[78-L] VJM article: British Jazz Albums of the 1930s and 1940s

[Han Enderman]

I have an image of a HMV Album "Masters Of Swing No.1" (no picture on front)
and searching The Gramophone for info I found the following of interest (OCR text):
---
Gram January 1941 :Page 19

A SUGGESTED LIST
In the welter of recordings issued in the course of a year there is 
always the danger that much excellent work will be too easily 
forgotten. Our reviewers have collaborated in compiling a short list of 
some outstanding records of 1940, which may be useful to readers.

Swing Albums
Chicago Jazz: Brunswick 03055 to 03060 incl. 
Crosby (Bob) Album No. 3 : Decca F7592 to F7595 incl. 
Masters of Swing: H. M. V. B9087 to 9092 incl. 
Super Rhythm Stars: Parlophone R2768 to R2773 incl.
---
Gram October 1940 :Page 16

MUSIC Reviewed by Edgar Jackson
... the current supplements show that the 
recording companies are bravely carrying on and once again 
treating us to the usual seasonal increase of swing records.
These increases are mainly in the form of two new Swing Albums-a 
third Bob Crosby Album from Decca and the first of what is. I believe, 
to be a series of Albums, entitled" Masters of Swing," from H.M.V.
---
(Gram [1980s], Looking back to April 1941:)
...but in Edgar Jackson's "Swing Music" review section there was an ambitious album bringing together many notable jazz instrumentalists (HMV B915I-6). This "Masters of Swing" set had been compiled by Jackson himself and included contributions from bands led by Coleman Hawkins, Lionel Hampton, Duke Ellington and the trumpeter "Wingy" Maunone so called because he possessed only one arm.
---
The odd thing is that the albums are so rare.
The Decca records exist with several tax codes and evidently were also issued separately.
The Parlophones exist with gold and (later) blue label, which state:
"Super Rhythm-Style Series" (no nrs).
The HMVs also exist with post-war and export labels. They are part of the current
"Swing Music 1940 Series", No.399-410 (B-9092 is common Muggsy Spanier).
Numbering continued in 1941 Series for B-9151 (No.441/442) by Tony Pastor/Hawkins, etc.

Han Enderman
===
>>> 
OK, things are now falling into place.  Geoffrey's book "Jazz by mail" 
had listed the three English Brunswick albums, Classic Swing I and II 
and Fred Elizdale, and his other book "Collectors Guide to Jazz on 
Bootleg & Reissue" also includes 21 Years of Swing Music" but not the 2 
HMV albums, the only one I had known about being the Ellington.  Han's 
d8scovery of the Gramophone articles about the  Connoisseurs album is 
great.  Subscription albums were not unknown in the classical field but 
this predates the American jazz club reissues starting in 1934.  I 
assume the HMV Ellington was sold in stores, but did they ever relent 
about the earlier one and sell it again?  What I am confused about the 
two 21 Years of Swing Music albums is the mention of post-war labels.  
These were still in print in the mid-40s??!!  . What about the 1936 
albums? 

The original posting about the VJM article goes on to list  "Bob Crosby 
Showcase (Br. Decca)  3 volumes, no date given".  There is an American 
Decca album also called Bob Crosby Showcase that was album # 32, six 
discs.  Did the bRITISH ISSUE three bOB cROSBY ALBUMS?? 

Also need further info on the mention of Swing Music Conversations on 
12-inch Eng Bruns, asto how many discs and was it an album.  Numbers?

Also the Parlophone British Arts Rhythm Style Series.  Was this another 
Parlophone series of single discs or an album? 

And as always, pictures of the albums needed.

Mike Biel  mbiel at mbiel.com 
<<<