Many likely wouldn't have guessed that Eli Oberstein was a man of the "refined, sophysticaled, upper class" taste that is commonly associated with Classical & Baroque pieces like the ones here because of his heavy jazz and swing influence from over the last decade by this point. But considering his seemingly spitefully operated The Hit label that spanned the early to mid 40s had an entire series block of 8000 dedicated to it, which had also repressed content from his old USRC days including a lot of Berliner Harmoniker, and Orchester Der Deutschen Oper Berlin among other groups in this genre, it really does look to be the case.
One of these artists on the classical side of things was pianist Clifford Herzer, whose material was previously on Royale and Montgomery Ward labels of the United States Record Corporation, ran by Oberstein, back in 1940. Herzer had a prospering radio presence in the 40s over CBF, Mutual Broadcasting stations like WFIL, and NBC Stations like WJZ among others. (various newspaper timetables from 1940-1943) Notably featuring on the hour long Radio City Music Hall Concert program. (Philadelphia Inquirer. 8/16/1942. Page 20) Spending two years touring in Austria and also performing over Interstate Broadcasting Company station WQXR most prominently, with another pianist Jascha Zayde. Both of them being dueling pianists. (Norfolk-Virginian Pilot. 3/17/1943. Page 41.) Their success likely prompted Oberstein to sign them to the USRC. One of the more popular things recorded by Herzer was a four part set of Rhapsody In Blue made with fellow pianist Zayde, and both dueled over radio & now over record. (Philadelphia Inquirer. 1/10/1943. Page 66) Since there were decent enough sales of their Rhapsody In Blue set, he reissued them on The Hit in 1943. But also putting more of his stuff out. Zayde would also record with one Eddy Brown later on the same labels.
Like most things on these Oberstein labels, it's unclear whether some things are re-releases, or are originally made by the time The Hit came along. Mostly due to a lack of known recording dates for a lot of the releases. But in the case, I beleive that Eli got Herzer back to record. Herzer had by 1943 joined the Navy--likely from the draft, becoming a first class specialist, and had found exposure through an Associated Press feature story while stationed in Norfolk, VA and having concerts over WTAR with it's Salon Orchestra. (q.v. Norfolk-Virginian Pilot) By September of 1943, a 4-peice album set by a Herzer Concert Orchestra was selling under the name "Dinner Music", including both sides of this 78, selling by some for $2.63. (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. 9/3/1943. Page 4; Honolulu Advertiser. 12/14/1944. Page 2) And sold for roughly a year until probably early 1945. This group of his was likely made just for this recording session, as it doesn't appear anywhere elsewhere. Seems to be roughly 8 pieces, likely composed of either regular studio men or from the Salon orchestra previously mentioned. A review for it (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette) read: "soft soothing semi-classical music to form a background to informal dinner parties. You can't ration musical pleasure!"
After The Hit ended in 1945, it appears that Herzer ended recording. He kept on over radio and eventually became piano teacher in the early 1950s, settling down in Norfolk. Giving concerts, recitals, teaching aspiring piano pupils who would also appear over radio sometimes, and more while at the Bristow Hardin School Of Music. He would continue into the 60s before founding the Clifford Herzer Piano School, and presumably taught into the 70s. Dying in 1989.
The B side is called Tarantelle which you can listen to here: • Herzer Concert Orchestra - Tarantelle (1943)
Read more about Clifford Herzer here: http://www.elisarolle.com/queerplaces...
Clippings I made:
https://www.newspapers.com/clip/11251...
https://www.newspapers.com/clip/11251...
https://www.newspapers.com/clip/11251...
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