Recording goofs and bloopers

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Victor A
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Recording goofs and bloopers

Post by Victor A »

Hi all,

I was wondering if some kind of "discography"(the word used very loosely) of recording bloopers. For example, the YouTube user Bruce Victrolaman Young posted a video of an early Amberol with an Eddie Morton selection. If you read the comments, there is some discussion about indistinct speech.

This kind of stuff fascinates me, and I was wondering if it happened to interest someone else too.

Thanks!
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52089
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Re: Recording goofs and bloopers

Post by 52089 »

Kermit Schaefer released numerous albums called "Pardon My Blooper" that compiled various mistakes on record and radio over the years. Unfortunately, quite a large number of them were merely recreated on his records instead of coming from original sources. Even worse, he included the infamous "Uncle Don" incident (him supposedy saying "that ought to hold the little b*stards" after signoff), which has been widely debunked.

However, he did include some well-sourced goodies, like Bing Crosby's famous "rant" during a flubbed take of "Wrap Your Troubles in Dreams"

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QnwHXjVvgrQ[/youtube]

Given the wide amount of material potentially available, I don't think there is any kind of "discography", but you can probably find some websites and or blog posts on the subject easily enough.

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Re: Recording goofs and bloopers

Post by CDBPDX »

52089 wrote:Kermit Schaefer released numerous albums called "Pardon My Blooper" that compiled various mistakes on record and radio over the years. Unfortunately, quite a large number of them were merely recreated on his records instead of coming from original sources. Even worse, he included the infamous "Uncle Don" incident (him supposedy saying "that ought to hold the little b*stards" after signoff), which has been widely debunked.

However, he did include some well-sourced goodies, like Bing Crosby's famous "rant" during a flubbed take of "Wrap Your Troubles in Dreams"

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QnwHXjVvgrQ[/youtube]

Given the wide amount of material potentially available, I don't think there is any kind of "discography", but you can probably find some websites and or blog posts on the subject easily enough.
Here is the other Bingo blooper recording, SERENADE IN BLUE:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZwqSXEwDMgg
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Victor A
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Re: Recording goofs and bloopers

Post by Victor A »

Thanks guys, these are really neat!
SOUSA, The March King, says:

"Your 'VICTOR' and 'MONARCH' Records are all right."

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Re: Recording goofs and bloopers

Post by RolandVV-360 »

On the subject of released records that have minor flaws in the recording, here's what I already know:

In the original version of "Hot Rod Race", done by Arkie Shibley And His Mountain Dew Boys, at the start of a guitar section, and at 1:14 in this video, you can clearly hear one of the band members cough.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-ub9nQ0YVCg

Another lesser known, and probably less appreciated goof is in the Grateful Dead's "Sitting On Top Of The World", from their first self titled album release. During a guitar solo, a bird can be heard chirping once in the background. This may or may not be a pre-recorded sound effect, but it's worth the mention.
PHONOGRAPH, n. An irritating toy that restores life to dead noises. -Ambrose Bierce

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Re: Recording goofs and bloopers

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Re: Recording goofs and bloopers

Post by OrthoSean »

I can think of a couple not mentioned yet. The Caruso / Melba recording of "O Soave Fanciulla" originally recorded for Victor but not issued until after both had died on IRCC (pressed by Victor in the early 30s) contains a distinct "thunk" where one of them bumped into the recording horn. It's otherwise a fantastic recording.

Another Caruso "blooper" is the early G&T (1902) recording of "Dai Campi Dai Prati" where he comes in and starts singing too early in the piano introduction then abruptly stops and starts again at the right point. The original G&T issue is pretty pricy, but you can find it repressed from original parts on HMV VA 7.

There's also a Galli-Curci issued 10 inch Victor red seal (title escapes me) where the nearby Campbell's soup factory whistle can be heard blowing distinctly.

Some Gennett's have the sounds of trains faintly audible in the background also, which makes sense since the recording studio was right next to the tracks.

I've also heard quite a few Victors where car horns can be heard "oogling" in the background.

One of the early 7 inch Zonophones our own donniej reproduced from my copy of "Sadie Won't You Say Nay" by Will F. Denny has a few seconds of unintelligible babbling going on during the piano intro, it's clearly Denny, but you can't hear what he's saying.

I should start setting these aside when I find them so I could cite certain examples, but it's not that uncommon to hear things like that on recordings.

Sean

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Re: Recording goofs and bloopers

Post by estott »

Not Quite a blooper, but there is the version of "The Drunkard Song" where Rudy Vallee got into a fit of giggles: [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kY2wQO2-ojY[/youtube]

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Re: Recording goofs and bloopers

Post by Orchorsol »

OrthoSean wrote:There's also a Galli-Curci issued 10 inch Victor red seal (title escapes me) where the nearby Campbell's soup factory whistle can be heard blowing distinctly.
Also a wonderful record, topped off with this added amusement! 64807, Massenet: Twilight.
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Re: Recording goofs and bloopers

Post by OrthoSean »

Orchorsol wrote:
OrthoSean wrote:There's also a Galli-Curci issued 10 inch Victor red seal (title escapes me) where the nearby Campbell's soup factory whistle can be heard blowing distinctly.
Also a wonderful record, topped off with this added amusement! 64807, Massenet: Twilight.
Thank you! I couldn't for the life of me recall which one it was!

Sean

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