Harry Shalson Discography

a list of recordings featuring singer Harry Shalson


this page first published by John Wright, 7 December 2003
last update 15 April 2020vintage@r2ok.co.uk

return to the Harry Shalson biography page

The Harry Shalson Discography aims to bring attention to the recorded output of a very fine British singer and entertainer of the 1920's and 30's, who recorded with the British dance bands, and who later had a very important career on the London West End and on British radio.

You can hear several Harry Shalson recordings on my podcasts, check the playlists at http://www.r2ok.co.uk/playlists.htm

Sources are indicated in black bold type JR=Jazz Records 5th Ed. (Rust, 1983), BDBR=British Dance Bands On Record, with supplement (Rust/Forbes, 1989), VS=Vaughan Shalson, DH=Dick Hill (Ahola discography), MT=Mike Thomas, AB=Arthur Badrock, DP=David Pile, JABW=John Wright, MJ=Michael Jones, JDH=Jonathan David Holmes

Current recording list total: 115 recordings

BERT RALTON AND HIS HAVANA BAND
Bert Ralton-dir,reeds, Jack Jackson, M.Alexander-t, Ben Oakley-tb, Allen Warren, Bill Barton-reeds, Frank Compton-p, Joe Brannelly-bj, Dick Escott-bb, Alec Cripps-d, Harry Shalson-vocal
London. May 21, 1926
WA-3295-1Carolina (Condor)Columbia 4019
WA-3297-1Mike (waltz) (Davis-Greer)Columbia 4018

BERT RALTON AND HIS HAVANA BAND
Bert Ralton-dir,reeds, Jack Jackson, M.Alexander-t, Ben Oakley-tb, Allen Warren, Bill Barton-reeds, Frank Compton-p, Joe Brannelly-bj, Dick Escott-bb, Alec Cripps-d, Harry Shalson-vocal
London. July 2, 1926
WA-3533-1Could I? - I Certainly Could (Yellen-Ager) Columbia 4041
BDBR, VS, JABW
Harry Shalson gets label credit on Columbia 4019, 4041 (4018 to be confirmed)

HARRY SHALSON the "Whispering Vocalist", piano accompaniment.
London. June 17, 1926
4408-2Cecilia (Ruby, Dreyer) ? Imperial 1605
4409-2Feeling Kind O' Blue (Ruby, Cooper) ? Imperial 1605
source: AB, DP
issued take not confirmed, futher takes recorded June 30
Arthur Badrock explains: Imperial first takes are shown in wax without take ID, e.g. 4453. Any hyphenated numbers in the wax after the matrix number do not signify the other takes. The second and subsequent takes usually appear as, for example, 44532 or sometimes the take figure is sitting immediately above the matrix number . Other, usually larger, figures scattered round the run-off can be ignored.

HARRY SHALSON the "Whispering Vocalist", piano accompaniment.
London. June 30, 1926
4408-3Cecilia (Ruby, Dreyer) ? Imperial 1605
4409-3Feeling Kind O' Blue (Ruby, Cooper) ? Imperial 1605
source: AB
issued take not confirmed

HARRY SHALSON, vocal.
acc. banjolele banjo and guitar
London. July 14, 1926
4418-1Ukulele Dream Girl (Reg. Low) Imperial 1621
4419-1When I Say Goodbye To You (Pessach, Da Costa) Imperial 1621
DC212Ukulele Dream Girl (Reg. Low)Imperial Junior J11, Aerona 134
DC213When I Say Goodbye To You (Pessach, Da Costa)Imperial Junior J34, Aerona 136
E243Ukulele Dream Girl (Reg. Low) Mimosa P49
E244When I Say Goodbye To You (Pessach, Da Costa)Mimosa P48
W811Ukulele Dream Girl (composer) ? unissued
W812When I Say Goodbye To You (composer) ? unissued
source: AB, DP
Arthur Badrock reports:
The Crystalate file says 4418- uke accomp. 4419- guitar accomp.
Aerona and Imperial Junior are Australian issues. Aerona 134 and 136 as Matthew Clare, Imperial Junior J11 as Sydney Burns, Imperial Junior J34 as Sydney Bolton.
The DC matrces wre issued on 7" discs. The E matrices are on 6" discs. The W matrices are approx 5˝" but sometime pressed on a 6" disc.
Mimosa are 6" British issues, Mimosa P48 and P49 as 'vocal with guitar' (anonymous). If W811 & W812 were issued they are likely to turn up on Kiddyphone, 5˝".
These smaller disc recordings are NOT shortened dubs from 10" masters.

