurlitzer 165.
Here is the same march played at a better tempo on the Seabreeze
Verbeeck 165.
Sheila Hornberger, who is a current member of the Repasz Band, says
"Both speeds are acceptable, we've played it both ways. The slower
of the two, though, is the more common tempo, and thank goodness,
because on most occasions, we stand up after we play the break
strain for the 2nd time."
At The Darktown Strutters' Ball, by Shelton Brooks (1917). A
well-known fox trot on roll 6546, from late 1918. Recorded from the
old Seabreeze 165, affected at the time by cold fall weather.
Pickaninny Dreams, by Peter De Rose (1919). A waltz from roll
6554, made in mid-1919. Recorded from the old Seabreeze Wurlitzer
165.
Ka-Lu-A, by Jerome Kern (1921). This fox trot, from the stage
musical "Good Morning Dearie," was found by the courts to infringe,
perhaps unconsciously, on Bernard & Black's 1919 "Dardanella."
From roll 6606, made in early 1922. Recorded from the old Seabreeze
Wurlitzer 165.
Pick Me Up And Lay Me Down In Dear Old Dixieland, by Kalmar
& Ruby (1922). A foxtrot missing from roll 6609, here newly
arranged by Tom Meijer in 1999 to perfect the mid-1922 roll.
Recorded from the Carrousel Music Wurlitzer 165.
Georgette, by Ray Henderson (1922). A lively two step from
roll 6612, made in late 1922. Recorded from the old Seabreeze 165.
Jealous, by "Little" Jack Little (1924). A flowing fox trot
from roll 6625, made in mid-1924. Recorded from the Glen Echo 165 on
the day it was tuned for the season.
Oh Lizzie (A Lover's Lament), by Irving Bibo (1927). A clever
but little-known fox-trot lamentation from roll 6641, made in
mid-1927. Recorded from the old Seabreeze 165.
Happy Days Are Here Again, by Milton Ager (1929). A fox trot
originally from the 1930 MGM film "Chasing Rainbows" and the 1930
Columbia film "Rain Or Shine," but today best known from its being
played at Democratic nominating conventions. From roll 6656, made in
early 1930. Recorded from the old Seabreeze 165.
Carioca, by Vincent Youmans (1933). A fox trot with a Latin
flavor, from the RKO film "Flying Down To Rio," on roll 6672, made
in early 1934. Recorded from the Glen Echo 165.
Lights Out, Sweetheart (Close Your Eyes And Dream Of Me), by
Billy Hill (1935). A very danceable fox trot from roll 6674, made in
early 1936. Recorded from the Glen Echo 165.
Lambeth Walk, by Noel Gay (1937). A fox trot from "Me And My
Girl" on roll 6680, made in early 1939. Recorded from the Glen Echo
165.
Whispering Hope, by Alice Hawthorne (1868). An old waltz/hymn
put onto roll 6698, made in early 1950. Recorded from the Glen Echo
organ.
Regimentskinder Marsch, by Julius Fucik. A favorite European
march from roll Eur-165-1, arranged by Tom Meijer. Played on the
Carrousel Music Wurlitzer 165.
March Of The Mannikins, adapted by D. Onivas (1923). A
sprightly fox trot, missing for years from roll 6617, recovered from
a perfect roll owned by Steve Lanick. Recorded from the Seabreeze
Verbeeck 165.
Yes! We Have No Bananas, by Silver & Cohn (1923). A fox
trot from the stage revue "Make It Snappy." Recorded from the Glen
Echo organ playing roll 6617.
Drifting Along, by M. K. Jerome (1936). A waltz from the
Warner Brothers film "The Captain's Kid" included on roll 6678 (late
1937). An abridgement from the Seabreeze Verbeeck 165.
Take Me To My Alabam', by Harry Tobias (1916). A lively one
step from an equally lively 1916 roll, 6525. An abridgement from the
Seabreeze Verbeeck 165.
Hello, Dolly!, by Jerry Herman (1963). Made famous in the
1964 stage musical of the same name. Arranged by Ralph Tussing for
the last 165 roll issued by him, roll 6724 in 1967. Ralph's
arrangement began with the verse (14 seconds into the MP-3); I added
on recuts a bit of his chorus as an intro for the tune. Played on
the Seabreeze Verbeeck 165.
Raggedy Ann, by Jerome Kern (1923). A forgotten but
interesting fox trot from the equally-forgotten 1923 stage musical
"The Stepping Stones," preserved on roll 6624 (mid-1924). Recorded
from the Seabreeze Verbeeck 165.
