[78-L] Advent_of_Electrical_Recording:_English _“Blackbirds”

[Michael Biel]

This description of what the English Brunswick ad says (is it from The
Gramophone?) is illuminating, especially considering that Han just sent
me three photos of that British version of the album.  Although there
are no scans of any of the labels, it is obviously the British version
because the inside back cover lists the "Programme", and the record
numbers listed all have the leading zero.  So, it seems that the
"handsome album" Price 2/6 was indeed their replica of the U.S. album. 
This group works very well together!!

Mike Biel  mbiel at mbiel.com

-------- Original Message --------

From: Geoffrey Wheeler <dialjazz at verizon.net>


Michael Biel: Does the (E) mean that this is this an ad for the British 
issue? If so, did they also issue this set in an album, and is there a 
picture of the album in the ad?

Yes, the “E” stands for English Brunswick. No, there is no picture
of 
the album in the ad. The Warner-Brunswick Ltd. ad is dated July 1933. 
The six American Brunswick recordings were issued in the U.K. on 
catalog numbers Br 01517 to 01522 at 2/6 each. If one wanted to 
purchase all the records and album them, “handsome albums, suitably 
titled, to house the six discs, are obtainable from all Brunswick 
Dealers. Price, 2/6.” The ad does not make clear that the six records 
are available in a special album but that an album (perhaps generic) is 
available if one wants to store the six records in one. The ad is 
headlined “Brunswick Present Blackbirds, the greatest coloured stars
in 
the greatest coloured show” accompanied by cartoon blackbirds with 
Sambo-size lips. The faces look similar to those depicted on the cover 
of the Cootie Williams “Echoes of Harlem” Hit album (catalog numbers

8087 to 8090). I have not seen the English Brunswick album but do have 
two of the records. Your project sounds fascinating, Mike!
Geoffrey Wheeler