TEDDY BROWN AND HIS CAFE DE PARIS BAND
Teddy Brown-dir, x, Freddy Pitt-t, Alec Lajoie- Maurice Harford-as, ?-ts, Teddy Sinclair-vn, George Fisher-p, Percy Martin-bj, William Vick-bb, Eddie Schaff-d, Harry Shalson-vocal
London. July 16, 1926
4420-1I Never See Maggie Alone (Lynton)Imperial 1615
4421-2Moonlight On The Ganges (Wallace-Myers)Imperial 1615
4422-1In My Gondola (Warren)Imperial 1614
4423-1Lonesome And Sorry (Davis-Conrad)Imperial 1614
source: BDBR


HARRY SHALSON, vocal
London. 14 August, 1926
4453-1Oh! Miss Hannah (Hollingsworth, Deppen) ? Imperial 1631
4454-1Let The End Of The World Come Tomorrow (Cunningham, Ball) ? Imperial 1631
DC226Let The End Of The World Come Tomorrow (Cunningham, Ball) ? unissued
E281Let The End Of The World Come Tomorrow (Cunningham, Ball) ? unissued
source: AB, VS
AB: if E281 was issued it could turn up on any of Mimosa, Marspen, Oliver, Kiddyphone or Savana 6" labels.
4453/4454 remade on 22 September q.v.

RONNIE MUNRO AND HIS DANCE ORCHESTRA
see collective personnel in BDBR. Harry Shalson-vocal
London. c. August 1926
797-2-3Sweet Child (Lewis-Simon-Whiting)Parlophone E-5632
798-2Honeybunch (Friend)Parlophone E-5632
source: BDBR

HARRY SHALSON, vocal
London. 22 September, 1926
4453-2-3Oh! Miss Hannah (Hollingsworth, Deppen) ? Imperial 1631
4454-2Let The End Of The World Come Tomorrow (Cunningham, Ball) ? Imperial 1631
source: AB
issued take not confirmed, see also 14 August

RONNIE MUNRO AND HIS DANCE ORCHESTRA
see collective personnel in BDBR. Harry Shalson-vocal
London. c. Sept 1926
832-2On The Riviera (Rich-Van Loan)Parlophone E-5650
833-3Petrushka (Rose-Fisher)Parlophone E-5649
834-2Just A Cottage Small (Hanley)Parlophone E-5650
835-3Who Taught You This, Who Taught You That? (Berg-Adler)Parlophone E-5649
source: BDBR

CARLTON HOTEL DANCE ORCHESTRA
Bert Firman-dir, Max Goldberg, Charles Rocco-t, Ted Heath-tb, Arthur Lally and others-reeds, Cecil Norman-p, Joe Brannelly-bj, Rudy Starita-x, Bob Manning-d
Hayes Middlesex. Oct 20, 1926
Yy-9130-1Breezin' Along With The Breeze (Gillespie-Simons-Whiting)Zonophone 2821
Yy-9131-1Pretty Cinderella (Harris)Zonophone 2821
Yy-9132-1I'm Lonely Without You (Green-Warren)Zonophone 2820
source: MT

