The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

Just found my first Columbia TED LEWIS sleeve! I'm still re-digging through that collection I acquired in October and am finding wonderful stuff!

Both the label and the sleeve are in really nice shape. Those black/ silver labels often didn't age well and the sleeves dried out and crumbled on the edges.

"Lewisada Blues" is a fun one.

Ted Lewis is my favourite American band leader. Many of his records were issued on UK Columbia and are reasonably easy to find, but sadly not in that colourful sleeve which was probably exclusive to the American market.

Ted Lewis delivers the goods. One of my faves that I have is one called San on a Columbia Flag label.

Flip side is She's Everybody's Sweetheart which has a little vocal turn by Lewis himself.

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I love the Sleeve! Columbia sure did come up with great graphics both in specialty sleeves and in their advertising. This is a true gem! I'm not a huge fan of Ted Lewis, but I would love to have this one!

I can tell you are not a fan if you spell his name "Louis". Another great Columbia sleeve as well as label is the Paul Whiteman "Potato Head" Columbias!

marcapra wrote:Another great Columbia sleeve as well as label is the Paul Whiteman "Potato Head" Columbias!

I found one of those sleeves and here is the reverse of mine. It seems to be a rather 'generic' sleeve, specific only to the 'NEW PROCESS' and 'VIVA-TONAL' records and the latest machines to play them, but it doesn't seem to be specific to any particular artist. Could this sleeve have been used for several artists records, including the 'potato head' labels?

I think by "label" you meant "sleeve". The label would be on the record. But that's a good point. I've only seen those sleeves on "Potato Heads", but you are right. It doesn't even mention Paul Whiteman on the sleeve, whereas the Ted Lewis sleeve is totally personalized. Was your sleeve on a Potato Head record? I'm not an expert on sleeves, so I don't know. Maybe one of the 1920s discographies has the answer?

marcapra wrote:I think by "label" you meant "sleeve".

Oops! That's what I get for typing late at night.. Thanks!

marcapra wrote:But that's a good point. I've only seen those sleeves on "Potato Heads", but you are right. It doesn't even mention Paul Whiteman on the sleeve, whereas the Ted Lewis sleeve is totally personalized. Was your sleeve on a Potato Head record? I'm not an expert on sleeves, so I don't know. Maybe one of the 1920s discographies has the answer?

I've only seen 2 of these sleeves and neither were housing Columbia records.

Cliff