Ragtime 1913 - Jim Reese Europe's Orchestra - Too Much Mustard

Europe’s Society Orchestra - Too Much Mustard, Turkey-Trot (Mackey) Victor 1913 (USA)

NOTE: This turkey-trot, composed in 1911 was recorded by several prime American artists (Teresa Brewer, The Pryor’s Orchestra) to become during the years shortly before the 1st WW a dance hit on the both sides of Atlantic.
Europe’s Society Orchestra was a dance band led by the American conductor James Reese EUROPE (b. 1881 in Mobile – d. 1919 in Boston) - an important figure in prehistory of American jazz, who popularised ragtime for orchestra. In 1904 he came to New York as a pianist and director of musical comedies. In 1910, he organised the Clef Club which became a popular entertainment venue for African-American musicians in Harlem but also a fraternity club, exhibition hall & labor exchange. For musical entertainment in the club, Jim Europe created the first all African-American orchestra in the country called the Clef Club Orchestra, also billed as Europe’s Society Orchestra. This orchestra was sometimes smaller and sometimes very large, numbering up to 120 members, and consisted of a wide variety of instruments. Among the “normal” orchestral instruments of violins, violas, cellos, basses, and the "normal" wind and brass instruments, it also included mandolins, guitars, banjos, ukuleles, and a large bass drum. These “strummed” instruments were not in small amounts either (sometimes thirty strummers - ten each of mandolins, guitars and a rare harp guitar, and banjos). The orchestra was also frequently joined by a men's chorus, eight pianists, and various soloists.

Very few of Reese’s musicians had any musical training, and hardly any could read music. Jim Reese is quoted as saying: “I always put a man who can read notes in the middle where the others can pick him up." The Europe's orchestra performed in 1912 on the stage of Carnegie Hall in New York City. The orchestra was very well received, and it is said that during one concert march in particular “music-loving Manhattan felt a thrill down its spine such as only the greatest performances can inspire”. Europe was also famous for his collaboration with the dance couple Vernon and Irena Castle. Therefore, Reese’s repertoire includes a lot of popular social dances of the day, such as the “animal dances” very popular before 1920 (Turkey Trot, Grizzly Trot, Kangaroo Hop and many others). During World War I, Europe led the brass band of the American Expeditionary Corps as lieutenant. The orchestra gave concerts at the end of the war in 25 French cities. James Europe died in 1919 stabbed to death during an argument in a Boston nightclub.

Here are quoted some lines from the song’s lyrics to let you see the amorous rather than gastronomical character of this lovely hit:

Too much mustard in the stew
Could spoil the stew for two
Oh babe, I'm beggin' you
Cool those kisses down.

Lovin' is like a cake you bake
You can't make one mistake
If you want it just exactly right
Lovin' should mellow just like wine
Just take it easy and you'll do fine.

Too much ketchup, too much spice
Can spoil the shrimp and rice
Oh babe, take my advice
Cool those kisses down.