Robbie,  To set the record straight about some of the rolls that
I made, I want to clarify those messages about what I did and what
J. Lawrence Cook did.  So --

I made the medley rolls of the whole score of "Cabaret", QRS rolls
XP164B (Part 1) and XP165B (Part 2).  I didn't make the single roll
of "Cabaret", but I believe that Dick Watson made that roll.  At the
same time I believe that Cook made the single roll of "Cabaret" for
Aeolian.  It was two different companies, making the same selection.
That was about normal for those days.

Speaking of "those days", there were two different songs with the
title "Those Were The Days".  One was the version of "Those Were The
Days (My Friends)" [m: B. Fomin, w: G. Raskin], which was based on
a Russian melody, and the other was the opening theme song for the
TV series, "All In The Family".

I recorded the "All In The Family" themes for QRS: "Those Were The
Days" [m: Ch. Strouse, w: L. Adams](QRS 10-467), the opening melody,
and "Remembering You" [R. Kellaway] (QRS 10-476), the closing theme
for the TV show.  J.L. Cook may have made a roll for Aeolian also.
So, since there were two companies making piano rolls, there was the
chance of making duplicate titles.

I made the roll of "For Once In My Life" [R. Miller, O. Murden]
which Aeolian Vice President Bob Hoyman used for his travels around
the country to show off piano rolls.  Ramsi Tick heard that roll,
and since Stevie Wonder had just come out with a hit record, he
asked me to make that roll for QRS.  I objected that it was a slow
ballad tune and not a rhythm number.  But he insisted I make it for
them, and I agreed, on one condition -- that I make the first chorus
in rhythm, but the second chorus will be like that Aeolian roll.
He agreed and that's what I did.

Also, on "Hello, Dolly!", QRS 9949, Dick Watson started it, but he
took sick and I had to complete the roll.  About a year later they
asked me to make another roll of "Hello, Dolly!", QRS 9980, and I made
that roll, but they only had it in their catalog for about a year and
then dropped it.  It was too similar to the earlier one.  In reality,
I made both of them, with almost similar arrangements.

But, that's the roll making business!  I hope this clarifies all
questions.

Hi Babit

 [ Ref.:
 [ http://homepage.ntlworld.com/pat.richmonds/mhfs.htm 
 [ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/All_in_the_Family 
 [ http://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/All_in_the_Family#Theme_song 
 [ -- Robbie