Leo Reisman led what was perhaps the most famous "Society" orchestras active between World War 1 and World War II. Though he professed a dislike for jazz, through the years he nevertheless employed several jazz-oriented instrumentalists, and some of his early 1930's releases were on the "hot.side". Reisman's orchestra was homebased in New York's elegant Waldorf Astoria Hotel, where he played for society audiences. He was also heard weekly on the Phillip Morris Cigarettes radio program.

American bandleader Leo Reisman was born in 1897 and died in New York City on December 18, 1961 at the age of 64. Reisman studied violin as a young man, and formed his own band in 1919. During his long, successful career, he had over 80 hits on the popular charts. Jerome Kern called Reisman's orchestra "The String Quartet of Dance Bands."

From July 1923 through March 11, 1929, he recorded for Columbia exclusively, and then signed with Victor, remaining with them until October 1933. He then signed with Brunswick and stayed until 1937 when he re-signed with Victor. During his 1929-1933 Victor period, Reisman recorded many lesser-known period Broadway songs, some of which were recorded by no other band.

In 1931-32 , Reisman featured Lee Wiley for her first 3 recordings. Among the other vocalists who recorded with Reisman are Frank Luther, Dick Robertson, Clifton Webb, Sally Singer, and George Beuler. Many composers also sang with Reisman's band including Harold Arlen, Fred Astaire, and Arthur Schwartz.

From the early 1920s through to the 1940s, Reisman produced a string of classics, many of which we present here

  "Easter Parade", (550 kb): Clifton Webb singing. (Composed by Irving Berlin for the B'way musical: 'As Thousands Cheer')

  "Alone Together", (609 kb): vocal: Harold Arlen, who subsequently became one of world's great Popular song composers, but THIS tunes was composed by Howard Dietz and Arthur Schwartz

  "Body And Soul", (497 kb): vocal: Frank Luther, Eddy Duchin, Interesting because this version has a MAN singing about a GIRL. Composed by John W. (Johnny) Green, Edward Heyman and Robert B Sour

  "Riddle Me This", (438 kb): Leo Reisman's Orchestra, with vocal by Frank Luther. (Composers: E.Y. "Yip" Harburg and Lewis Gensler). From Broadway show 'Ballyhoo of 1932' (Opened at the 44th Street Theatre, September 6, 1932).

  "Try To Forget", (554 kb): First heard in the Broadway show "The Cat And The Fiddle". Opened on October 15 1931 at New York's 'Globe Theatre' (Music: Jerome Kern) Victor 22870

  "Sing Something Simple", (497 kb): vocal: Frank Luther, (Composer: Herman Hupfield )

  "Smoke Rings", (559 kb): (vocal: Harold Arlen) Composed by Writers: Gene Gifford and Ned Washington. Interestingly, in later years, this became the Theme Song for the Glen Grey and the Casa Loma Orchestra, and the singer, Harold Arlen became one of world's great Popular song composers..

  "Something To Remember You By", (498 kb): Composers: Howard Dietz, Arthur Schwartz

  "Why Was I Born", (512 kb): 1929 Broadway show 'Sweet Adeline', Music Jerome Kern. Rec'd: Victor: 24803 (Backed with "Here Am I")

  "Just A Gigolo", (501 kb): (vocal: Ben Gordon). Originally an Austrian song "Schöner Gigolo" composed in 1928 by Leonello Casucci (music) and Julius Brammer (lyrics). After World War I, Austria suffered social collapse and this song related to a former Hussar (soldier) who recalls once parading in his uniform, but who is now only a hired dancer. The American lyricist Irving Caesar changed the scene to show a lonely ex-French soldier, sitting in a Paris café telling his sad tale. The song first appeared in a 1931 film, then in a 1932 Betty Boop cartoon. Marlene Dietrich, sang it in her last film appearance. Hollywood star Russ Columbo had the most famous version released.

