[78-L] "Value" of 78s

[Taylor Bowie]

>> common and inexpensive now, but that does not mean that they are not
> better than the rare territory band or obscure opera singer.  The dollar
> records are often much better musically than the hundred dollar record.
> And the expensive records only notable because of their expense.
>
> Mike Biel  mbiel at mbiel.com


I agree with you on that,  Mike.  Many of the most expensive jazz and blues 
records  I've heard seem to be valuable for their rarity rather than their 
musical value.

I would say there is more connection to musical value with a lot of the 
dance band records.  I don't buy the Blue Wax Columbias because I like their 
looks or how they play...but I haven't minded paying good $ for super clean 
copies of the great ones by Paul Ash,  Mark Fisher, Earl Burtnett and a few 
others.  Same with the Anson Weeks on MacGregor.  And when I pay a lot for 
other early MacGregors it's because I'm interested in the dance band style 
of the era,  esp. as it was on the West Coast.   The rarity is more of an 
irritation than anything else.  I would be no less interested in them if 
they cost five bucks each...and often I wish they did.   I can't testify to 
the motivations of others who spend money on records,  but I don't do it for 
any other reason than the music and the history connected with the artists.


Taylor