[78-L] Music Hall on Gennett

[Michael Biel]

In this case I think the appeal to Gennett management in issuing this
record would be having a rendition of The Preacher and the Bear in their
catalog.  Yes Gennett did strive to be as wide ranging as possible. 
That they SEEM to be remembered only for jazz is elitism in the
collecting fraternity beginning in the 1930s when FINALLY they became
interested in how jazz began.  They discovered these records were rare
even then because they had not sold!  They were a drug on the market
when they were new.  They were a loss to Gennett.  They deleted them and
destroyed the masters because they were ephemeral junk that nobody
bought.

Mike Biel  mbiel at mbiel.com


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

From: David Lennick <dlennick at sympatico.ca>

About the last thing I'd expect to find on Gennett is English Music
Hall, but I've just come across two Albert Whelan sides: Preacher And
the Bear b/w All Aboard For Glory. Originally from Edison Bell Winner
3043, recorded 1916 (his only session between 1913 and 1922, oddly
enough). I wonder how many other oddities turn up on Gennett? I've seen
straight pop, instrumental solos and light classical and band
selections, so I guess they tried to be as wide ranging as possible..and
then were remembered only for jazz (and sound effects).  dl