HARRY SHALSON, vocal with piano

London. July-August 1927
mx-You Went Away Too Far (And Stayed Away Too Long) (Monaco) Brunswick 112
mx-Under The Clover Moon (Schwartz) Brunswick 112
sources: AB, reviewed Gramophone Oct 1927
Believed to be Shalson on piano too

HARRY SHALSON, vocal with piano

London. July-Aug 1927
mx-Gonna Get A Girl (Lewis-Simon-Ash) Brunswick 118
mx-One Sweet Letter Form You (Clare-Brown-Warren) Brunswick 118
sources: AB, reviewed Gramophone Oct 1927
Believed to be Shalson on piano too

BRUNSWICK MEDLEY
various artistes, including Harry Shalson
London, 1927?
mx-Brunswick Medley, part 1Bruswick 20056
source: DP
David Pile reports that Harry Shalson sings a chorus of Gonna Get A Girl. This is not a dub of Brunswick 118. The 12" record 20056 features several other Brunswick artists of the period.

HARRY SHALSON, vocal with piano

London. Aug-Sept 1927
mx-When The Morning Glories Wake Up In The Morning (Fisher-Rose) Brunswick 124
mx-Once In A Blue Moon (Carl Lang) Brunswick 124
sources: AB, reviewed Gramophone Nov 1927
Believed to be Shalson on piano too


HARRY SHALSON, vocal with piano

London. Aug-Sept 1927
R-322Souvenirs (Horatio Hicholls) Brunswick 128
R-321Who-oo? You-oo! That's Who-oo! (Jack Yellen & Milton Ager) Brunswick 128
sources: AB, reviewed Gramophone Nov 1927
Believed to be Shalson on piano too
Nick Secker has reported an example of this record with a Kildare record label stuck on top of the Brunswick label.

HARRY SHALSON vocal with piano

London. Oct-Nov 1927
mx-There's One Little Girl Who Loves Me (Kahn-Whiting) Brunswick 137, Vocalion X-10033
mx-Marvellous (May Singhi Breen & Peter de Rose) Brunswick 137, Vocalion X-10033
source: AB, reviewed Melody Maker Jan 1928. Gramophone Feb 1928
Believed to be Shalson on piano too

HARRY SHALSON, vocal with piano

London. Dec 1927 - Jan 1928
421 Blue Heaven (Donaldson-Whiting) Brunswick 141
423There's A Rickety-Rackety Shack (Turk-Tobias) Brunswick 141
source: AB, reviewed Melody Maker Jan 1928. Gramophone Feb 1928
Believed to be Shalson on piano too

HARRY SHALSON, vocal with Eric Siday-vn, Harry Jacobson-p

London. ~Jan 1928?
mx-Sugar (Red Nichols) Brunswick 151
mx-Mine - All Mine (Ruby-Cowan-Stept) Brunswick 151
source: AB

HARRY SHALSON, vocal with Eric Siday-violin & Harry Jacobson-piano

London. March-April 1928 ?
mx-Tea-Time (Parsons) Brunswick 155
mx-I'm Wondering Who (Tilzer & Rose) Brunswick 155
source: AB

HARRY SHALSON, vocal with Harry Jacobson-piano

London. March-April 1928 ?
mx-Love Lies (Kellard) Brunswick 166
mx-Dear, On A Night Like This (Conrad)Brunswick 166
source: AB, Gramophone June 1928

HARRY SHALSON,
vocal with George Hurley-vn, Harry Jacobson-p

London. April-May 1928 ?
mx-The Sunrise (Cliff Friend)Brunswick 175

vocal with Van Phillips-as/ Eric Siday-vn/ Harry Jacobson-p
mx-My Southern Home (Harry Shalson)Brunswick 175
source: AB, Gramophone July 1928

HARRY SHALSON, vocal with Eric Siday-violin & Harry Jacobson-piano

London, June-July 1928 ?
mx-Just Like A Melody Out Of The Sky (Donaldson)Brunswick 190
mx-Gee, I'm Glad I'm Home (Rose & Monaco)Brunswick 190
source: AB, Gramophone Sept 1928

HARRY SHALSON, vocal acc. small orch.

