Dolly Connolly (Mrs Percy Wenrich) - Waiting for the Robert E. Lee (Gilbert & Muir) (1912)

The records of Dolly Connolly (1888-1965) are uncommon in Australia, so it is something of a surprise to realise that she made 22 sides for US Columbia from 1911 to 1916, plus an unissued test for Victor in 1922. It would be good to have all of those 22 Columbia titles, for Connolly had a good voice and a good way of putting over a 'ragtime' song - not true ragtime, of course, but the variety that was popular in America in the early teens.

Married to the popular songwriter Percy Wenrich, Connolly toured with him in vaudeville, and sang many of his songs including such perennials as 'Moonlight Bay' and 'When You Wore a Tulip.'

Here - recorded on 24 June 1912 - 23 year old Connolly sings another perennial. Probably better known in the Columbia and Edison recordings by Collins and Harlan, this is a great version of the song: Connolly's natural and laid-back style is remarkably effective and enjoyable.

In transferring this recording, my main concern has been to ensure that the voice is well reproduced, which means that the surface noise becomes a little more apparent - but I think the compromise is worth it!