Attached is an mp3 of "Merely An Excuse" by the Five Omega Collegians. This was a college band formed by students at Glasgow University in the early 1920s (the band was initially named the Omega Five).
The Five Omega Collegians toured Scotland and England widely, reaching as far south as Brighton, where they played at the Metropole Hotel. In October 1928 they were resident at the Empress Rooms in Tottenham Court Road, London. During the summer of 1929 they played at the Villa Marina in Douglas, the capital of the Isle Of Man, but broke up shortly afterwards.
"Merely An Excuse" is quite obviously based on Frank Trumbauer's "I'm Coming, Virginia", with liberal quotes from this source as well as a few from Trumbauer's "Singin' The Blues". It was composed by the band's pianist, George Scott-Wood, who is better known as the leader of the 1930s studio band "The Six Swingers".
The Five Omega Collegians recorded for Edison Bell Winner in January and February 1928; details are as follows:-
FIVE OMEGA COLLEGIANS
Harold B. Millar - trumpet, clarinet, alto sax, baritone sax / Hamish C. Christie - trumpet, trombone, vocals / George Scott-Wood, piano, goofus, vocals / Lindsay Melvin - banjo, guitar, vocals / Bill Hutcheon, drums.
London, January, 1928.
11403-3 Who's That Knockin At My Door? - v3 (EBW 4813)
11404-1 There's A Rickety Rackety Shack - v3 (EBW 4813)
London, February 8, 1928.
11452-1 Merely An Excuse (EBW 4900)
11453-1 Yes She Do - No She Don't (EBW 4900)
This message has been edited by ahaim on Jun 29, 2012 6:48 AM