[78-L] American Dance Band Disco & ETs

[Julian Vein]

Birgit Lotz Verlag wrote:
> I have been arguing with Richard Johnson since, if I recall correctly, 
> around 1985!
> I pleaded (PLEADED!!) to include not only US bands that recorded abroad, 
> but of course to include all material originally issued on transcription 
> discs.
> I think he now decided to include the former, but not the latter. Which 
> is a bloody shame because, the moment this gigantic work will appear in 
> print, it will already be obsolete, although the information is 
> available - whether readily or not so readily. He had two arguments
> => his publisher would be reluctant to print more pages
> => he (Richard) does not have any transcriptions and does not know much 
> about them.
> I have never accepted this "reasoning". Who wants to acquire a book that 
> has deliberately suppressed important information? Any discographer's 
> deadly sin! The alternative to library binding hard cover would be 
> publishing on CD or DVD at a fraction of the cost.
> 
> The difference to other discs listed is their size (mostly 16"/40cm), 
> their speed (mostly 33,3 rpm), their commercial availability (mostly 
> restricted) and the material (mostly material other than shellac). So 
> what? Those transcriptions are contemporary recordings. They are the 
> original issues. They are standard groove.
> 
> It would be just as senseless and arbitrary to eliminate, say
> => discs of 15cm, 20cm, 26cm, 30cm just because they are not the 
> standard 25cm?
> => phonograph cylinders (and some 78s) that run at other speeds such as 
> 60rpm, 80rpm, 90rpm, 100rpm?
> => or hill-and-dale recrodings?
> => or test pressings that were never on sale?
> => or vanity, private or other non-commercial discs?
> => or even unissued titles that are not known to have survived at all?
> All those are listed, and rightly so, but not ETs.
> 
> The senselessness is even made worse by the compromise decision to 
> include those ET titles that have been re-issued on LP or CD (as of the 
> date of going into print), and only those. Surely and hopefully Richard 
> does not delete any Paul Whiteman 78s because they are not currently 
> available on CD?
> 
> Once published the revised American Dance Band Discography will 
> certainly be a great, MONUMENTAL work, it will be valid for decades to 
> come, but it could have been much better by not deliberately ignoring 
> available and relevant information.
> 
> It drives me mad. I'll have to obtain the work anyway.
> 
> Rainer
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I'm sure the authors will explain what is and what is not included. 
Surely there are others with much greater knowledge of transcriptions to 
compile a similar work?

      Julian Vein