ODJB VICTOR 18255 - Label Varieties

[CDBPDX]

I was digging through a box of old records and found 2 copies of Victor 18255 - Original Dixieland 'Jass' Band. One label is the earlier variety with the 75c price to the left of the spindle hole and SEE CONDITIONS, the other is a later variety with no price and patent numbers. Pretty ordinary except the A sides are titled differently. The early label says, "Dixieland Jass Band One-Step", the later one says "Dixie Jass Band One-Step" / "Introducing "That Teasin' Rag"".

Just thought that was kind of weird...

Cliff

[victorIIvictor]

Hello, Cliff,

There are more in-depth and reliable references, of course, but this Wikipedia article gives a succinct explanation for the label variations that you note:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joe_Jordan_(musician)

Specifically, see the fourth paragraph under the heading The "Pekin Theater Stock Company".

Best wishes, Mark

[pictureroll]

I just LOVE old 78s

[CDBPDX]

Hello, Cliff,

There are more in-depth and reliable references, of course, but this Wikipedia article gives a succinct explanation for the label variations that you note:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joe_Jordan_(musician)

Specifically, see the fourth paragraph under the heading The "Pekin Theater Stock Company".

Best wishes, Mark

Thanks! Good info. It is reprinted here from Wikipedia:

Joe Jordan wrote a couple of songs for Ada Overton Walker, first "Salome's Dance" and then in 1909 "That Teasin' Rag". Its main theme was used by The Original Dixieland Jazz Band on their 1917 recording the "Original Dixieland One Step". When Jordan heard the record, he filed suit. All copies of the records were recalled, and the label was changed to include the phrase "introducing ‘That Teasin' Rag' by Joe Jordan".

The one I have must have escaped the recall. That's pretty cool! Thanks! Cliff

[CDBPDX]

I just LOVE old 78s

Glad to hear that! I, too, enjoy the old 78s.

Check out my web page with some of my recordings of 78s:

http://cdbpdx.com/78records/

Username: New090908
Password: 654321

Also check out my YouTube channel: CDBPDX

Enjoy! Cliff

[victorIIvictor]

Hello, Cliff,

hello, Cliff, you wrote,"The one I have must have escaped the recall."

Of course, many copies of 18255 were sold BEFORE Joe Jordan filed his lawsuit. After all, if the ODJB had not had a hit record, Jordan wouldn't have been aware of it and would never had any reason to sue.

Anyway, I don't know that the court demanded a "recall"--I don't know for sure, but that language smacks of the Wikipedia writer interpreting what happened in 1918 through a 21st Century lens. Given that it was considerably more burdensome to pack, ship, and deliver things (and hence return them) back then, I would think that the court merely ordered Victor to issue copies of 18255 with labels reflecting Jordan's authorship thenceforth, and pay back royalties on the ones already sold or shipped to dealers.

If someone knows better, please let us know.

Best wishes, Mark

[CDBPDX]

Hello, Cliff,

hello, Cliff, you wrote,"The one I have must have escaped the recall."

Of course, many copies of 18255 were sold BEFORE Joe Jordan filed his lawsuit. After all, if the ODJB had not had a hit record, Jordan wouldn't have been aware of it and would never had any reason to sue.

Anyway, I don't know that the court demanded a "recall"--I don't know for sure, but that language smacks of the Wikipedia writer interpreting what happened in 1918 through a 21st Century lens. Given that it was considerably more burdensome to pack, ship, and deliver things (and hence return them) back then, I would think that the court merely ordered Victor to issue copies of 18255 with labels reflecting Jordan's authorship thenceforth, and pay back royalties on the ones already sold or shipped to dealers.

If someone knows better, please let us know.

Best wishes, Mark

Everything you said makes sense and is very likely to be the case. However, it's kind of fun to think I might have a fugitive record...

Thanks! Cliff

[78shellacster]

According to http://www.jass.com/jordan.html "Even though he was working in Chicago, Jordan was still involved in the New York musical scene. He wrote Ada Overton Walker's Salome Dance, which was used in a Williams and Walker production, and also wrote That Teasin' Rag for her in 1909. Eight years later, that song became part of a controversy when The Original Dixieland Jazz Band used its principal strain for their tune, Original Dixieland One-Step. After hearing a recording of it, Jordan brought legal action. The records were pulled from the shelf and relabeled with an additional credit: Introducing `That Teasin' Rag' by Joe Jordan."