Paese Mio Bello 2 CD set is now available.

I'm very pleased to present the compilation , Paese Mio Bello, which I produced for the JSP label.  This is the first collection of it's kind, featuring 44 historic Italian-American recordings, 40 of which have been previously unreleased, at least since the original 78rpm records were issued.  The selections were recorded between 1915 and 1939 and vary from  traditional rural folk recordings to elegant divas singing the popular music of 1920's and 30's Italian-America.  The discs have been expertly transferred and mastered by Adrian Cosentini.

The 2 CD set is available for purchase for $22.  To order online and pay via PayPal, just click the link on the right.  If you would like to order via US mail, please contact me at italian78s@gmail.com .

The track listings are as follows:

Volume 1 

1. Saltarello Romano Vicaro Vincenzo 

2.Pappa Mio M’ ha Maritari Coppia Donnes 

3.S. Margherita Belice I Sei Mafiusi

4.Stornelli Romani Coppia Voccia 

5.Mussilino a Marsala I Quattro Buffoni 

6. A Fronna Limone Papele e Giovanni 

7.Amicizia Mazurka Nullo Romani 

8.Quadriglia Alla Siciliana Vincenzo Adamo 

9. Serenata Di Silvestri P. Eliseo, A. DeVivo 

10 .A Sa Nuaresa Luigino Cossu 

11. Mazurka Pensiero Mio I Cinque Abruzzesi 

12.Lu Primo Amore Pasquale Sciascia 

13. Fiscaletto Siciliano A. Luppino, J. Elongi 

14. Stornelli Sentimentali O. Balducci, E. Perna 

15. Novena Di Natale Zampogna e Ciaramella

16. Mistere ’ E Marechiare Eduardo Cianelli 

17. La Piccola Zingara Armonica

18. Poldina Bella Raoul Romito 

19. Sospiri e Baci I Suonatori Ambulente 

20. Tarantella Potenzese Banda del Villagio
21. ’A Notturna Gaspare Marone e Co. 

22. Dolci Recordi I Cinque Siciliani-Americani 

Volume 2 

Alfredo Bascetta

1.Addo Fatiche Giuva Giuseppe D’Laurentis 

2.Napoli e New York Orchestra Italiana Tafarella 

3. Fantasia Gilda Mignonette 

4.Valser Popolare Orchestra Coloniale 

5.’A Cerenara Coppia Parisi 

6. Mia Doce Speme Sestetto Moderno 

7. Eviva Alfredo Smith Giuseppe Milano 

8. Pasqua in Festa, Polka I Cinque Compagnari 

9. Ultima Novita Alfredo Bascetta 

10. Sogni Dorati Sestetto Abruzzese di Ballo   

11. Li Picciouedde D’America Michele Rapanaro

12. La Bella Palermo Quartetto Allegro 

13. A Nonna Nonna Vuolo e Narcisco 

Gilda Mignonette

14. Paes Mio Bello Frank Fazio 

15. Rosa The’ Felice Dobrilla 

16. Sciudezza Bella Nina de Charny 

17. Funiculi-Funicula Vasella’s Italian Band

18.Senza A’ Varca Rafaelle Balsamo 

19. Tutt’e Marie Gina Santelia

20. Sogno di Bimba Orchestrina Napoletana 

21. Tammurriata Nuvella Teresa De Matienzo 

22. O’ Malandrino Sig. Gigi Pisano 

 

Voci di Primavera

I think it's universal for vendors around the world to add a little spice to their spiel as they hawk their wares.  I've heard fruit salesmen in South Korea put a spin on their stock and fish mongers in Malta trying to make a sale in three different languages as they expertly cut fillets.  Here in the United States, it's not so common anymore.  My folks told me about people who would go through the neighborhood selling fruit and vegetables, or collecting rags and old iron when they were kids in the 40's.  These days the closest thing we have is an ice cream truck playing "The Entertainer".  The Italian fruit vendor and his songs were a common sight in the days of old.  Friends have told me the tradition is still very much alive in Sicily

In the 20's a few records were made by popular recording artists singing their version of fruit vendors songs about their produce.  Genarro Quaranta made a great one, Coppia Voccia made another which is fantastic.  Here is one by the "Venditore Napoletani".  I'm not sure who the artist is, but he has a wonderful voice, which leads me to believe that he was a professional entertainer imitating a fruit vendor rather than the real deal.  Who knows?  If you do, please, pass it on.

Raoul Romito

Cover of 1924 Columbia Record Catalog , courtesy of Pat Conte

Raoul Romito is one of my favorite Italian singers.  He was very popular in the early 20th century and his records show up frequently.  Romito had a rich tenor voice and was heavily influenced by Enrico Caruso.  He recorded a wide variety of material, from art and popular music with full orchestra accompaniment to folk songs with guitar, mandolin and violin accompaniment.  Romito began his recording career around 1915 and continued into the 1930's.  All of his recordings were on the Columbia label.

Here is a great recording of Romito paying tribute to the Italian anarchist Sante Geronimo Caserio, who fatally stabbed the President of France in 1894, to avenge the death of two of his comrades who were executed by the French Government.  I really like the laid back guitar and violin accompaniment, along with the beautiful choir.  Romito just soars over it all.  The melody is one that shows up quite often on some of the early Italian records.

 


Special thanks to Leandro Campagni for posting this video.

Where to Begin?

Whenever I tell people that I collect old Italian records, the first person that they usually mention is Enrico Caruso.  No Italian singer was more popular than Caruso, and while some may argue that there were better singers, none were more influential.  Caruso made approximately 290 recordings and was a superstar in his day.    The image on the right is from a Victor record sleeve which boasted, "Caruso makes records for the Victor Company exclusively".

For the most part I don't collect opera records, I instead focus on folk and popular music.  When I heard this 1915 record, Siciliana, from the opera Cavalleria Rusticana by Pietro Macagni, I was amazed at the power and presence of Caruso's voice.  I think it helps that he is only accompanied only by a harp rather than a full orchestra, but the recording makes it clear why Caruso was king.