[78-L] Decca's Music of Our Time series

[David Lennick]

Stephen Davies wrote:
>         I have the set on 78rpm from 1916 - 1944, and am now looking for 
> duplicates.  It is odd to see how Decca sat on these recordings for 
> several years until they were ready to start releasing them.  

Easy..there was a shellac shortage! It made more sense to get as much mileage 
out of Bing and a few a capella hits by The Song Spinners, and then use the 
alloted shellac for Oklahoma! and other guaranteed hits. A lot of recordings 
from 1942-45 weren't issued till 1950 and some were never brought out.

dl

> It's also 
> neat to see how the pros could step into the studio and bang out four to 
> six "take #1" sides in a row. 

>         On the other hand, the "song hits" of 1943 were recorded in 1944, 
> which didn't allow for much perspective on which songs would become 
> standards.  Out of eight medleys per album, you're guaranteed at least one 
> waltz.  The number of songs varies since a few medleys have only two 
> tunes; most have three.
>         On some, the album cover art and liner notes by Louis Untermeyer 
> are copyrighted 1947, but the series was released slowly.  This list of 
> hit records from 1948-jun refers to the years 1923 & 1935 as best-selling 
> new releases.
>                 (q.v. http://home.earthlink.net/~jaymar41/june48.html )
> 
>         Eventually they were re-released on Vocalion vinyl LPs with 
> additional years added to the series, but it wasn't called "Songs of our 
> times" any more; just "Song hits of...."
>         I also have the accompanying sets by the Jesters, themed on 
> airplanes, telephones, automobiles and firemen.  They are a mix of novelty 
> pop and traditional songs.
> 
>         There was a movie tie-in with "All the king's men" (1950) when 
> they were still releasing new entries to the series.  Since "King's" was a 
> historical picture (1930's), there was the possibility to wax nostalgic 
> for the old tunes.
> 
>  "Voting machine used at playhouse for 'All King's Men'"
>         _Box Office_ (1950-feb-18) p. 72
> http://issuu.com/boxoffice/docs/boxoffice_021850/38 
> 
> "Our Times Song Contest On Air for 'King's Men'" 
>         _Box Office_ (1950-apr-29) p.166
> http://issuu.com/boxoffice/docs/boxoffice_042950/38 
> 
> - Stephen D
> in Calgary
>