  "Kinda Like You", (593 kb): Composed by Vincent Youmans for the Broadway show "Through The Years" (1932). Victor 22915-A-B (Backed with "Drums In My Heart")

  "Drums in My Heart", (434 kb): Composed by Vincent Youmans for the Broadway show 'Take a Chance' (1932)

  "Liza", (524 kb): (B'way musical: 'Show Girl') Composer: George Gershwin Florenz Ziegfeld produced the show, which opened on July 2, 1929 at the 'Ziegfeld Theatre' and ran for 111 performances. The dances were choreographed by Bobby Connolly, with ballet sequences, including one set to "An American in Paris", by Albertina Rasch. "Duke" Ellington conducted the orchestra. The cast included Ruby Keeler as Dixie, Jimmy Durante, Eddie Foy, Jr., Frank McHugh, and Nick Lucas. At the time, Keeler's husband was Al Jolson, who frequently serenaded her, from his seat in the audience, with the show's closing number, "Liza (All the Clouds'll Roll Away),".

  "Gay Love", (490 kb): Back then, the expression "Gay Love" did not have the same connotation that is has today. Composers: Oscar Levant and Sidney Clare

  "How's Chances", (568 kb): (1933 B'way show: As Thousands Cheer) music and lyrics by Irving Berlin. The first Broadway show to give an African-American -- Jazz star Ethel Waters -- equal billing with whites.

  "I Love Louisa", (497 kb): 1931 Dietz-Schwartz Broadway revue, The Bandwagon, with the songs of composer Arthur Schwartz and lyricist Howard Dietz, Co-starred brother and sister Fred and Adele Astaire and had featured such songs as "High and Low," "Dancing in the Dark," "New Sun in the Sky," and "I Love Louisa."

  "Night And Day", (469 kb): Fred Astaire singing. Rec'd: Victor: 24716 (backed with "Stormy Weather")

  "Stormy Weather", (460 kb): vocal by Harold Arlen, who, together with Ted Koehler, composed this song that later became a huge hit for singer Lena Horne. Rec'd: Victor: 24716

  "Time On My Hands", (427 kb): sung by a very young Lee Wiley. Composed by Harold Adamson, Mack Gordon and Vincent Youmans

  "If Love Were All", (499 kb): 1929 Show' Bittersweet' words and music: Noel Coward (Show also had the songs: "I'll See You Again," "Zigeuner," and "If Love Were All" )

  "Someday I'll Find You", (559 kb): Noel Coward Wrote, produced, directed, and starred in 'Private Lives', starring Gertrude Lawrence,

  "I'll See You Again", (563 kb): Another popular Noel Coward tune

  "It's The Girl", (588 kb): Composer: Abel Baer.

  "Love Songs Of The Nile", (516 kb): vHoward Phillips. (The reverse side of this disc had Fred Astaire singing "My Temptation".) Composed by Nacio Herb Brown and Arthur Freed.

    Palms, -Love The Moon
    Beams, -Dance Above
    Palms Sway This Night, Dear
    Give Me Your Love

    My Arms Await You
    Come For Awhile
    And I Will Sing You
    Love Songs Of The Nile.

  "Moanin' Low", (491 kb): Bettina Hall vocal with Leo Reisman & his Orchestra. NY, Nov 2, 1931 in the 1929 revue The Little Show composer: Ralph Rainger. Rec'd: Victor 24862 (backed with "What Is This Thing Called Love?")

  "My Sweeter Than Sweet", (515 kb): ( m: Richard A. Whiting, with lyrics by George Marion, Jr.)

  "Paradise", (484 kb): Frances Maddux singing. (Composer: Nacio Herb Brown, Gordon Clifford)

  "Puttin' On The Ritz", (320 kb): (Composer: Irving Berlin)

  "The Night Was Made For Love", (482 kb): Composer: Jerome Kern Victor 22869

  "You Do Something To Me", (502 kb): (from 'Fifty Million Frenchmen' - 1929) Composer: Cole Porter

  "You've Got That Thing", (487 kb): vocal by Frank Luther. Show: 'Fifty Million Frenchmen' in 1929, Composer: Cole Porter

  "We Belong Together", (614 kb): Composers: Jerome Kern and Oscar Hammerstein 2nd, Rec'd: Victor 24192

  "What Is This Thing Called Love", (566 kb): music By Cole Porter."B'way Show: Wake up and Dream."

  "Call Me Darling", (515 kb): Also a big hit for crooner Russ Columbo (Composers: Bert Reisfeld, Mart Fryberg & Rolf Marbot). (English lyric: Dorothy Dick)

  "Bye Bye Blues", (573 kb): Lyrics & music by Fred Hamm, Dave Bennett, Bert Lown, and Chauncey Gray in 1925

  "A Heart Of Stone", (553 kb): Composer: Eddie White