Frank P. Banta at Edison's piano in c.1902
Banta in 1900.
Frank P. Banta has always been a curiosity for record collectors and Rag-Time pianists alike, only because he was long known as the only house pianist identified on those old records. He was the only accompanist on 1890's and early-1900's records who had a name for decades. If you heard an old Edison or Columbia cylinder a few decades ago, you would immediately think that it was the father of the famous 1920's pianist Frank E. Banta. He was record collectors' only choice for decades. This is why many record collectors cannot let go of the idea that Banta was on most of the old piano accompanied records, this was not true of course.
But Banta was just as good a Rag-Timer as his recording adversary Fred Hylands, but they stole from each other, so sometimes is can be a little complicated identifying who's who. They also alternated the piano position at Victor and Zon-O-Phone, so that also makes it harder to know. Sometimes it's obvious, but other times you have to pull apart single measures on records to hear a specific difference. Banta is almost always on those late 90's brown wax Edison cylinders though, even if he's not really playing Rag-Time, it's still pretty obvious. To start with the analyzing, this first cylinder is a very early Arthur Collins performance from late-1898:
http://cylinders.library.ucsb.edu/mp3s/8000/8650/cusb-cyl8650d.mp3
This one is certainly early recorded Rag-Time, and it is played by none other than Frank P. Banta. But of course, Collins' already standing Rag-Time singer Len Spencer sang this for the Columbia phonographs just before Collins did the same year, with of course Fred Hylands playing his Rag-Time behind him, much like Banta. I have not found a recording of this Columbia cylinder for comparison, but I'm sure a copy exists out there.
Here's another Collins and Banta collaboration from late-1900:
http://cylinders.library.ucsb.edu/mp3s/6000/6812/cusb-cyl6812d.mp3
Some Rag-Timers may have heard this tune before. Record collectors already have for sure. So this one is indeed a Ragtime number from 1900, but Banta makes it a cakewalk for sure, just listen at about 1:44 to 1:54, he does and interesting melodic pattern all in octaves in the higher register, and then into the lower notes. Also, don't forget that fun Rag-Time interlude at the end just like always!
To keep up with the fun Collins and Banta cylinders, here's another hardcore Rag-Time tune from 1901(that also some of you Rag-Timers may have heard somewhere) where the Ragtime is all throughout the cylinder!
http://cylinders.library.ucsb.edu/mp3s/5000/5245/cusb-cyl5245d.mp3
This one is a real fun one to play along with if you're an ear player! Banta is just loud enough for the accompaniment to be clear enough to hear. This one also sounds like is was recorded in that room at Edison that Banta is at the piano in, only by the way that the piano is balanced, and also by the sound of the room.
Now, I'm pretty sure that I shared this one quite a while ago on this blog, but it's always a good Rag-Time example(which is also with Collins) from 1902:
http://cylinders.library.ucsb.edu/mp3s/2000/2453/cusb-cyl2453d.mp3
This is one that for a while I was for sure that it was Hylands, but it couldn't be, by the fact that the improvisations are too perfect, and almost rigid-sounding. But it's just a thing that Banta did that distinguished him from Hylands, it's a bit hard to describe, but you listen to them on different records you know it. It must be in their feel on the piano keys. Anyhow, the interlude at the end is what made me think that it was Hylands, but Walter Miller would not dare to have someone as rugged as Hylands play their piano at Edison, so that solves that problem.
This next one is not Collins, but it's a friend of Banta's and Hylands', Billy Golden.
Golden officially signed with Columbia in 1898, so this next cylinder would have to be from either late-1897 or early 1898, because it's an Edison record. Even though the dates and record type would say Banta, some of the playing sounds suspiciously like Hylands(Hylands not drunk that is...). But the fact that there isn't any of the very quick trills like Hylands would indicate Banta, and the playing is flawless. The flawless playing usually gives it away that it's Banta.
Anyhow, here you go from 1897-98:
http://cylinders.library.ucsb.edu/mp3s/5000/5271/cusb-cyl5271d.mp3
There's really some fun little things Banta does on this one!
