An Early "High Society"

"High Society" began life as a march composed by Porter Steele, who copyrighted it in 1901. Probably through performances by New Orleans brass bands, it became a traditional jazz standard. King Oliver's Creole Jazz Band made the first jazz recording of the piece in 1923. Here is an early recording of the march - possibly the first "High Society" on record.

The American Record Company was formed in 1904, and made records until the early days of 1907, when a court ruled that they operating in violation of the lateral recording patents shared by Columbia and Victor. But while they were in business, they produced records that were striking in appearance and of high quality for the time. The records were pressed on blue-grey shellac and featured an attractive, attention-getting label, even if it is somewhat condescending by today's standards. American made records in various sizes; many are ten and three-fourths inches in diameter, like this one.

The house band at the American studio was called the Regimental Band of the Republic; based on the record's catalog number, they probably recorded this version of "High Society" in 1905. An orchestral version of Steele's piece was recorded for the Leeds & Catlin label in 1906, but I have not been able to find any reference to a recording earlier than the American disc.

Jazz bands traditionally play "High Society" in B flat, modulating to E flat for the last strain. This recording sounds natural when played back at approximately 71 RPM, like many records from the first few years of the 20th century. At that speed, this version reveals itself to be in C/F, and the announcer at the beginning sounds normal.

When performed by jazz bands, a clarinet solo devised by early jazzman Alphonse Picou is considered an essential part of the last strain. It is usually said that he adapted that part from the piccolo part of the original, but that part is not present in this recording. The piccolo part in that strain is much simpler than Picou's solo, although with a little imagination, one can hear this piccolo part as a skeletal outline of what Picou came up with.

Enjoy this early recording of "High Society" - most probably the first.

High Society