[78-L] Scott Joplin on 78s?

[Cary Ginell]

I have a 78 on the post-war Circle Documentary label (D-5005) that has Joplin piano rolls of "Weeping Willow Rag" and "Quality Rag" on it. 
Cary Ginell

> To: 78-l at klickitat.78online.com
> Date: Wed, 25 Jun 2014 21:50:25 +0200
> From: andrew.evans at sfr.fr.invalid
> Subject: [78-L] Scott Joplin on 78s?
> 
> 
> Scott Joplin on 78s? No, I don't believe it either. 
> 
> But the forum's been quiet recently, so here we go. 
> 
> I have an LP, another from the Riverside "Classic Jazz Masters" series (Dr
> Hans R Rookmaaker, who was mentioned here not long ago) entitled "Scott
> Joplin, Ragtime Pioneer" (RLP 8815 or RM 8815). The liner notes are undated
> and there's no copyright information on the disc, but the notes refer to
> Rudi Blesh's book (published 1959). I bought the LP in 1968, so whenever it
> comes from, it predates 'The Sting' by at least five years.
> 
> The whole LP's a dog's breakfast of unattributed 78s apparently made from
> piano rolls, five of which Dr Rookmaaker states are by Joplin himself,
> though without any supporting testimony, or names of the other performers.
> So I'm not sure I really believe that, either.
> 
> Of the 13 titles listed (there are actually 14 but as I said, the whole
> thing's a dog's breakfast) Rust mentions only two: Morton's version of
> Original Rags (which this definitely ain't), and about 25 versions of Maple
> Leaf Rag. So presumably Brian Rust never saw any of these discs either. 
> 
> I've no reason to doubt the good Dr Rookmaaker's assertion that they are 78s
> made from piano rolls. They are totally lacking in dynamics (hence piano
> rolls), sound like electric recordings (but not good enough to be post-war)
> and most of them run to within a few seconds of three minutes, which
> suggests that the player-piano was paced to fill the side, regardless of the
> roll's intended playing time. One "side", which is actually a medley of Pine
> Apple Rag and Euphonic Sounds, runs to 4'55".
> 
> Does anybody out there have any information about these alleged 78s ... or
> any speculative suggestions about where they might have come from? Or does
> anyone know of a piano-roll collector who might have anything written or
> plausibly performed by Joplin?
> 
> Andrew in Luxembourg
> 
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