by Hans Eekhoff
(from the liner notes of Brunswick/Vocalion Odds & Bits 1926-1930 on Timeless Records)

Charley Straight started his musical career in the early 1910's as a solo piano player and by circa 1917 led his first band. Although his was basically a hotel dance band, Straight appreciated jazz and some of his recordings for Paramount are among the best jazz records made by a white band in the early 1920's. His Brunswick recordings are slightly more "Hot Dance" in nature but there are plenty of excellent solos especially on the Vocalion sides and the very rare German issue of non-vocal take of Too Busy. Although Straight didn't record after August 1928 he remained active as a bandleader until his death in 1940 when he was hit by a speeding car in Chicago.

If you would like to order the Timeless Records' CD of Brunswick/Vocalion Odds & Bits 1926-1930 you can do so through Worlds Records or direct from Timeless Records.

Thanks to Shane Davis for his help with this page.

Title Recording Date Recording Location Company
Arkansas Mule
(Jimmy Clark)		 9-1923 Chicago, Illinois Paramount
20264-A
Bathing Beauty Blues
(A. Lawrence / R. Cooper )		 9-1923 Chicago, Illinois Paramount
20264-B
Buddy's Habits
(Charlie Straight / Arnett Nelson)		 6-1923 Chicago, Illinois Paramount
20244-B
Deep Henderson
(Fred Rose)		 5-28-1926 Chicago, Illinois Brunswick
3224-A
Do You, Don't You? 8-25-1928 Chicago, Illinois Brunswick
4026
Easy Melody 10-1923 Chicago, Illinois Paramount
20271
Everywhere You Go
(Shay / Goodwin / Fisher)		 1-16-1928 Chicago, Illinois Brunswick
3797-B
Forgetful Blues
(Fred Hamm / Henry Winston)		 12-1923 Chicago, Illinois Paramount
20291
Puritan
11291
From Midnight Till Dawn
(Torey / Wimbrow / Abbott)		 5-23-1928 Chicago, Illinois Brunswick
3944
Hen Pecked Blues
(Jules Buffano)		 6-1923 Chicago, Illinois Paramount
20244-A
Her Beaus Are Only Rainbows
(Bryant / Meyer)		 5-28-1926 Chicago, Illinois Brunswick
3203-A
Hi-Diddle-Diddle
(Coon / Keidel)		 3-10-1926 Chicago, Illinois Brunswick
3136-B
Hobo's Prayer
(Senter / Hirsch)		 5-28-1926 Chicago, Illinois Vocalion
15388
Hobo's Prayer
(Senter / Hirsch)		 5-28-1926 Chicago, Illinois Brunswick
3224-B
It Made You Happy When You Made Me Cry
(Walter Donaldson)		 9-9-1926 Chicago, Illinois Brunswick
3326
Just A Night For Meditation
(Young / Lewis / Pollack)		 5-23-1928 Chicago, Illinois Brunswick
3945
Last Night I Dreamed I Kissed You
Vocal Chorus by Frank Sylvano
(Kahn / Lombardo)		 5-23-1928 Chicago, Illinois Brunswick
3944
Last Night I Dreamed I Kissed You
(Kahn / Green / Lombardo)		 5-23-1928 Chicago, Illinois Brunswick
A-7797
Love, My Heart Is Calling You
(Joe Young / Sam M.Lewis / J.Cooper)		 9-1923 Chicago, Illinois Paramount
20265-B
Minor Gaff
(Arlack / George)		 5-28-1926 Chicago, Illinois Vocalion
15388
My Ohio Home
(Kahn / Donaldson)		 1-16-1928 Chicago, Illinois Brunswick
3797-A
My Sunflower Maid
(Smith / Wheeler / Eysoldt)		 12-1923 Chicago, Illinois Paramount
20291
Puritan
11291
Nesting Time
Vocal Trio by Keller Sisters and Lynch
(Monaco / Dixon)		 3-21-1927 Chicago, Illinois Brunswick
3516-B
Persian Rug
(Gus Kahn / Neil Moret)		 3-17-1928 Chicago, Illinois Brunswick
3899
Rose Of Sunny Italy 9-1923 Chicago, Illinois Paramount
20265-A
Sentimental Baby
(Vocal Chorus by Frank Sylvano)
(Palmer)		 3-17-1928 Chicago, Illinois Brunswick
3900-B
Side By Side
Vocal Trio by Keller Sisters and Lynch
(Harry Woods)		 3-21-1927 Chicago, Illinois Brunswick
3516-A
Stealing To Virginia
(Gus Kahn / Walter Donaldson ) 		9-1923 Chicago, Illinois Paramount
2066
Sweet Henry The Pride Of Tennessee
(Harry Akst)		 10-1923 Chicago, Illinois Paramount
20271
Sweet Southern Breeze
(Gus Kahn / Ted Fiorito)		 1-1926 Chicago, Illinois Brunswick
3076-B
Sweet Sue
(Vocal Chorus by Frank Sylvano)
(Will Harris / Victor Young) 		3-17-1928 Chicago, Illinois Brunswick
3900-A
Talking To The Moon
(Baskette / Little) 		1-1926 Chicago, Illinois Brunswick
3076-A
Tell Me Tonight
(Connor / Little)		 8-1926 Chicago, Illinois Brunswick
3324
That Old Gang Of Mine
(Billy Rose / M. Dixon / Ray Henderson) 		9-1923 Chicago, Illinois Paramount
20266
That's What I Call Keen
(Gus Kahn / Ted Fiorito)		 1-17-1928 Chicago, Illinois Brunswick
3899
That's Why I Love You
(Donaldson / Ash) 		5-28-1926 Chicago, Illinois Brunswick
3203-B
Too Busy
Vocal Chorus by Frank Sylvano
(Miller / Cohn)		 5-23-1928 Chicago, Illinois Brunswick
3945
Too Busy
(Miller / Cohn)		 5-23-1928 Chicago, Illinois Brunswick
A7792
Waiting And Dreaming
(Miller / Cohn)		 8-25-1928 Chicago, Illinois Brunswick
4026
What A Man!
(Williams / Donaldson)		 3-10-1926 Chicago, Illinois Brunswick
3136-A
What's The Use Of Crying 8-1926 Chicago, Illinois Brunswick
3324
Artist Instrument
Gene Caffarelli Cornet
Bob Conselman Drums
Guy Carey Trombone
Joe Gist Clarinet, Alto Saxophone
Randall Miller Trombone
Leo Murphy Violin
Wally Preissing Tenor Saxophone
Dale Skinner Clarinet, Alto Saxophone
Frank Stoddard Clarinet, Tenor Saxophone
Charlie Straight Piano, Leader
Bob Strong Mellophone, Clarinet, Alto Saxophone, Violin
Frank Sylvano Banjo, Vocals
Hannah and Dorothea Williams Vocals
Ike Williams Tuba