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Nagasaki

Ipana Troubadours

Sam Lanin, Tommy Dorsey

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This side was cut in New York City on June 29th 1928 by the "Ipana Troubadours" featuring a line-up including Sam Lanin director, Irving Kaufman vocals, and Tommy Dorsey trombone.

*"Nagasaki" was composed by Harry Warren, with lyrics by Mort Dixon.

The song quickly became a popular Tin Pan Alley hit. It was one of a series of American novelty songs set in "exotic" locations the first of which was Albert Von Tilzer's 1919 hit "Oh By Jingo!"; "Nagasaki" even makes reference to the genre's prototype in its lyrics.

The exact personnel on this superb record might never be known but a combination of available written information and audible evidence suggests: lead trumpet Harold Peppie, the solo jazz trumpet breaks by Phil Napolean; clarinet solo is Frank Teschmacher, and vocal by Irving Kaufman accompanied by John Cali on banjo. That's Tommy Dorsey on trombone but the other reedman and rhythm section players, as well as the two violinists, could be any of hundreds of brilliant session musicians in New York at the time (Summer of 1928) a golden age for popular music! -Henry Davis