I had heard and owned some recordings by the “Dixie Daisies” over the years but didn’t really know anything about them until listening to this excellent compact disc. After first listening to it a couple of times, I thought to myself that they sounded like two different bands.
It’s a good thing I took the time to read the well-researched, thoughtful, and beautifully illustrated booklet enclosed (written mostly by Ralph Wondraschek, with additions by Randy Skretvedt and producer Bryan S. Wright), as the first thing one finds out is that the “studio name” of “Dixie Daisies,” was, in fact, used by two different bands. The first ten tracks are by a studio group drawn from Sam Lanin’s Orchestra. The rest of the 26 tracks are recordings by a studio group drawn from Arthur Lange’s Orchestra (the sessions were apparently arranged by band leader Bob Haring). All were recorded in New York, and all were released on the “Cameo” label.
Cameo was one of a number of budget or “dime-store” labels, which sold for very modest prices compared to the big names of the time (such as Victor, Columbia, Brunswick, etc.) So in fact, these recordings are invaluable from a historical perspective, as they are the “real McCoy” of early dance band records; that is, they are the type of recordings which the most members of the general public would have heard as they would not ha
