Leo Reisman

Leo Reisman

Source: Swing Time

Born on 11 October 1897 in Boston, Leo Reisman was a pianist and violinist who came to great renown as a sweet dance band leader. Reisman is a beautiful evolution from popular music for the foxtrot during the Roaring Twenties to jazz and back to popular music. His remarkable contributions to jazz were in the greater context of running a popular dance orchestra. He recorded numerously at Liederkranz Hall for Victor which leased studio space from the property as well as Columbia Records. Liederkranz Hall had originally been built at 31 East Fourth Street in NYC in 1864 by the German Liederkranz Society of music formed in 1849. Expanding in 1869 and 1870, it occupied 31 to 35 East Fourth Street which as of this writing is now an empty lot. There was a Liederkranz Society in St. Louis as well, formed in 1870. This organization built its Germania Hall in 1884, becoming the Landmark Building in 1911, then a Sears in 1944. The society built its Liederkranz Maennerchor in 1911, then sold it to the Freemason Knights of Columbus circa 1919 for $120,000. Demolished in 1963, the space has been used as a headquarters by the Republican Party and is now a retirement home.

Going by DAHR, Reisman first recorded to issue on 9 January of 1921 in NYC toward 'Love Bird' / 'Bright Eyes' released the same year per RYM on Columbia 3366. Several tracks in NYC in 1923 included 'My Electric Girl' (Columbia A3960) and 'Havana' (Columbia A3975). Come such as 'Maybe' / 'Heartaches' on Columbia 75 D in 1924. Per Music VF, Reisman's most popular issues were 'The Wedding of the Painted Doll' (1929), 'Paradise' (1932) and 'The Continental (You Kiss While You're Dancing)' (1934), all topping the charts. MusicVF traces his top releases to as far as 'Down Argentine Way' and 'Ferry-Boat Serenade' reaching #7 and #19 in latter 1940. In the meantime, his 'Bright Eyes' rose to No.4 in April of 1921.

'Bright Eyes'   Leo Reisman Orchestra

Recorded 9 Jan 1921 in NYC   Columbia A3366   Charts: No.4 April 1921

Composition: M.K. (Maurice) Jerome / Otto Motzan

'Bye Bye Blackbird'   Leo Reisman Orchestra

Recorded 9 May 1926 in NYC   Columbia 653-D

Composition: Ray Henderson

'For My Sweetheart'   Leo Reisman Orchestra

Recorded 12 July 1926 in NYC   Columbia 754-D

Composition: Walter Donaldson

'Red Lips Kiss My Blues Away'   Leo Reisman Orchestra

Recorded 10 April 1927 in NYC   Columbia 973-D

Vocals: Harry Maxfield / Don Howard

Music: Pete Wendling   Lyrics: James Monaco / Alfred Bryan

'Paree!'   Leo Reisman Orchestra   Vocal: Don Howard

Recorded 17 July 1927 in NYC   Columbia 2538-D

Music: José Padilla   Lyrics: Leo Robin

'For My Baby'   Leo Reisman Orchestra

Recorded 21 Nov 1927 in NYC   Columbia 1241-D

Music: Ted Snyder   Lyrics: Irving Kahal / Francis Wheeler

'Foolin' Time'   Leo Reisman Orchestra   Vocal: Leo Reisman

Recorded 9 April 1928 in NYC   Columbia 1416-D

Composition: B. G. Hawkins

'Old Man Sunshine'   Leo Reisman Orchestra   Vocal: Larry Levin (?)

