[78-L] The Fading Sounds of Analog Technology

[Michael Biel]

On 3/5/2011 1:14 PM, Martin Fenton wrote:
> This is fascinating, Kristjan, and I'm relieved to hear I'm not the only
> one collecting such sounds. One of my current hobbies is to record
> natural sounds using a binaural setup. Such is my obsession, I now have
> two hours of edited sound collages of the sounds of Amsterdam, recorded
> when I've been working or on holiday there.

In the late 50s Capitol Records put out several LP of city sounds 
including my favorite, The Sounds of Amsterdam, narrated by Hans 
Conreid.  There also was one for London.
> I'm currently trying to
> record a series of London Underground journeys, and I've probably spent
> more time while preparing for a forthcoming journey to mainland Europe
> deciding how best to record the sound of the ferry that will take me
> there than I've spent wondering which clothes to pack and how much money
> to take!  Martin.

There is a 78 from the 30s by a British vocal comedian of his vocal 
impressions of the sounds of London.  My favorite part is the tube train 
standing in the station, and the system that kept the doors open would 
make a vov-vov-vov-vov-vov sound that was still present when I made my 
first trip to London in 1983.  Those cars are no longer in use.  Another 
vanishing London sound would probably be the driver alert bell rung by 
the conductor at the rear entrance to the old double-decker buses.  The 
London sound I wish would vanish would be the screeching brakes that 
seem to have been required equipment on every black cab.

I might also recommend the Peter Sellers record "Balham: Gateway To The 
South".

Mike Biel  mbiel at mbiel.com