[78-L] Juiced Speeds

[Michael Biel]

> > my question is about speed changes made to the original recordings
> > before they were put on discs, for the purpose of making them more
> > commercially viable, or for novelty or experimentation.  Margaret G. Still

As for the latter part of the question, novelty or experimentation, my daughter Leah did a recorded term paper on this subject a couple of years ago, and the two of us presented an expanded version of it at ARSC in Seattle.  I have the video recording of it, but the audio recording is available thru ARSC.

Mike Biel  mbiel at mbiel.com  



David Lennick wrote:
> I've noticed speed differences between the LP and 45 versions of some pop 
> records in the 70s and 80s, but that's not what you were asking. One deliberate 
> juicing up in a transfer to 78 that's been documented is Al Jolson's first 
> Decca, which was because Jack Kapp didn't think it captured the old Jolie. Many 
> Capitol 78s in the 40s are running fast..this has been noted in a Nat King Cole 
> discography and I found it to be the case on some other recordings from the 
> late 40s ("Sparky's Music Mix-Up" stands out..the Mendelssohn Violin Concerto 
> is a half tone sharp on the 78).
>
> Dickie Valentine's "Finger of Suspicion" was supposedly recorded with the 
> singer dubbing to a track that was slowed down slightly because he couldn't hit 
> the high notes. Some Elvis RCA sides sound WAY fast to my ear, and Johnny 
> Mathis's "Twelfth of Never" sounds as if it was slowed down substantially..the 
> timbre of the voice never rings true.
>
> dl
>
> mgstill at bellsouth.net wrote:
>   
>> When was it possible, and on what recordings were speeds ever juiced up (or down) during the 78 era?
>>
>> I am not considering any variations in playing speed of 78 records; my question is about speed changes made to the original recordings before they were put on discs, for the purpose of making them more commercially viable, or for novelty or experimentation.
>>
>> Thanks!
>>
>> Best,
>> Margaret G. Still
>>     
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