NOTE: Some time ago I uploaded a very interesting 1930s Soviet recording: tango „Champaigne Bubbles\" played by Jose M. Lucchesi & His Orchestra (see http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3mtAfVJ6irg ). The identification of that semi-anonymous Soviet edition was possible with the help od YT friend borislev2000 . According to his story, in 1930s some West European sides were selected for pressing in the Soviet Union by a member of the Soviet Trade Mission in London, Mark Loshak. These early Soviet editions of West European tunes were produced with a little respect to the original information on the matrix, ignoring the names of composers etc. as well as pronouncing the bandleaders' names phonetically, thus making sometimes their identification almost impossible.
Here is side B of the very shellack, entitled „One-Step\" (that mysteriously laconic title hiding „Lady Of Madrid\" - a passodoble that was well known in European dance halls in mid 1930s) and performed by „Okiestr pod uprawlenijem Geraldo\" (Orchestra directed by Geraldo), Noginskij Zawod ca 1932-35? The vocal refrain can be sung by Cyril Grantham, who often recorded with Geraldo's band in 1930s.
The slideshow contains unique photographs of Madrid in 1910-30
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GERALDO (b. London 1903 ; d. 1974 in Vevey, Switzerland) né: Gerald Walcan Bright - British bandleader, organ player and pianist who trained at the Royal Academy of Music. At the age of 16 he ran away from home, boarded the HMS Cameronia and sailed to New York City and back as a member of the ship's dance orchestra. During the early 1920s Bright led a series of little bands, establishing himself at the helm of the St. Anne's-on-the-Sea Hotel Majestic Orchestra for five years beginning in 1925. In 1930 Bright and his band toured Latin America where he absorbed the sounds of the orquesta tipica. He renamed himself and his ensemble the „Geraldo Gaucho Tango Band\" and experienced great success with the public at the Savoy Hotel in London. As the \"Tango King of England\", he had a Royal Command Performance in 1933. By 1937, the \"Gauchos\" had disappeared and Geraldo was back leading a regular Swing and dance orchestra (\"Geraldo & His Sweet Music\"). His was one of the dominant orchestras of the period, occupying the same place in British music that Glenn Miller did in American music. In late 1938, Geraldo started the Sunday Night Swing Club Concerts at the St. Martin theater. He toured extensively throughout the war years, with a very fine orchestra. Geraldo always had top-class musicians and superb arrangements. In the post war years, Geraldo became involved with band management, supplying bands for the Cunard Liners. He managed the pit orchestra for a theater circuit and also was the musical director for Scottish Television.
