Reflections occasioned by two records of Alma Gluck

[drh]

In weeding duplicates, last night and this morning I came to a couple of numbers recorded by the indefatigable Alma Gluck: Victor 74465 ("Listen to the Mocking Bird," with birdie tweets supplied by Charles Kellogg) and Victor 74534 ("Aloha Oe," assisted by the Orpheus Quartet).

A couple of aspects I found striking. First, do you know the lyrics of "Mocking Bird"? Until today, I'd never paid any attention to them beyond the eponymous chorus, although I've known the tune for most of my life--I think it figured on "Captain Kangaroo" when I was a tot, and I couldn't begin to guess how many times it's popped up in various contexts since (although, now that I think on it, not in more recent years; I guess it's become another of those "formerly common currency" cultural items). I'd always thought it was just a pretty, cheerful little late-19th-c. ditty. Wrong! Playing Alma's record at "Victor speed" (76 RPM, +/-), her enunciation was admirably clear, and I was astonished to discover the thing is about as maudlin as can be, cheerful tune notwithstanding. The singer is going on about a lost love buried down in the stereotypical valley, and that mocking bird is twittering away above her grave. Yikes!

Second, Alma Gluck was popular, but these two records give pretty striking evidence of just how popular: "Mockingbird" is a 10Q stamper, and that pales against "Aloha," which is a 22X! I've seen some big numbers along the line, but I don't remember seeing numbers that high on any other red seals of my acquaintance.

[melvind]

An interesting post. Alma Gluck was mostly known for her opera arias, but as you pointed out her popular songs were very popular. Likely more so than her opera.

[VanEpsFan1914]

"Listen to the Mocking-Bird" is a nice song--truly a great old Victorian ballad.

I have "Carry me Back to Old Virginny" and there's nothing wrong with that, also, a battered copy of "Abide with Me" and a duet with Louise Homer: "Whispering Hope." Both those are 10" discs from 1912 and in hammered condition. Apparently those who bought Mme. Gluck's popular efforts truly liked them!

I personally enjoy her work, and think she is an example of a lost art of singing that we likely will never hear any more. People are weaned on microphones now.

[drh]

Considering how popular she was in her day, it's curious that her name has pretty much disappeared except among those of us who collect and listen to old records (and movie/old TV show lovers--she was the mother of Efrem Zimbalist, Jr.). Oh, and I spoke too soon: when I got to it a little after posting, one of my copies of "Carry Me Back to Old Virginny" turned out to be from a 52-something matrix.

One thing that surprised me going through the dupes with varying generations of matrix: sometimes those with seriously elevated numbers sound noticeably degraded compared to earlier pressings, but then again sometimes they don't. I can't see any rhyme or reason for it.

[dennis]

I have a number of her records. A very enjoyable voice! My favorite is "Fiddle and I", with accompaniment by her husband, E. Z., Sr. I used to sing this to my son when he was a baby.

[OrthoSean]

One thing that surprised me going through the dupes with varying generations of matrix: sometimes those with seriously elevated numbers sound noticeably degraded compared to earlier pressings, but then again sometimes they don't. I can't see any rhyme or reason for it.

I'm guessing it depends on how new the stamper was. If memory serves, each stamper was good for something like 1000 (?) pressings before being replaced by a fresh one. If you have the first pressing from 28Y stamper, it should sound as good as the first from the "A" stamper. The sound degrades the longer the stamper is used, if that makes sense. I know some folks go for the lowest possible stamper pressing for their collection, but that isn't what matters, it's the age of the stamper itself. I hope that makes sense!

Sean

[epigramophone]

In terms of record sales, Alma Gluck was in the same league as Caruso and McCormack.
There is a story about Gluck taking Grace Moore for a drive in her new Rolls-Royce. When Grace nervously asked Alma what the car cost she replied "I paid for it today with $20,000 which was part of $100,000 cheque for royalties sent to me by the Victor company."