[78-L] Lee Wiley/Liberty Music Shop

[David Lennick]

By the way, I was copying "Rabson's" straight from Rust and other listings. 
I've become so used to seeing it that way for years I forgot that the proper 
name of the label was Music Box (and I have the discs as well..the labels are 
oversized, which was unusual for US Decca but not for Canadian Decca..wonder if 
they were pressed here?).

dl

Han Enderman wrote:
> I have a label image of Music Box 5-A by Kitty Carlisle, singing 4 songs. Orch cond. by Jesse Smith.
> It has a very different label. Along upper rim, like a label name, is DANCE-SING RECORD.
> Below center hole: "Music Box / release by / Rabsons' / 111 West 52nd ST / New York City".
> At lower rim:
> Copyright 1940 by Kitty Carlisle - Trade Mark Pending.
> Reported as 12".
> 
> Han Enderman
> ===
>>> And Rabson is incorrect; label name is Music Box, released by Rabsons' Music Shop.
> 
> I've seen the records and have photographed them.  Yes the label name on
> the Rodgers and Hart is Music Box, and the store which commissioned
> them, and whose name IS on the label, is "Rabson's Music Shop, 111 West
> 52nd St. New York City".  It is easy to miss the label name Music Box at
> the top of the label when the store name and address takes up most of
> the lower half! 
> 
>> I'm pretty sure the Gala issue is later. Both sets appear to be Decca-type pressings.
> 
> This seems to be the only issue that Rabson made on Music Box.  There is
> no indication as to what distribution they had to other stores beyond
> their own store, likewise Liberty Music Shop and Gramophone Shop
> Varieties.  We know that Commodore was widely distributed.  Geoffrey
> Wheeler can probably provide the answer.  The reason I bring this all up
> is because the Gala issue might be a replacement for national distribution.
> <<<