Home Sweet Home (Medley Waltzes). Short excerpt from the
middle of this 12-minute-long waltz roll containing one continuous
medley of traditional tunes. Recorded from the Seabreeze Verbeeck
165.
Lady Luck, by Ray Perkins (1929). A fox trot from the Warner
Brothers film "Show Of Shows" included on roll 6655 (early 1930).
From the Seabreeze Verbeeck 165.
Ivy (Cling To Me), by Johnson & Jones (1922). A fox trot
on roll 6616, made in June 1923. Recorded from the Seabreeze
Verbeeck 165.
Bombasto, by O. R. Farrar (1895). A march, missing from roll
6530 (Nov. 1921), though believed to still be in someone's roll
collection as a fragment. Failing to locate the original after long
search, I had this new arrangement made by Tom Meijer, of Goes,
Holland, to be added to new recuts. Recorded from the Seabreeze
Verbeeck 165.
Red Moon, by Henri De Martini (1922). A good waltz for
skating and dancing from roll 6616 (June 1923). Recorded from the
Seabreeze Verbeeck 165.
The Wang Wang Blues, by Mueller, Johnson & Busse (1921).
A great old standard that is arranged for roll 6577, from August
1921, to really give the band organ a workout. Recorded from the
Play-Rite Wurlitzer 165.
Estudiantina, by Emile Waldteufel; arranged by Lacome (1881).
A famous waltz from roll 6502, recorded in 1985 from the Griffith
Park 165, remarkable, in the words of long-time owner Ross R. Davis,
for "its smooth, flowing, mellow tone."
Entry Of The Gladiators (Thunder And Blazes) (Op. 68), by
Julius Fucik (1902/1911). A triumphal march from roll 6526, recorded
in 1985 from the Griffith Park 165.
Jolly Fellows, by Robert Vollstedt (ca. 1895). This waltz
from roll 6530 (Nov. 1921) was captured during the 1985 Griffith
Park recording session.
The Minstrel King, by Charles C. Sweeley (1911). A fine march
from roll 6512, which was a reissue of a 1918 roll, recorded from
the Griffith Park 165 in 1985.
Palesteena, by Conrad & Robinson (1920). A novelty two
step or fox trot from roll 6577, issued in August 1921. From the
Griffith Park organ in 1985.
Thurston, by Anthony J. Stasny. This march, composed ca. 1918
to honor the once-famous magician Howard Thurston, was recorded from
the Carrousel Music Wurlitzer 165 playing roll 6505.
Cecile Waltz, by Frank W. McKee (1914). Recorded from the
Carrousel Music 165's playing of roll 6505.
Our Director, by F. E. Bigelow (1895). A spirited march from
roll 6503, recorded from the old Seabreeze Park 165 in the late
1960's, when the organ was using a wood block instead of the proper
tympani action. You can also hear the Seabreeze sparrows at the
beginning of the recording. They were impossible to remove from the
merry-go-round building and are always to be heard in the silence
between tunes.
Hornpipe Polka, by F.J. Smith (1888). This polka was recorded
from roll 6522 on the Seabreeze Verbeeck 165, while the park was in
operation, with rider noises in the background.
Scatter-Brain, by Masters, Keene & Bean (1939). A fox
trot from roll 6682, issued Feb. 17, 1940. From the Carrousel Music
Wurlitzer 165.
Over The Waves = Sobre Las Olas, by Juventino Rosas (1888). A
waltz often associated with merry-go-round music, from roll 6501.
Played on the Glen Echo organ.
This Ole House, by Stuart
Hamblen (1954). A fox trot from roll 6708, arranged by Ralph
Tussing. Recorded from the Glen Echo organ by Andrew Lardieri in May
2015.
Los Matrimonios, Salvavidas, by Armando Romeu. A danzon from
roll 6524. This tune is missing on known copies, but exists here in
a recording, made from a Wurlitzer 157 band organ by Paul Eakins,
and now owned by his grandson Chris Carlisle, proprietor of the
http://www.bandorganmusic.com website.
Kaiser-Jäger Marsch = Austrian Army March (Op. 114),
by Richard Eilenberg (1890). A march from roll 6529, issued in
October 1921, recorded from the Seabreeze Park Verbeeck 165.
Wurlitzer simply titled the march "Sharpshooters," leading to its
being misidentified on roll labels until 2017, when Mikey Mills
discovered its true identity, confirmed by the original sheet music.
In addition to these selected tunes you can hear eight of the ten
tunes on newly discovered roll 6532 (which I will be offering for
sale) by clicking here and going
to the catalog entry for that roll.
To hear any of the ten tunes on newly discovered roll 6720 (which is
also for sale), click here to go
to the catalog entry for that roll.