"(That's Her–That's Her) What Did I Tell Ya?" The Red Hotters (Okeh, 1925) Jules Berkin, Harry Reser

Julius Berkin, t, co-ldr / poss. Donald Lindley, t / Harry Raderman, tb, co-ldr / poss. Oscar Raderman, as / poss. Jules Nassberg, ts / Harry Reser, bj / poss. Henry Scharf or Billy Wirges, p / bb / poss. Herman Berkin, d.
General Phonograph Co. Studios
New York, New York ca. Jan 1926

73914-B “(That’s Her–That’s Her) What Did I Tell Ya?” (Walter Donaldson) OK 40543

Transferred with 3.0ML lateral stylii via VM670SP and 3.0ML VM95SP cartridges in an Audiotechnica AT-LP120 Turntable. Declicked and given light EQ by Colin Hancock. Discs from Colin Hancock Collection. Discographical Information from Javier Soria Laso, Variety Magazine, Vince Girodano, Nick Dellow, Mark Berresford, Rust’s “American Dance Band Discography” and “Jazz Records,” DAHR. Images courtesy of Vince Giordano, Nick Dellow, Andrew Sammut, and Colin Hancock.

Brooklyn based trumpeter and bandleader Julius Berkin was already a seasoned studio vet going back to 1919 when he and Harry Raderman co-founded the Red Hotters in 1925. It may be that the band was formed out of some sessions with Billy Wynne in 1924, or that Raderman and Berkin knew eachother from other work earlier in the decade. Either way, it seems that by late spring of 1925, the Red Hotters were recording regularly as a part of Okeh’s roster of hot dance orchestras, continuing until late 1926. “What Did I Tell Ya” is everything I love about this band. The infectious bouncy beat driven by Harry Reser, Joe Tarto, Billy Wirges, and Herman Berkin gives the band the perfect groove to play this hot cut-time dance number. The alto solo from Oscar Raderman is calm and poised like falling leaves, while Berkin’s own solo is driving and dynamic, supported by a wonderful off-beat banjo rhythm from Reser. I am amazed that such an incredible and lively recording was done using the Truetone acoustic process, but somehow it all worked out here.