[78-L] Alex Steinweiss article

[Michael Biel]

From: David Lennick <dlennick at sympatico.ca>
> And I made earlier mention of a couple of Shakespeare sets on Columbia,
> issued in 1938..Orson Welles' "Julius Caesar" (the 5-disc abridgement,
> not the longer Mercury Players set) and Maurice Evans in scenes from
> "King Richard II". Both have full size photographs on the front cover.
> So even Columbia was doing arty album covers before Steinweiss. 

I had the Evans Richie 2 out at home a few weeks ago during an earlier
discussion of covers.  I think my Big Julie abridgement has the later
stock cover with the circles, so I'll need a photo of yours.

>(Does the original issue of "Air Raid" have an illustration? Both copies
> I have here have plain covers, although one disc is an original pre-CBS
> gold label pressing.)

My set has a plain green cover.  But remember, there was an extra
special fancy numbered limited edition autographed set with a slipcase. 
I wonder where the hell I'll find a copy of that to check!

Han, where are you finding dates for things like the Richard Rodgers
set?  dl

Yes, your info is very interesting.  The European angle is interesting
because many of the sets in England were not sold in albums but were in
regular plain sleeves.  I don't have much info about what happened on
the continent.

Mike Biel  mbiel at mbiel.com


Han Enderman wrote:
> Co Album C-11 contains Co 35379-82, recd 21 Dec 39 & 4 Jan 40.
> Co 35389 is by Metronome All Star Nine, recd 7 Feb 1940, and pres. issued Mar/Apr 40.
> This might date C-11 as ca. Mar 40.
> C-13 also Steinweiss (Strauss Waltzes).
> 
> Symp. Of Swing occurs with 2 different covers, with diff. photos.
> Steinweiss produces colourful covers like paintings, while earlier Deccas have
> conspicuous typography and often artist photos. This even applies to 74 (wizard of Oz) from 1939.
> And the earliest Deccas are more like uninteresting wallpaper (15 Stephen Foster, 22 Sousa).
> An interesting early Decca is Album 34 (Tahitian Rhythms) with coloured native design.
> Conspicuous "drawing" design on Decca 132 Bob Crosby (date?) & 137 Boogie Woogie;
> 133 is Bud Freeman, recd Mar/Apr 40.
> 
> Han Enderman