Just for a dramatic comparison, here is Golden's Columbia of this from 1898 with Hylands beating up the piano behind him, really listen for how different it is!
http://cylinders.library.ucsb.edu/mp3s/9000/9322/cusb-cyl9322d.mp3
Now, to finally prove that this "Turkey in the Straw" with Golden on and Edison is Banta, here's the early-1903 remake of it with the SAME piano accompaniment as the 1897-98 version!
http://cylinders.library.ucsb.edu/mp3s/7000/7997/cusb-cyl7997d.mp3
It's EXACTLY the same!!
Here's a good one by Will F. Denny in 1901, which is also a brown wax Edison cylinder, but Banta's playing his Rag-Time just as he did!
http://cylinders.library.ucsb.edu/mp3s/5000/5275/cusb-cyl5275d.mp3
This one is also very fun to play along with as an ear player! Because it's full of all sorts of measly flats! This one is really a good example of Banta's Rag-Time, better than most of the examples have found, as all of his little ticks are present, and his playing style is clearly heard here(if you are a listener who can just enough tune out the loud singing.). Lots of deep notes can be heard also!
Now, this next one is a good old favourite of Dan W. Quinn
(sorry I keep using this one, I really like that look on his face!)
This one is also a favourite by many of the collectors of his records. Here you go with "More Work for the Undertaker" from 1902 with his absolute favourite pianist ever Frank P. Banta:
http://cylinders.library.ucsb.edu/mp3s/6000/6829/cusb-cyl6829d.mp3
He's just on the verge of playing Rag-Time on this one, but its just a fun one anyway.
Speaking of this cylinder, here's the comparison with the Columbia of this from the same year, with Hylands on the piano:
I wish this recording was better, but you can notice one thing that's very different about this one from the last one, the tempo Hylands plays at(it's slower), and all of those trills!!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2PCTJ7qYrLA
Without a very good recording I can even tell that Hylands in on that piano,
even if Dan Quinn had a sort of love affair(metaphorically) with Banta.
Well, here's another good Rag-Time number by Will F. Denny with Banta from 1901:
https://ia902503.us.archive.org/33/items/WillFDenny/WillFDenny-AintDataShame.mp3
Now this one is real Rag-Time. I have heard so many versions of this old(sometimes considered an early blues song) Rag-Time rarity that was recorded by about a dozen of artists in the first three years of its popularity. Once again, like the last one, compare it with the playing of Hylands with Bob Roberts around 1902:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xd-0f94xcPE
This one really shows off Hylands playin Rag-Time, just like he did in the late 1890's, really compare the two accompaniments, they're very different, and have a different feel, jut as I mentioned before what the main difference between Hylands and Banta was in their Rag-Time accompaniments.
But Banta was just as good a Rag-Timer as his recording adversary Fred Hylands, but they stole from each other, so sometimes is can be a little complicated identifying who's who. They also alternated the piano position at Victor and Zon-O-Phone, so that also makes it harder to know. Sometimes it's obvious, but other times you have to pull apart single measures on records to hear a specific difference. Banta is almost always on those late 90's brown wax Edison cylinders though, even if he's not really playing Rag-Time, it's still pretty obvious. To start with the analyzing, this first cylinder is a very early Arthur Collins performance from late-1898:
http://cylinders.library.ucsb.edu/mp3s/8000/8650/cusb-cyl8650d.mp3
This one is certainly early recorded Rag-Time, and it is played by none other than Frank P. Banta. But of course, Collins' already standing Rag-Time singer Len Spencer sang this for the Columbia phonographs just before Collins did the same year, with of course Fred Hylands playing his Rag-Time behind him, much like Banta. I have not found a recording of this Columbia cylinder for comparison, but I'm sure a copy exists out there.
Here's another Collins and Banta collaboration from late-1900:
http://cylinders.library.ucsb.edu/mp3s/6000/6812/cusb-cyl6812d.mp3
Some Rag-Timers may have heard this tune before. Record collectors already have for sure. So this one is indeed a Ragtime number from 1900, but Banta makes it a cakewalk for sure, just listen at about 1:44 to 1:54, he does and interesting melodic pattern all in octaves in the higher register, and then into the lower notes. Also, don't forget that fun Rag-Time interlude at the end just like always!
