Odd OKEH Records

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SSBN 657
Victor O
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Odd OKEH Records

Post by SSBN 657 »

Hello all

I bought a box of 70 OKEH records at a local garage sale recently and have a question. None of the records have any title/artist info. What's up with that?
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Curt A
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Re: Odd OKEH Records

Post by Curt A »

Maybe they were used on "Name That Tune" in the 1950s... :lol:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=12idnUZgyKQ
"The phonograph† is not of any commercial value."
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"No one needs a Victrola XX, a Perfected Graphophone Type G, or whatever you call those noisy things."
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PeterF
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Re: Odd OKEH Records

Post by PeterF »

Super intriguing. Play several of them and tell us what you hear.

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Wolfe
Victor V
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Re: Odd OKEH Records

Post by Wolfe »

The top one looks like it has 401861 in the runout so I looked it up and got this :
https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/index.php/ ... yt0=Search

Doesn't quite stack up though because Okeh sported ELECTRIC on the label by 1929. Label looks like the Okeh style of the earlier 1920's. I'm probably not seeing the number stamp correctly.

I can only guess the labels are blank due to some error at the pressing plant.

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Curt A
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Re: Odd OKEH Records

Post by Curt A »

Maybe the title wouldn't fit on the label:
OKeh matrix W401861. Lakodalom van a mi uccánkban (Csárdás) / Fila Jenò Cigányzenekara

OR, maybe they were custom recordings, not meant for resale...
"The phonograph† is not of any commercial value."
Thomas Alva Edison - Comment to his assistant, Samuel Insull.

"No one needs a Victrola XX, a Perfected Graphophone Type G, or whatever you call those noisy things."
My Wife

SSBN 657
Victor O
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Re: Odd OKEH Records

Post by SSBN 657 »

Well did a little more research. All of the records are stamped with a number example: ####A and flip side ####B. Went to 78discography.com and found all of the series numbers and the titles and artists associated with the numbers. Now I just need to go through an catalog them on paper. Maybe these record labels were a product of a printing malfunction at the factory. Probably sent out and sold at discount as factory seconds.

Tim

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Victor II
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Re: Odd OKEH Records

Post by Pathe Logical »

Hi Tim,

Nice find, and intriguing to get that many all at once. These sound like they possibly could be test pressings --- please don't write anything on those labels. I have one on OkeH and several more on Columbia w/o titles or artist information. A well known record auctioneer told me mine were test pressings. Hope yours are all rare, unissued takes!

Let us know what you find when you compile your list,
Bob

SSBN 657
Victor O
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Re: Odd OKEH Records

Post by SSBN 657 »

Just getting started. 17 of the records are 8000 series race records. artists include Sippi Wallace, Virginia Liston, sylvester Weaver, Laura Smith, Sara Martin, Clarence Williams, Butterbeans and Susie, Three Deacons, Irene Scruggs, Harlem Trio. Lots of Blues titles.

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Wolfe
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Re: Odd OKEH Records

Post by Wolfe »

SSBN 657 wrote: Mon Apr 19, 2021 11:35 pm Just getting started. 17 of the records are 8000 series race records. artists include Sippi Wallace, Virginia Liston, sylvester Weaver, Laura Smith, Sara Martin, Clarence Williams, Butterbeans and Susie, Three Deacons, Irene Scruggs, Harlem Trio. Lots of Blues titles.
Well, look at you ! That's a valuable little score. IIRC, Sylvester Weaver is considered the first guitar playing blues performer to make a record.

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Re: Odd OKEH Records

Post by Viva-voce »

What a fabulous find--especially those from the 8000 series.
Enjoy them all!

Steven

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