London. July-August 1928 ?
mx-The Varsity Drag (from "Good News") (Henderson)Brunswick 192
mx-Lucky In Love (from "Good News") (Henderson)Brunswick 192
source: AB, Gramophone Oct 1928
Mike Thomas writes: according to Steve Walker, the accompaniment is by Tim Cave-t/Van Phillips-as-cl/Eric Siday-vn/Harry Jacobson-p. Details from Melody Maker Oct 1928

HARRY SHALSON vocal accompanied by Johnny Lever, piano

London. 20 July, 1928
4924-1-2Just Like A Melody Out Of The Sky (Walter Donaldson) (-1) Imperial 1942
4925-1-2Get Out And Get Under The Moon (Tobias,Jerome,Shay) ? Imperial 1942
AB
Arthur Badrock reports: Johnny Lever is the name given as pianist in the Crystalate file but they frequently used pseudonyms. In fact Imperial 1942 issued as 'sung by' Johnny Lever (piano accomp.). This may be just a clerical/typesetting error.

HARRY SHALSON vocal accompanied by Johnny Lever, piano

London. 21 August, 1928
4924-3Just Like A Melody Out Of The Sky (Walter Donaldson) ? Imperial 1942
4925-3Get Out And Get Under The Moon (Tobias,Jerome,Shay) Imperial 1942
DC447-2I'm Sorry (composer) Victory (unissued)
DC448Heaven For Two (Pepper,Hackforth) Victory 15
AB
see 20 July re Imperial 1942
Victory 15 as John Marshall, a pseudonym used for other artistes on Victory.

HARRY SHALSON, vocal with Eric Siday-violin, possibly Shalson-piano

London. Sept-Oct 1928 ?
mx-How Can You Look So Good? (Chick Endor)Brunswick 194
mx-That's My Weakness Now (Green-Stept)Brunswick 194
source: AB, Gramophone Dec 1928

HARRY SHALSON, vocal

London. Sept-Oct 1928
mx-My Inspiration Is You (Horatio Nichols)Brunswick 197
mx-Heaven For Two (Pepper & Hackforth)Brunswick 197
source: AB
David Pile reports that Harry Jacobson is credited as the pianist.

KIT KISSON, vocal accomp. by Eric Siday-vn, Len Fillis-g, Harry Jacobson-p

London.~ November 1928
1330-Just Like a Melody From Out of the Sky (Donaldson)Metropole 1111
1331-2Heaven for Two (Pepper & Hackforth)Metropole 1118

KIT KISSON, vocal accomp. Harry Jacobson-p

London.~ December 1928
1431-Where Have You Been All My Life (Robin, Charig, Myers)Metropole 1118

KIT KISSON, vocal accomp. by Harry Jacobson-p

London.
mx- What a Wonderful Wedding That Will Be (Kahel, Wheeler, Fain)Metropole 1127
mx- Beautiful (Shay)Metropole 1127
mx- My Southern Home (Shalson)Metropole 1128

VAL STAMP or KIT KISSON, vocal accomp. by Geoffrey Gelder’s Kettner’s Six

London.
mx- Wonderful You, Commonplace Me (Waller, Weston, Tunbridge)Metropole 1138
mx- When the Lilac Blooms Again (Rotter, Doelle)Metropole 1138
mx-1729 Halfway to Heaven (Dubin, Robinson)Piccadilly 284, Metropole 1139,
mx-1732-2 Way Down Honeymoon Lane (Hackforth)Piccadilly 284, Metropole 1139
VAL STAMP on Piccadilly, KIT KISSON on Metroplole
information on Val Stampn issues: JDH
information on Kit Kisson issues: TB, AB and MJ. Also reviews Gramophone archive.

Issues not known, Get Out and Get Under the Moon and Was it a Dream?

