[78-L] Original Sound of the 20s

[Michael Biel]

David Weiner wrote:
> This must be a habit in the record biz. 
>   

Notice that both examples are from the same company, so it might not be 
the total record biz.  There was a threat of a lawsuit when BMG tried to 
eliminate the entire Bluebird label when they were still in the middle 
of several "complete" series, perhaps Fats Waller and a couple of 
others.  BMG had to back down and issue THOSE albums, and THEN dump 
Bluebird. 

The Epic sets Dave mentions ARE the replacements for Orig Sound of 30s.  
Got that info straight from Larry Carr at the time.  You get six discs 
instead of three, plus the second 2-disc Bing set.  This was at the 
point when Columbia wanted to switch the reissues from Columbia to 
Epic.  They had done Dick Powell, Alice Faye, and Bing in Hywd on 
Columbia and then did the others on Epic.  It was later on that they got 
back to finishing the Bings, doing them on three separate Columbia 
albums.  Remember that essay on the innersleeves about Bing stiffing 
Brooks for an interview?  And those great label photos on the sleeves?   
Miles Kreuger had started preparing a complete Jolson for Columbia, and 
that finally came out (incomplete) for Arlington's Nostalgia Book Club.  
But Miles got a complete set of Jolson vinyl test pressings out of it.   

By the way, I have long said that The Original Sound of the Twenties was 
the album that changed my life.  It legitimized what I was interested 
in, especially because of the extended essay in the booklet.   All the 
other reissues were either big band or were out-of-print like the things 
on X and The Old Curiosity Shop.  I never saw those until later.  This 
was the first time it was legit for me to like non-swing or non-opera 
78s.  Rich Markow also tells the same story.  Rich was working for Rose 
Records/Sounds Good Records when Orig Sound was deleted.  He called me 
up and asked how many sets I wanted to order.  Three.  So I have five 
copies including one with the original cream colored box with the purple 
printing on the spine.  I keep forgetting to bring one to Leah. 

Mike Biel  mbiel at mbiel.com
>  The Original Sound of the Twenties
> booklet also promised forthcoming editions for the early Thirties, mid
> Thirties etc, and I'm still waiting for those, too - or they're extremely
> rare!
>
> Rodger
> -----
> Epic sort of picked up where "The Original Sound of the Twenties" ended,
> with the 2-LP set, ENCORES FROM THE 30s, 1930-35 Volume 1.  There never was
> a Volume 2, but two additional Epic 2-LP sets, "THOSE WONDERFUL GUYS/GALS OF
> STAGE, SCREEN & RADIO" rounded out the decade of the 30s. 
>
> Dave W.
>
> ___________