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Post by rocky on Jan 27, 2008 21:52:26 GMT -5
I wonder why both and Edison and Columbia dropped the practice of allowing recording artists to announce their own records ca. 1903 (with the notable exception of Cal Stewart).  Rocky |
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Post by lukewarmwater on Jan 28, 2008 6:05:40 GMT -5
My guess because with advent of molded cylinders, the recording engineer only had to start up one recording machine rather than several. Thus, he was right there at the machine anyway . . . may as well do the announcement . . . would save the artist their first couple of breaths to perform and be less intrusive on their artistic psyche. Luke W.
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Post by rocky on Jan 28, 2008 14:04:35 GMT -5
Luke, that makes sense. However, how does that explain Arthur Collins as announcer? I don't think that he also performed the duties of recording engineer, or did he?
Rocky
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Post by lukewarmwater on Jan 28, 2008 15:52:12 GMT -5
Maybe Arthur liked to hang around the studio . . . was holding the good stuff so they let him    Luke W. |
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Post by maroongem on Jan 28, 2008 16:23:33 GMT -5
My theory is that tight old Tom decided to pay artists by the word, so he did away with them doing the announcements!!!!! Bill |
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Post by rocky on Jan 28, 2008 19:12:32 GMT -5
Maybe Arthur liked to hang around the studio . . . was holding the good stuff so they let him Luke W. It's obvious that Arthur Collins had to spend a considerable amount of time in the studio at the time that he was announcing records, as he announced about 24 records every month. I would not be surprised to learn that he did more at the Edison recording studios than make records. On an unrelated topic, while going through my Edison cylinder book, I note that there were no Edison releases for June 1906. Anyone know why? Rocky |
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Post by phonogfp on Jan 28, 2008 20:59:24 GMT -5
The May 1906 issue of "The Edison Phonograph Monthly" explained the record situation like this:
"The action of this company in deciding to drop entirely the June list of Edison Records...tells in the strongest terms the facts concerning the state of the Edison business today... At this date we are over two and a half millions [sic] Records behind orders for current Records, and if no further orders were received we could not complete their shipment in less than five weeks' time... The elimination of one month's list will enable us to devote our Record making facilities for a few weeks to catching up on orders for current stock and we hope that this will do much to relieve the situation."
George Paul
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Post by rocky on Jan 28, 2008 22:21:56 GMT -5
Thanks for providing the answer to my question, George. I guess there was a sudden surge in sales that caught Edison off guard.
Rocky
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Post by neophone on Feb 7, 2008 1:58:39 GMT -5
Rocky,
As far as the announcements go, It just occurred to me, maybe they go the idea of having a recognizable voice to instantly identify the cylinder as an Edison or a Columbia. Like a modern spokesman.
Regards,
J.
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Luke W.
