Charles Fulcher & His Orchestra - My Pretty Girl

Atlanta-based Fulcher was a multi-instrumentalist and he can he heard on his records playing piano, clarinet, trombone and violin. He is best remembered for his composition "My Pretty Girl" presented here, which his band recorded but became famous through the Jean Goldkette Orchestra version, recorded for Victor (see record label of the latter in this video). Although the Goldkette version remained famous, totally eclipsing Fulcher's own recording, in my humble opinion the composer offers a notably catchier and neater interpretation than Goldkette, whose arrangement is too rushed and hence fuzzy. It was recorded several times after that by different bands, but usually based on the Goldkette version. None of these orchestras remained true to the original (e.g. full stops by the entire band, wonderfully arranged with plenty of fine solo work. very unusual coda exclusively featuring tuba and cymbal). Fulcher was ahead of his time, and as is often the case with pioneers, unlike Goldkette's record, Fulcher's sold badly. It was made in 1925.