[78-L] Pairing artists for greater sales

[Michael Biel]

Taylor Bowie wrote:
> Ok...at this point I admit that I am totally lost on this thread,  so maybe 
> somebody can bring me up to speed.
>
> I had thought the original deal was to list  well-known recording "stars" 
> who were put together on certain records by the record companies in order to 
> sell more records.
>
> Since then we have seen all sorts of posts and suggestions for that "list" 
> which seem to cover anything and everything where the two artists in 
> question are even slightly well-known.
>   

Well, the original question concerned if Victor (RCA or otherwise) did 
it, because it was more obvious on Decca, Brunswick, and Columbia.  Jack 
Kapp was a master at arranging these things with the purpose of 
increasing sales because of the novelty of the thing as well as 
potential artistic excellence.  I mean, wouldn't you think that fans of 
both artists would each want to buy the record?  Of course there is the 
possibility that some pairings would turn off the fans of one performer 
if they HATE the other.  For example:

Frank Sinatra and Elvis Presley  -- (they did appear on TV together, 
even after Frankie said some very nasty things about Elvis)

Bing Crosby and David Bowie -- (their TV duet was released, and was just 
as weird on disc as it was on TV)

and the ULTIMATE PAIRING, which resulted in a FABULOUS record that I am 
surprised nobody has mentioned yet, especially since Lenneck reissued it

Jimmy Durante and Helen Traubel !!!  Yes, Jimmy Durante on RCA Victor 
Red Seal!!    And there's a PICTURE  
https://www.allposters.com/-sp/Wagnerian-Operatic-Soprano-Helen-Traubel-with-Comedian-Jimmy-Durante-sing-A-Real-Piano-Player-Posters_i3838848_.htm


Mike Biel  mbiel at mbiel.com


> I don't follow Royal's view that a Frankie Laine-Jo Stafford duet doesn't 
> count,  but that a RWK with a Henry Burr vocal does!?!?!  Burr was a working 
> free-lance singer who recorded a wide variety of material,  from the early 
> days into at least the early 30s.  He had a fan base but was not a star in 
> the sense of Stafford or Laine.  And Kahn,  although largely self-financed 
> at the start of his career,  was already a major bandleader on record.
>
> As far as  I recall,  no one has mentioned one of the worst "celebrity 
> artists" parings on 78rpm...the infamous Sinatra-Dagmar sides on Columbia. 
> Yes,  she was a "star" of sorts,  at least for a few years on TV.
>
> Taylor B
>
>
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Royal Pemberton" <ampex354 at gmail.com>
> To: "78-L Mail List" <78-l at klickitat.78online.com>
> Sent: Friday, March 27, 2009 2:34 PM
> Subject: Re: [78-L] Pairing artists for greater sales
>
>
> One that doesn't count:  Frankie Laine and Jo Stafford; one that
> might:  Roger Wolfe Kahn with Henry Burr (see Victor 20071-B)....?
>
> On 3/27/09, Bud Black <banjobud at cfl.rr.com> wrote:
>   
>> Henry Burr + Billy Murray
>>
>> Bud
>>
>>
>> -------Original Message-------
>>
>> From: Bertrand CHAUMELLE
>> Date: 3/27/2009 3:52:10 PM
>> To: 78-L Mail List
>> Subject: Re: [78-L] Pairing artists for greater sales
>>
>> Harry Belafonte + Lena Horne
>> Harry Belafonte + Myriam Makeba
>> Harry Belafonte + Nana Mouskouri
>>
>> BC
>> Le 27 mars 09, à 20:44, Julian Vein a écrit :
>>
>>     
>>> Eartha Kitt and Shorty Rogers.
>>> Dave Brubeck and Jimmy Rushing.
>>>
>>>       Julian Vein
>>>
>>> ____________________