HARRY SHALSON
Baritone. acc by ?
London, 20 April 1929
WA-8899-2Deep Night (Vallee-Henderson)Columbia 5383
WA-8900-2All Alone In Lover's lane (Rose-Nicholls)Columbia 5383
MT, Columbia catalogue
no accompaniment or recording date shown in Columbia listing

NEW MAYFAIR DANCE ORCHESTRA
Carroll Gibbons-dir,p, Max Golberg-Bill Shakespeare-t, Tony Thorpe-tb, Jack Miranda-Laurie Payne-Johnny Helfer-reeds, Eric Siday-Reg Pursglove-Jean Pougnet-vns, Bert Thomas-bj,g, ?Tiny Stock-bb, ?-sb, Rudy Starita-d, Harry Shalson-vocal
Hayes Auditorium. April 26, 1929
BR-2345-2Hello Sunshine (Tobias-Murray)HMV B-5644
BR-2346-1That's How I Feel About You (Gottler-Davis)HMV B-5644
BDBR

NEW MAYFAIR DANCE ORCHESTRA
Carroll Gibbons-dir,p, Sylvester Ahola-Bill Shakespeare-t, Tony Thorpe-tb, Jack Miranda-Laurie Payne-Johnny Helfer-reeds, Eric Siday-Reg Pursglove-Jean Pougnet-vns, Bert Thomas-bj,g, ?Tiny Stock-bb, ?-sb, Bill Harty-d, Harry Shalson-vocal
Friends' Meeting House, Euston Road, London. May 7, 1929
CR-2349-1She's Funny That Way (Kahn-Moret)HMV C-1683
source: BDBR

HARRY SHALSON
Baritone in English with orch.
acc. by Carroll Gibbons -dir,p, Sylvester Ahola-t, Eric Siday-vn, Joe Brannelly-g

Small Queen's Hall, London. May 8, 1929
Bb-16856-1-2-3My SinHMV rejected
Bb-16857-2She's Wonderful(Donaldson & Kahn) HMV B-3088
sources: JR 5th ed., JABW

PICCADILLY PLAYERS
Al Starita-dir,cl,as ?Freddy Pitt-t, Ben Oakley-tb, George Smith and two others-reeds, Eddie Lee-vn, Sid Bright-p, Archie Hughes-bj, Alf Field-bb, Bill Harty-d, Harry Shalson-vocal
London. May 24, 1929
WA-9024-1I LIft Up My Finger And I Say 'Tweet Tweet' (Sarony)Columbia 5393
WA-9025-2A House On A Hilltop (Mayerl)Columbia 5393
WA-9056-2It Wasn't Meant To Be (Steinberg-Endor-Benson)Columbia 5421
WA-9057-2Where Do I Want To Be (Sievier-Barry)Columbia 5421
BDBR, MT
Mike Thomas writes: Harry Shalson gets label credit on Columbia 5421

PICCADILLY PLAYERS
Al Starita-dir,cl,as ?Freddy Pitt-t, Ben Oakley-tb, Van Phillips, George Smith-reeds, Eddie Lee-vn, Sid Bright-p, Archie Hughes-bj, Alf Field-bb, Bill Harty-d, Harry Shalson-vocal
London. June 1, 1929
WA-9077-1My Mother's Eyes (Gilbert-Baer)Columbia 5418
WA-9078-1I'll Always Be Mother's Boy (Green-Stept)Columbia 5419
BDBR

HARRY SHALSON
Baritone in English with orch.
acc. by Leo Kahn-p, dir, Sylvester Ahola-t, ?Johnny Helfer-cl-as, Eric Siday & ? George Smith-vn, Joe Brannelly-g

Small Queen's Hall, London. June 20 1929
Bb-17116-2My Ideal (Nicholls)HMV-B-3088
JR, JABW

