[78-L] Long length Billy Murray acoustical Victors

[Michael Biel]

In keeping with our discussion of extra long and short length 78s, I
came across a notation in Ryan Barna's on-line Billy Murray discography
about the use of a matrix prefix BB which denotes special narrow
grooving with more grooves per inch for longer lengths.  This was used
on March 11, 1910 for two of the four sides recorded by Murray and the
American Quartet.


BB 8698-1       A Night Trip to Buffalo ("Two Irishmen in a Sleeping
Car")
                  Vic 16524-A             ("Special label")
BB 8686-4       Casey Jones
                  Vic 16483-A 


and on June 28, 1910 for another side
BB 9142-1     Farmyard Medley
                 Vic 16676-A


Looking at the Encyclopedic Discography of Victor Recordings it is
unclear if there also were alternate takes issued.  

For 16524-A they list both take -1 with the BB master from March 11, as
well as -3 recorded on Nov 3, 1910 (but -3 has not been found in the
Victor ledgers).  They list take -1 as also being issued on Vic 3513. 
The Library of Congress audio clip is timed at 3:41 but the take is not
specified.  

For 16483-A, in addition to the BB take -4 from March 11 they list three
other takes mastered and issued: -6 and -7 from May 13, 1910 and -12
from Oct 10, 1911.  

They do not list an alternate take for Farmyard Medley on 16676-A, nor
do they include a note about a BB prefix. 

So, check these three sides for timing but be sure to check your take
numbers.  Were there different time lengths on different takes of these
sides?

Mike Biel  mbiel at mbiel.com