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Harry Lauder didrecord cylinders for Edison, but I don't think Glenn Elison is a pseudonym- their singing voices are very close but i don't think his manner of speaking is exactly the same- but I've been known to be wrong.

Actually, listening again, Ellison is a good imitation, but an imitation- a nice surface but not the same richness.

syncopeter wrote:A lot of artists, even very famous one, moonlighted recording for other companies, using the most outrageous pseudonyms. Fats Waller was on a session for Commodore, while having a very lucrative contract with RCA Victor. His pseudonym? "Maurice" (even spelled on the label in quotation marks), his son's name. His solos are 100% sure Waller. Nobody had that touch and used those riffs as the 'harmful little armful'.
So it's quite probable that Lauder DID record that Diamond Disc himself.

I really don't think so.

estott wrote:Harry Lauder didrecord cylinders for Edison, but I don't think Glenn Elison is a pseudonym- their singing voices are very close but i don't think his manner of speaking is exactly the same- but I've been known to be wrong.

Actually, listening again, Ellison is a good imitation, but an imitation- a nice surface but not the same richness.

I agree. If you listen to a Lauder cylinder & Elison disc of the same title, the differences in their voice & dictation stand out like dogs tails.

Thanks for the advice, I'll be getting some Kotton Klenser and the Howard products mentioned. The inside looks pretty good, so I think I'll leave the inside alone. What would the finish have looked like originally, glossy, satin? Not that I'm going to totally re-finish, but just curious as to what it should look like.

gramophoneshane wrote:

estott wrote:Harry Lauder didrecord cylinders for Edison, but I don't think Glenn Elison is a pseudonym- their singing voices are very close but i don't think his manner of speaking is exactly the same- but I've been known to be wrong.

Actually, listening again, Ellison is a good imitation, but an imitation- a nice surface but not the same richness.

I agree. If you listen to a Lauder cylinder & Elison disc of the same title, the differences in their voice & dictation stand out like dogs tails.

I happen to have comparison videos appropriate for this discussion.

Diamond Disc with Glenn Ellison singing Harry Lauder song:
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iZ6WoCIVs2M[/youtube]

Harry Lauder on Victor record:
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I_HAkiUKxCo[/youtube]

ADPhono wrote:Thanks for the advice, I'll be getting some Kotton Klenser and the Howard products mentioned. The inside looks pretty good, so I think I'll leave the inside alone. What would the finish have looked like originally, glossy, satin? Not that I'm going to totally re-finish, but just curious as to what it should look like.

The inside of the lid does look good, so just some light cleaning with a soft
cloth then Howards feed and wax. The dark walnut version of Restore-a-finish
should match the original color the best. Home Depot sells everything except
for Kotton Klenser. You can also get by with non-abrasive hand cleaner as
a cheaper alternative if desired. Look at the inside of the lid and that is
usually what the whole cabinet should look like. You probably won't get it
that good but it will definitely look better. The inside of the lid was
protected from the ravages of the elements.

Sorry, guys, but Glen Ellison was a real person--a Canadian Scot who recorded Edison discs for quite a few years. I've seen photographs of him doing Tone Tests, and he doesn't look anything like Lauder except for wearing the Kilt!
Harry's brother Alick Lauder did make one Diamond Disc, but not using Harry's material. As a singer, Ellison had the better voice, but Lauder made the most money.

hillndalefan wrote:Sorry, guys, but Glen Ellison was a real person--a Canadian Scot who recorded Edison discs for quite a few years. I've seen photographs of him doing Tone Tests, and he doesn't look anything like Lauder except for wearing the Kilt!
Harry's brother Alick Lauder did make one Diamond Disc, but not using Harry's material. As a singer, Ellison had the better voice, but Lauder made the most money.

Photo of Glen on this page: http://www.lagparty.org/~wyatt/ett.html

hillndalefan wrote: As a singer, Ellison had the better voice, but Lauder made the most money.

I'm not so sure. IMO, Lauder had a great singing voice when he wasn't laughing, coughing and laying on the thick Scottish accent with the over-accentuated tongue rolls.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7acrhn7ZdUY[/youtube]

Thanks for posting this, Shane! I've never before heard Lauder's later electrical recordings. The song itself is a very different side of Sir Harry. I like it.

-Martin