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Post by neophone on Sept 23, 2008 0:33:12 GMT -5
Folks, Does anyone know about when Cameo switched over to electric recording? I was listening to a stack tonight and 959 (late '26) was definitely electric. They changed over fairly quickly didn't they? I also listened to 618 (late '24) and wasn't sure about that one then I read the wikipedia page on Cameo Records? How accurate is the wikipedia page ? Regards, J.
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Post by matty on Sept 23, 2008 1:19:41 GMT -5
My vote is Not very accurate :-) The wiki page says it is mentioned as an early electric, but listening to the podcast, the guy doesn't seem to know himself either way. He says the disc is badly worn, but to my ears it's sounds like an acoustic recording. July 1924 (no.583) seems extremely early for a smallish company like cameo to be using electrics when Columbia didn't start experimenting with it until Oct 1924.
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Post by neophone on Sept 23, 2008 3:37:48 GMT -5
Matty, I thought it was acoustic but I started to second guess myself. It's sometimes hard to tell especially on instrumentals from the mid twenties. Some of the early electrics are pretty bad. Cameo was arguable the biggest of the Dime Store labels. I just dug out Barr, he says 1926 for Cameo's switch, so now I just need to track done catalogue numbers. HEY ROCKY!!!! ;D Regards, J.
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Post by rocky on Sept 23, 2008 6:33:53 GMT -5
John, I don't know exactly when Cameo adopted electric recording, but I strongly suspect it was 1926. All the 1925 Cameo records that I've heard are acoustic, including the Charleston (#741). For some reason, I can't access the On-Line Discography at the moment. Once it becomes available, I can at least let you know the latest record that I know is acoustic based on listening. Rocky
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ultona
Full Member
It's Not Easy Bein' Green
Posts: 164
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Post by ultona on Sept 23, 2008 9:17:26 GMT -5
I'd agree with Rocky, at least 1926. I wouldn't be surprised to hear even 1927, since they were a "cheap" label. I have a copy of Jack Kaufman "He's Our Al" (the Al Smith campaign, 1928? - don't have the issue # here at work) which is a definitely an electric, though not a great one!
Sean
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Post by rocky on Sept 23, 2008 10:55:27 GMT -5
I was able to access the On-Line Discography, and noted that Lanin's "After I Say I'm Sorry," No. 874, was recorded in February 1926 and is definitely acoustic.
When I get home I will go through my list of Cameos (one of the very few record lists I've compiled) and see if I have anything recorded later than February.
Rocky
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Post by maroongem on Sept 23, 2008 12:26:08 GMT -5
It seems Cameo began experimenting with electrical recording in mid 1925 and went to full time electrical recording in Jan. 1926. This is verified by the Talking Machine World for Apr. 15, 1926. They merged in July, 1929 with Regal and Scranton Button Factory to form ARC. The label seems to have been discontinued around 1931
Bill
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Post by larryh on Sept 23, 2008 13:43:37 GMT -5
Are these fairly unpopular among collectors? I had a set of them on ebay and they didn't even garner a looker. The pieces were pretty good tunes to me, but I am not an expert on groups.
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Post by neophone on Sept 23, 2008 14:05:04 GMT -5
Larry,
I personally love Cameos, however the surfaces aren't the greatest so if you're the type that can't stand surface noise then you'd stay away. So maybe there is a slimmer market for them. I am a bit surprised you didn't get an nibble though. Maybe just bad timing?
Bill, thank you for the notation from TMW That'll go in my sloppy notes. ;D I'm sure just like every other label there was a period of transition it issuing.
Rocky I'll be interested in what your notes say. Sean that must be a great number!
Regards, J.
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Post by larryh on Sept 23, 2008 16:50:40 GMT -5
John,
If your going to deal with Edisons you have to overlook a lot of surface for sure.. I don't recall the cameos sounding too bad? I played them both on a small electric portable and my brunswick, which the sound was too loud for, so I am assuming most of these are electrics I have. The condition was pretty good. I may have dumped them in the trash after then got no bids though, can't exactly recall.
Larry
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Post by rocky on Sept 23, 2008 18:24:29 GMT -5
Larry, You threw Cameo records in the trash! Didn't you like them? ;D I have found that it's not always easy to win well known dance tunes on Cameo. John, My experience is that Cameos sound fine if the record is in decent shape.....maybe a tad tinnier than Victor batwings, which weren't examples of the best in recording technology either. I have the impression that Cameos are more likely to be found in worse condition than the average Victor, Columbia, or Brunswick record. It's not easy to dig out my Cameos, which are scattered about, but No. 874 may very well be the highest numbered acoustic Cameo in my collection. Rocky
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Post by neophone on Sept 23, 2008 18:39:08 GMT -5
Larry, Shame on you! Rocky, I'm with you, they sound fine to me, but I do wonder if some fellows pass on them because they gotten more than a few crunchy ones. I wonder if one of the reasons they are more worn is the music was a bit hotter and the kids bought them and played them out on their portables and the like. ;D Regards, J.
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Post by rocky on Sept 23, 2008 18:47:12 GMT -5
I wonder if one of the reasons they are more worn is the music was a bit hotter and the kids bought them and played them out on their portables and the like. ;D Regards, J. John, that may very well be the case. Black jazz and hillbilly records of the era are also much more likely to have been handled improperly than Caruso's 12" Victors. Also, the quality of shellac on Cameos was probably inferior to that of the major labels. Rocky
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Post by larryh on Sept 23, 2008 21:50:06 GMT -5
Ok,
I hadn't gotten around to trashing them yet it turns out.. They were still in a stack of 78's I ran into recently..
I wanna be loved by you. Bob Haring Carolina Moon. Vincent Richards.
Contented. Harry Smith In the Evening. John Spear
Thats why I love You. Bob Haring Lyon- my own. Arthur Lange
Ol'Man River. Miami Royal Palm Orchestra What do you think my hearts made of. Blue Water Yacht Club
Follow the Swallow. Arthur Lange Pretty As a Picture. Bob Haring
Magic Island. Society night club Pagan Love Song. Vincent Richards Orchestra.
Let me know if you want the lot cheap...
Larry
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Post by matty on Sept 24, 2008 0:11:29 GMT -5
Theres some good titles there Larry.
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