"'Uncle Tom" started my fascination, what was yours?

[coyote]

I can't attribute my fascination to any one record, but more to a series of events.

At about the age of four, in the late 70s, I came across about 20 78s in the bottom of a hutch in my grandmother's basement. They consisted of mostly common 40s and 50s stuff, Sinatra, Billy Eckstine, etc. Nevertheless, I played them to death. By that time nobody in my family had a windup phonograph any longer, but I was intrigued by recountings of these interesting machines. It would be quite a few years before I had the opportunity to even hear an acoustic disc machine play, much less a cylinder one.

Other relatives stated that they had records, but didn't know exactly where they were...in the basement somewhere. Imagine my joy upon discovering FOUR cases worth of records! These had some 40s-50s fare, Carmen Cavallaro and such, but were mostly older batwing Victors, including some Billy Murray and a Cameo with Bob Haring and his orchestra. There were even three strange thick Edison records that played with very low volume on my turntable. Only years later did I find out why! I suspect these Edisons were given away free or at GREATLY reduced prices, as these relatives never owned an Edison Diamond Disc phonograph, nor do I think they knew anyone who did. At the age of about 8, we were living in New Jersey and my parents took me to the Edison National Historic Site, knowing I'd love it.

These enchanting old shellac records and the longing to experience the original equipment they were played on set me on the path of phonograph collecting.

[Lucius1958]

It is hard to pinpoint my earliest experience of 78s: I know I fondly remember an RCA LP compilation in 2 discs: one of classical, and one of popular recordings - "50(?) Years of Music". Two selections were my favorites: Caruso's "La donna e mobile" ( the transfer on the LP was from a later repressing, with dubbed orchestra), and Harry Lauder's "A Wee Deoch an Doris".

Of course, we did have a collection of 78s that my father and his parents had acquired, including Wendell Hall's "It Aint' Gonna Rain No Mo' ". That didn't sound so good on the family stereo, for obvious reasons. But the seed had been planted...

Bill

[marcapra]

Larry, that record of Uncle Tom is very fascinating! I can see why you were mesmerized by it, and that gorgeous Brunswick too! For me it was that very common 1927 Orthophonic album of Victor Herbert's music. Babes in Toyland, Naughty Marietta, The Red Mill, Sweethearts, Eileen, Mlle. Modiste, etc. It evoked another simpler, innocent time. I find that Herbert's ballads somewhat resemble the melodies of Sigmund Romberg.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FfLG82bRXIw

[larryh]

Larry, that record of Uncle Tom is very fascinating! I can see why you were mesmerized by it, and that gorgeous Brunswick too! For me it was that very common 1927 Orthophonic album of Victor Herbert's music. Babes in Toyland, Naughty Marietta, The Red Mill, Sweethearts, Eileen, Mlle. Modiste, etc. It evoked another simpler, innocent time. I find that Herbert's ballads somewhat resemble the melodies of Sigmund Romberg.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FfLG82bRXIw

That was one of my first favorite albums. The music is so wonderfully done and with a feeling one doesn't hear today!

[marcapra]

One thing I really miss in San Diego is the Comic Opera. This was a small theater in Balboa Park, close to the San Diego Zoo that used to do Gilbert and Sullivan and other light operettas always in English. The singing and acting were great and I enjoyed it more than the Grand Opera because you were close up to the stage. They did everything from Haydn's The Man in the Moon to mid 20th century musicals. It was great, but like all good things, it is gone. The ravages of changing tastes I guess.

[CDBPDX]

Abba Dabba Honeymoon. When I was a kid, that song was played a lot on the radio. In 1995, I hadn't heard it for a few decades and while rummaging through some stuff at a garage sale, I came across a copy! I bought it, took it home, and played it, but it was by Cliff Steward, not the version I remembered. Began actively seeking out the other version, found one, played it, and it was also not the version I remembered - Collins & Harlan this time. It began to dawn on me that there was a wealth of music hidden in those old records and I began looking for more interesting songs and discovered a ton of great music. I finally did find the version I was seeking, Debbie Reynolds. Now I also have Helen Kane, Kitty Kallen, and Merv Griffen all singing Abba Dabba Honeymoon/Aba Daba Honeymoon.

And Ozzie Nelson singing DREAM A LITTLE DREAM OF ME from 1931.

NOw it has become an obsession with me. Still discovering new stuff, most recently a small group of vintage Portuguese Fado recordings. Who knew such things existed...??

Cliff

[epigramophone]

This man started my interest in music, and later in our hobby.

My mother claimed that I could sing along to "Santa Lucia" at the age of three, but it was not until the age of ten that I acquired my first gramophone. I still have my parents record of "Santa Lucia" and a great many more by Caruso.

[edisonphonoworks]

Several things sparked an interest. As far back as I can remember, I like mechanical things, and history. I remember as a 6 year old looking at a picture of an Amberola V (did not know the model at the time) in Ideals magazine. I also saw some machines at the local historical society, and at flea markets. I was 11 or 12 when I got a Victrola and had it working. sometime at that stage I also got a Dictaphone to record cylinders on.

[howardpgh]

This album was in my parents stereo when I was in elementary school. They probably bought it when it was new.
I was hooked when I heard Whispering. Seeing the cute doggie on the back helped. Mid 60s thereabout. I got a Victrola 16 for my 13th birthday.
It has been downhill ever since

[Wolfe]

^ That's a very common LP to find around. I used to have a copy. 78 transfers were mediocre at best. RCA Victor seemed quite enamored of using lots of compression when they issued 78 stuff on LP in the 1950's / 60's.