The Red Garter - The Strugglers - The h'all Stars

 

When The Saints Go Marching In

The Red Garter

The Strugglers

The h'All Stars

Recorder & Edited by Reice Hamel

Cover By Don Stivers

Society Bear Records - San Francisco  M670

From the back cover: The Red Garter is a saloon-type bistro serving beer, peanuts, and soft drinks in the heart of the entertainment district by the Golden Gate. The club has the nostalgia of the bygone Barbary Coast Days in its decor and the frivolity and gayety of Old San Francisco in its music. The walls are covered with old gilt-framed pictures of turn-of-the-century calendar art (pre-pin-ups), Teddy Roosevelt, Champion Jim Thorpe, and on and on. The Nicholodeon features only the big names of Ruth Etting, Ted Lewis, Al Jolson and other stars of that era. The gaslights, the gingerbread trim, the old pictures, the nickelodeon and fly fans, and the authentic ladies out-house complete with crescent moon are integrated into a fine old-time decor featuring the pride of the club – a grand 1893 mahogany bar.

Entertainment takes place nightly at the Red Garter with the Struggles Banjo Band and 'Arry 'Iggin's Piccadilly h'All Stars playing the old tunes, featuring several banjos. Credit must be given, too, to the audience itself because their enthusiasm, joviality and singing contribute a great deal to the fun. A group of girls from Dominican College Class of '61, happened to drop in on the eve of this recording, and it is their voices that you hear belting out the lyrics the loudest. Every night is a different show at the Red Garter because the musicians rotate evenings and between bands. Since they are all professional men or students, they schedule their musical nights at least conflict with their vocational responsibilities. The following musicians are on this recording and vary from song to song. Banjos: Jack Dupen (civil engineer), 'Arry 'Iggins (professional musician & rugby player), Bill Wingfield (acoustical engineer), Bill Rutan (student S. F. State), Lee Valencia (piano builder), Joaquina Dupen (physical therapist). Piano: Griff Harries (grain broker), Warren Lubich (chemist), Bill Richards (grad. student U. of Cal). Bass: Dick Lammi (professional musician), Buzz Heffron (student S. F. State), Bob Lualhati (high school coach), Jerry Fredgren (insurance salesman), Drums: Bat Patterson (photographic equipment).

Side one of this disc was recorded at the Red Garter one Saturday evening when the club was going full blast with six musicians. Side two was recorded the next day with the crowed locked out.  "Erin's Sons Will Defend Her," Side 1, features the beguiling art of Lee Valencia on the Irish War Pipes. Notice the delightful wail in "Heartaches" on Side 2. This lovely noise is rendered by Jack Dupen on the musical carpenter's saw. The whistles that open and close side on are proudly effected by the bartenders as they tap the kegs of that tasty beverage made from hops. Bottoms up!

Waiting For The Robert E. Lee

It's A Sin To Tell A Lie

Somebody Stole Me Gal

Erin's Sons Will Defend Her

It's A Grand Old Flag

Waltzing Matilda

Bill Bailey Won't You Please Come Home

Battle Hymn Of The Republic

When The Saints Go Marching In

San Francisco

Colonel Boget

Carolina In The Morning

Deed I Do

China Nights (Shina No Yoru)

Heartaches

Never On Sunday

Ta Ra Ra Boom De Ay