Recorded 19 July 1928 in NYC   Columbia 1506-D

Music: Harry Warren   Lyrics: Mort Dixon

'Kiddies Kabaret'   Leo Reisman Orchestra   Vocal: Ran Weeks

Recorded 11 March 1929 in NYC   Columbia 1849-D

Music: Arthur Sizemore / Sverre Elsmo   Lyrics: Bernie Grossman

'Love Me or Leave Me'   Leo Reisman Orchestra   Vocal: Ran Weeks

Recorded 11 March 1929 in NYC   Victor 21966

Music: Walter Donaldson   Lyrics: Gus Kahn

'Moanin' Low'   Leo Reisman Orchestra   Vocal: Larry Levin

Recorded 9 July 1929 at Liederkranz Hall in NYC

Victor 22047-A / 24862   Issued on LP per RCA Victor LPV-565 in 1969

Music: Ralph Rainger   Lyrics: Howard Dietz

'Can't We Be Friends'   Leo Reisman Orchestra   Vocal: Lew Conrad

Recorded 31 July 1929 at Liederkranz Hall in NYC

Victor 22070   Issued on LP per RCA Victor LPV-565 in 1969

Music: Kay Swift   Lyrics: James Warburg / Paul James

'Doing the Boom Boom'   Leo Reisman Orchestra   Vocal: Larry Levin

Recorded 6 Sep 1929 at Liederkranz Hall in NYC   Victor 22115-B

Composition: Archie Gottler / Con Conrad / Sidney Mitchell

'Why Was I Born'   Leo Reisman Orchestra   Vocal: Larry Levin

Recorded 20 Sep 1929 at Liederkranz Hall in NYC   Victor 22187 / 24803

Music: Jerome Kern   Lyrics: Oscar Hammerstein II

'Happy Days Are Here Again'   Leo Reisman Orchestra

Recorded 1 Nov 1929 at Liederkranz Hall in NYC

Matrix BVE-57517   Victor 22221 / 24270

Vocal: Larry Levin   Charts at No.3 in 1930

Music: Milton Ager   Lyrics: Jack Yellen

'My Sweeter Than Sweet'   Leo Reisman Orchestra

Recorded 1 Nov 1929 at Liederkranz Hall in NYC

Matrix BVE-57518   Victor 22194

Vocal: Larry Levin   Charts at No.5 in 1929

Music: Richard Whiting   Lyrics: George Marion

'You Do Something To Me'   Leo Reisman Orchestra

Recorded 9 Dec 1929 at Liederkranz Hall in NYC   Victor 22244

Vocal: Frank Luther   Charts at No.13 in 1930

Composition: Cole Porter

'What Is This Thing Called Love'   Leo Reisman Orchestra

Recorded 20 Jan 1930 at Liederkranz Hall in NYC

Matrix BVE-58183   Victor 22244

Vocal: Lew Conrad   Trumpet: Bubber Miley    Charts at No.5 in 1930

Composition: Cole Porter

'Puttin' on the Ritz'   Leo Reisman Orchestra

Recorded 20 Jan 1930 at Liederkranz Hall in NYC

Matrix BVE-58608   Victor 22306

Vocal: Lew Conrad   Charts at No.20 in 1930

Composition: Irving Berlin

'Mia Cara'   Leo Reisman Orchestra   Vocal: Lew Conrad

Recorded 12 May 1930 at Liederkranz Hall in NYC   Victor 22433

Composition: Pierre Norman / Sammy Fain / Irving Kahal

'Body and Soul'   Leo Reisman Orchestra   Vocal: Frances Maddux

Recorded 10 Oct 1930 in NYC   Victor 22537

Music: Johnny Green   Lyrics: Edward Heyman / Robert Sour / Frank Eyton

'Out of Nowhere'   Leo Reisman Orchestra

Recorded 7 April 1931 in NYC   Victor 22668

Vocal: Frank Munn   Charts at No.6 in 1931

Music: Johnny Green   Lyrics: Edward Heyman

It was with Reisman that vocalist, Lee Wiley, first recorded in 1931 per 'Take It from Me (I'm Talking to You)' (Victor 22757).

'Take It from Me (I'm Takin' to You)'   Leo Reisman Orchestra

Recorded 30 June 1931 in NYC   Victor 22757

Vocal: Lee Wiley   Trumpet: Bubber Miley

Music: Fats Waller   Lyrics: Stanley Adams

'Have a Heart'   Leo Reisman Orchestra   Vocal: Ben W. Gordon

Recorded 20 Aug 1931 in NYC   Victor 22794

Music: Burton Lane   Lyrics: Harold Adamson

'Time on My Hands'   Leo Reisman Orchestra

Recorded 26 Oct 1931 in NYC   Victor 22794

Vocal: Lee Wiley   Charts: No.6 1931

Music: Vincent Youmans   Lyrics: Harold Adamson / Mack Gordon

'Paradise'   Leo Reisman Orchestra

Recorded 28 Dec 1931 in NYC   Victor 22904

Vocal: Frances Maddux   Charts: No.1 1932

Music: Nacio Herb Brown   Lyrics: Gordon Clifford

'Too Many Tears'   Leo Reisman Orchestra   Vocal: Fran Frey

Recorded 15 March 1932 in NYC   Victor 22961

Music: Harry Warren   Lyrics: Al Dubin

'Easter Parade'   Leo Reisman Orchestra   Vocal: Clifton Webb

Recorded 3 Oct 1933 in NYC   Victor 24418

Composition: Irving Berlin

'Yesterdays'   Leo Reisman Orchestra   Vocal: Clifton Webb

Recorded 9 Nov 1933 in NYC   Brunswick 6701

Vocal: Frank Luther   Charts: No.3 1933

Composition: Jerome Kern / Otto Harbach

'You and the Night and the Music'   Leo Reisman Orchestra

Recorded 23 Nov 1934 in NYC   Brunswick 7331

Vocal: Phil Dewey   Charts: No.18 1935

Music: Arthur Schwartz   Lyrics: Howard Dietz

'I Won't Dance'   Leo Reisman Orchestra

Recorded 25 Feb 1935 in NYC   Brunswick 7393

Vocal: Phil Dewey   Charts: No.9 1935

Music: Jerome Kern   Lyrics: Oscar Hammerstein II

Reisman died on 8 December 1961 in New York City.