The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

CarlosV wrote: Wed Nov 29, 2023 4:31 am And like him or not, Crosby was the most influential popular singer since records exist, a unique phenomenon that created imitators in almost every country in the world, with a style that made every man think he could sing like Bing.

Yes, but generally nobody ever starts from nowhere.

"The most influential popular singer since records exist" -- Gene Austin, who more or less invented the modern style of singing (crooning--no belting it out from the diaphragm, old-school pre-electrics live theatre style, because that just doesn't work with a close mic), might have better claim to that title. He was the older generation inspiration for Bing, Sinatra, Como, and others of their era. Rudy Vallee might also have some claim, as well, as another proto-crooner, but he wasn't as directly influential on the big three, Bing, Frank, and Perry.

Wikipedia says: Austin's 1927 "recording of "My Blue Heaven" sold over 5 million copies and was for a while the largest selling record of all time."

https://youtu.be/-tT4BoEh5gA?si=GBhmPyEaUzmx2nV8

Bing Crosby gave all that stuff to Les Paul because it confused him and Les Paul carted it around motel to motel!

(-: I once met that man. What a guy
He really was a pioneer in recording!
Every dang thing I did as a kid he did earlier than I did! I thought I had "discovered" some stuff till that conversation. Poor man, I had 1000 questions.

BTW, he hated the Les Paul guitar because it recorded like crap. He put low impedence pickups in it.
For those who give a damn I was sort of a PC digital recording guru/pioneer in the 90s. Apple thought they had that market to themselves before me and a bunch of guys started working with some hardware makers (-:

I'll take Bing any day (especially early Bing). Just keep Sinatra away from me! Even if he told me I'd won the Lotto I wouldn't want to hear him!

JerryVan wrote: Wed Nov 29, 2023 12:16 pm I'll take Bing any day (especially early Bing). Just keep Sinatra away from me! Even if he told me I'd won the Lotto I wouldn't want to hear him!

Going to have to find some early Bing, I know you guys have good taste. I agree on Sinatra I understand how that stuff works. I used to book Sam Butera at a Casino chain I was working for. The nice guys came out of the woodworks (-:

"I have never used WD-40 on a record, but I suspect that I have seen its effect on records that I have acquired, and if I am right in my suspicion, the effect isn't entirely pretty."

Almost anyone on the forum has heard me praise WD-40 for cleaning shellac records and celluloid cylinders. I have been doing this for over 40 years with absolutely ZERO negative issues or effects. It is not a shellac solvent and does not gum up the record grooves like furniture wax. It actually improves worn records that have been overplayed and improves their appearance...

I'm glad you tried my Weldbond glue crack repair method and liked it.

Curt A wrote: Wed Nov 29, 2023 7:39 pm Almost anyone on the forum has heard me praise WD-40 for cleaning shellac records and celluloid cylinders. I have been doing this for over 40 years with absolutely ZERO negative issues or effects. It is not a shellac solvent and does not gum up the record grooves like furniture wax. It actually improves worn records that have been overplayed and improves their appearance...

Interesting. Perhaps I have been misatributing the effects I see to WD-40, when it is something like Pledge or another furniture spray that is causing the problems.

The Carauba wax, a floor and furniture wax, which I use on my repaired records, hardens up fairly quickly. It is only the first few plays that much of anything curls up around the needle. I still don't play these treated records on my electrical gear.

Curt A wrote: Wed Nov 29, 2023 7:39 pm [I'm glad you tried my Weldbond glue crack repair method and liked it.

Wrong. Loved it. Thank you.

PeteLeoni wrote: Wed Nov 29, 2023 1:39 pm

JerryVan wrote: Wed Nov 29, 2023 12:16 pm I'll take Bing any day (especially early Bing). Just keep Sinatra away from me! Even if he told me I'd won the Lotto I wouldn't want to hear him!

Going to have to find some early Bing, I know you guys have good taste. I agree on Sinatra I understand how that stuff works. I used to book Sam Butera at a Casino chain I was working for. The nice guys came out of the woodworks (-:

https://youtu.be/not9NX-zgDs?si=JwLqXXgAsCotn1Ua

^ That's better for sure But he was imposing that damn 20s Rudy Valley vibrato in!
One step forward in non-pretentious though. (-:

Curt A wrote: Wed Nov 29, 2023 7:39 pm "I have never used WD-40 on a record, but I suspect that I have seen its effect on records that I have acquired, and if I am right in my suspicion, the effect isn't entirely pretty."

Almost anyone on the forum has heard me praise WD-40 for cleaning shellac records and celluloid cylinders. I have been doing this for over 40 years with absolutely ZERO negative issues or effects. It is not a shellac solvent and does not gum up the record grooves like furniture wax. It actually improves worn records that have been overplayed and improves their appearance...

I'm glad you tried my Weldbond glue crack repair method and liked it.

I was patiently waiting for Curt to enter the chat

On a side note, I've noticed that a disproportionate number of forum members (as opposed to the general public) hate Bing and Frank. I guess we tend to enjoy older music than most.

I DO like Bing and Frank... although I prefer the earlier Bing of the 20s and 30s with that vibrant style.