[78-L] American Dance Band Disco & ETs

[Malcolm Rockwell]

Ah, yes. I also decided not to include transcription discs in my 
Hawaiian work, and there are a lot of them, especially for the Hawaii 
Calls radio shows which originated in Honolulu, mostly for broadcast on 
the mainland.
The fact that Johnson decided not include the Dance band equivalents 
intrigues me.
This leaves the field wide open for a fledgling discographer to spread 
their wings and take on a project which will undoubtedly be fascinating 
- covering all transcriptions in all genres, at least for the US and 
Canada and possibly worldwide.
I would happily help with the Hawaiian research end of such a project.
Mal Rockwell

*******

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
>