To keep up with the fun Collins and Banta cylinders, here's another hardcore Rag-Time tune from 1901(that also some of you Rag-Timers may have heard somewhere) where the Ragtime is all throughout the cylinder!
http://cylinders.library.ucsb.edu/mp3s/5000/5245/cusb-cyl5245d.mp3
This one is a real fun one to play along with if you're an ear player! Banta is just loud enough for the accompaniment to be clear enough to hear. This one also sounds like is was recorded in that room at Edison that Banta is at the piano in, only by the way that the piano is balanced, and also by the sound of the room.
Now, I'm pretty sure that I shared this one quite a while ago on this blog, but it's always a good Rag-Time example(which is also with Collins) from 1902:
http://cylinders.library.ucsb.edu/mp3s/2000/2453/cusb-cyl2453d.mp3
This is one that for a while I was for sure that it was Hylands, but it couldn't be, by the fact that the improvisations are too perfect, and almost rigid-sounding. But it's just a thing that Banta did that distinguished him from Hylands, it's a bit hard to describe, but you listen to them on different records you know it. It must be in their feel on the piano keys. Anyhow, the interlude at the end is what made me think that it was Hylands, but Walter Miller would not dare to have someone as rugged as Hylands play their piano at Edison, so that solves that problem.
This next one is not Collins, but it's a friend of Banta's and Hylands', Billy Golden.
Anyhow, here you go from 1897-98:
http://cylinders.library.ucsb.edu/mp3s/5000/5271/cusb-cyl5271d.mp3
There's really some fun little things Banta does on this one!
Just for a dramatic comparison, here is Golden's Columbia of this from 1898 with Hylands beating up the piano behind him, really listen for how different it is!
http://cylinders.library.ucsb.edu/mp3s/9000/9322/cusb-cyl9322d.mp3
Now, to finally prove that this "Turkey in the Straw" with Golden on and Edison is Banta, here's the early-1903 remake of it with the SAME piano accompaniment as the 1897-98 version!
http://cylinders.library.ucsb.edu/mp3s/7000/7997/cusb-cyl7997d.mp3
It's EXACTLY the same!!
Here's a good one by Will F. Denny in 1901, which is also a brown wax Edison cylinder, but Banta's playing his Rag-Time just as he did!
http://cylinders.library.ucsb.edu/mp3s/5000/5275/cusb-cyl5275d.mp3
This one is also very fun to play along with as an ear player! Because it's full of all sorts of measly flats! This one is really a good example of Banta's Rag-Time, better than most of the examples have found, as all of his little ticks are present, and his playing style is clearly heard here(if you are a listener who can just enough tune out the loud singing.). Lots of deep notes can be heard also!
Now, this next one is a good old favourite of Dan W. Quinn
This one is also a favourite by many of the collectors of his records. Here you go with "More Work for the Undertaker" from 1902 with his absolute favourite pianist ever Frank P. Banta:
http://cylinders.library.ucsb.edu/mp3s/6000/6829/cusb-cyl6829d.mp3
He's just on the verge of playing Rag-Time on this one, but its just a fun one anyway.
Speaking of this cylinder, here's the comparison with the Columbia of this from the same year, with Hylands on the piano:
I wish this recording was better, but you can notice one thing that's very different about this one from the last one, the tempo Hylands plays at(it's slower), and all of those trills!!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2PCTJ7qYrLA
Without a very good recording I can even tell that Hylands in on that piano,
even if Dan Quinn had a sort of love affair(metaphorically) with Banta.
Well, here's another good Rag-Time number by Will F. Denny with Banta from 1901:
https://ia902503.us.archive.org/33/items/WillFDenny/WillFDenny-AintDataShame.mp3
Now this one is real Rag-Time. I have heard so many versions of this old(sometimes considered an early blues song) Rag-Time rarity that was recorded by about a dozen of artists in the first three years of its popularity. Once again, like the last one, compare it with the playing of Hylands with Bob Roberts around 1902:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xd-0f94xcPE
This one really shows off Hylands playin Rag-Time, just like he did in the late 1890's, really compare the two accompaniments, they're very different, and have a different feel, jut as I mentioned before what the main difference between Hylands and Banta was in their Rag-Time accompaniments.
I hope you enjoyed this!
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