RAY STARITA AND HIS AMBASSADOR'S BAND with vocal chorus by HARRY SHALSON
Ray Starita-dir,cl,ts, Andy Richardson and another-t, ?Bill Hall-tb, Cheser Smith and another-cl,as, Reg Pursglove-vn, Donald Thorne-p, George Oliver-bj,g, Arthur Calkin-sb,bb Rudy Starita-d,x, Harry Shalson-vocals
London. June 22, 1929
WA-9206-1Broadway (Gottler-Mitchell-Conrad)Columbia 5442
WA-9207-2The Chicken Or The Egg (Gottler-Mitchell-Conrad)Columbia 5442
WA-9708-2That's What I Call Heaven (Solmon-Brown-Wimbrow)Columbia 5539
WA-9709-2Don't Make My Heart Your Plaything (waltz) (Haines-Kern)Columbia 5480
BDBR
Harry Shalson gets label credit on Columbias 5442, 5539, 5480

HARRY SHALSON
Baritone in English with orch.
acc. members of New Mayfair Orchestra, including Ray Noble-dir, and Sylvester Ahola-t

Embassy Theatre, Swiss Cottage, London. Sept 10, 1929
Bb-16754-2Delphine (Robin & Schertzinger)HMV B-3171
Bb-16755-3Through (How Can You Say We're Through? (Monaco)HMV B-3177
DH

HARRY SHALSON
vocal. Orchestra conducted by Ray Noble.
London. Sept 19, 1929
Bb-17651-2I Still Believe In You (Akst)HMV B-3171
Bb-17652-3Come On Baby (Gottler, Clare & Pinkard)HMV B-3177
MT

HARRY SHALSON
vocal. Orchestra conducted by Ray Noble.
London. Nov 15, 1929
Bb-18175-3You Wouldn't Fool Me Would You? (de Sylva Brown & Henderson)HMV B-3219
Bb-18176-2My Lucky Star (de Sylva, Brown & Henderson)HMV B-3219
MT

HARRY SHALSON
Baritone in English with orch.
acc. -t,-cl,-2vn,-g,-p,-sb,-d

London. April 14th, 1930
Bb19132-2The One I Love Can't Be Bothered With Me (Simons)HMV B-3427
Bb19134-1Happy Days Are Here Again (Yellen & Ager)HMV B-3427
JABW

HARRY SHALSON
vocal. Orchestra conducted by Ray Noble.
London. April 15, 1930
Bb-19131-2For You And Me (Shalson)HMV B-3503
Bb-19133-2Poor Little Me (And Wonderful You) (Shalson) HMV B-3503
MT

HARRY SHALSON
Baritone in English with orch.
acc. Carroll Gibbons-p,dir, Norman Payne-t, Danny Polo-cl, Laurie Payne-as,bar, -g,-sb,-d

Small Queen's Hall, London. Sept 25, 1930
Bb20233-2With My Guitar And You (Snyder & Harris)HMV B-3628
Bb20234-2Little White Lies (Donaldson)HMV B-3628
JR, JABW

HARRY SHALSON
Baritone in English with orch.
acc. -t,-cl,-vns,-p,-g,-sb,-d,-x

Small Queen's Hall, London. Oct 10, 1930
Bb-20274-1The Same As We Used To Do (Campbell, Connelly)HMV B-3647
Bb20275-2Just Imagine (Campbell, Connelly)HMV B-3647
JR 5th Ed.

HARRY SHALSON
vocal. Orchestra conducted by Ray Noble.
London. January 14, 1931
OB-245-2I Am The Words, You Are The Melody (de Sylva Brown & Henderson)HMV B-3739
OB-246-1My Baby Just Cares For Me (Donaldson)HMV B-3734
OB-247-1There's Something About An Old-Fashioned Girl (de Sylva Brown & Henderson)HMV B-3739
OB-248-2A Girl Friend Of A Boy Friend Of Mine (Donaldson)HMV B-3734
MT

Additions and amendments eagerly sought!


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|| Harry Shalson biography page ||


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mx-title (composer) label
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