The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

Appreciate y'all's information. Didn't know about the repressings. I'll look into all of it.

And there must be some of them released from original matrixes on red Columbia laminated puddings of the 30s and 40s

Which is the one acoustic issue? Is it gut bucket blues/yes I’m in the barrel? That is the only one I have an original Okeh pressing of. It always sounded like a (not too spectacular) acoustic recording to me.

MrRom92 wrote: Tue Feb 17, 2026 2:32 pm Which is the one acoustic issue? Is it gut bucket blues/yes I’m in the barrel? That is the only one I have an original Okeh pressing of. It always sounded like a (not too spectacular) acoustic recording to me.

There are actually five acoustic Hot Fives. Okeh 8261, 8299, 8300, 8318 and 8320 are all acoustic recordings. Bear in mind, many, many, many copies were pressed with the “TrueTone” label, but original pressings have the deep red “non-TrueTone” label.

Steve

I understand that some of the True Tone OKeh records WERE electrically recorded.edisonplayer.

edisonplayer wrote: Fri Feb 20, 2026 8:20 am I understand that some of the True Tone OKeh records WERE electrically recorded.edisonplayer.

That is correct. The “TrueTone” process was Okeh’s own electrical recording process. The “TrueTone” process lasted only a short time. The first recordings using that process were made on 19 April 1926. After being purchased by Columbia, Okeh began using the “Western Electric” process in November 1926.
The first three Hot Five titles were recorded on 12 November 1925. “Gut Bucket Blues”/“Yes I’m In The Barrel” were released as Okeh 8261. “My Heart”/“Cornet Chop Suey” ( recorded 26 February 1926) were released as Okeh 8320. The six titles on 8299, 8300 and 8318 were all recorded on 26 February 1926. The first Hot Five “TrueTone” recordings were made in June 1926.

Steve

And there must be some of them released from original matrixes on red Columbia laminated puddings of the 30s and 40s

Yes, I have a few of these from the 40s labeled as "A Hot Jazz Classic" along with their original catalog numbers. Hot Stuff!

These red Columbia reissues... We laugh at them because they are omnipresent... But thanks for they decided to make this repressings, because they are very good quality and offer a good collection of old recordings that sound very good. Some of them are alternate takes that were not issued originally on their labels. I like the Hot Jazz Classics albums.

Inigo wrote: Sat Mar 14, 2026 2:28 am These red Columbia reissues... We laugh at them because they are omnipresent... But thanks for they decided to make this repressings, because they are very good quality and offer a good collection of old recordings that sound very good. Some of them are alternate takes that were not issued originally on their labels. I like the Hot Jazz Classics albums.

Besides the reissues, Iñigo, a number of Hot Five recordings were first issued in the 40s on red Columbias, like Twelth Street Rag and others, thanks to the research that George Avakian made in the Columbia vaults. He was responsible for the nice 78 rpm albums of the Hot Five and Sevens.

Grover, I have at least 8 Armstrong's in respectable condition. I understand most of these are not Hot Five but since I'm local, I thought I would let you know.

Columbia 698, New Orleans Wanderers, w/ Lil Armstrong (Louis's 2nd wife), both sides were written by Louis.
Columbia 2606, w/Orch
Okeh 8609, w/Hot Five
Okeh 8800, w/Orch
Okeh 41448, w/Cotton Club, 2 copies, one w/red label, one w/black label
Okeh 41478, w/Cotton Club
Okeh 41530, w/Orch
Okeh 41534, w/Orch

If interested, please contact me directly. No PM please

Ken Flaherty
17166 Beechwood Ave
Beverly Hills, MI 48025
+1 248-312-8118 direct or WhatsApp
[email protected]