by Mike Speciale and his Hotel Carlton Terrace Orchestra
Songwriters Bob Schafer (co-wrote "I Wonder Who - Will It Be You?" and "Louisiana") and Fred Fisher (co-wrote "Chicago That Toddlin' Town" and "Ireland Must Be Heaven") penned this song in mid-1925, predating the other
Russion novelty songs "Bolshevik" and "Katinka" by a year. Both Paul Whiteman and Frank Crumit recorded it with some success for Victor, so Edison Labs brought in the talents of Mike Speciale's band for this version recorded
on July 13 of '25. Arthur Hall handles the vocals like a trooper. Edison thought well enough of this to issue it as a cylinder as well as this Diamond Disc version (take B). The surface of this record was nearly perfect,
needing very little in terms of noise reduction, just the usual rumble removal and the occasional click.
