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I've been beating my brains out trying to find out the recording date for Victrola 12 inch Red Seal #88663 (HMV matrix #Cc1891-IV): "Song of the volga Boatmen", sung by Feodor Chaliapin. EDVR doesn't list it; 78discography doesn't have the recording date; and there doesn't seem to be a decent discography for HMV.

Anybody have a decent recording date for this?

Bill

According to Moses (Julian Morton Moses, "Collectors' Guide to American Recordings 1895-1925," p. 45), 88663 was issued on Red Seal in the period 1923-25. Moses lists it in a group of recordings "Most of [which] were pressed from imported masters which, in a few cases, soon gave way to domestic replacements under the same numbers," but Moses does not include 88663 among "a group of his 1909-1912 European recordings in Russian [which] were also given catalogue numbers in 1924 though they did not appear under them in this country." However, this source (http://www.russian-records.com/search.p ... t=1&page=5 ; see sixth item on list!) gives 88663 recording date as 9-10-22 (i.e., Oct. 9, 1922). Note that the matrix number, as well as the catalogue number, are the ones you cite. This may be as close as you get. HTH.

The citation to "www.russian-records.com" came from the Chaliapin entry in the wiki: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Feodor_Chaliapin . Scroll down to the bottom of the page for the citation.

Check here to listen and determine whether this is the same recording that you seek: http://www.russian-records.com/details. ... ge_id=9480 . Apparently he recorded it more than once!

There's an online Chaliapin discography that has that matrix as been recorded in 1911.

Henry wrote:According to Moses (Julian Morton Moses, "Collectors' Guide to American Recordings 1895-1925," p. 45), 88663 was issued on Red Seal in the period 1923-25. Moses lists it in a group of recordings "Most of [which] were pressed from imported masters which, in a few cases, soon gave way to domestic replacements under the same numbers," but Moses does not include 88663 among "a group of his 1909-1912 European recordings in Russian [which] were also given catalogue numbers in 1924 though they did not appear under them in this country." However, this source (http://www.russian-records.com/search.p ... t=1&page=5 ; see sixth item on list!) gives 88663 recording date as 9-10-22 (i.e., Oct. 9, 1922). Note that the matrix number, as well as the catalogue number, are the ones you cite. This may be as close as you get. HTH.

The citation to "www.russian-records.com" came from the Chaliapin entry in the wiki: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Feodor_Chaliapin . Scroll down to the bottom of the page for the citation.

Check here to listen and determine whether this is the same recording that you seek: http://www.russian-records.com/details. ... ge_id=9480 . Apparently he recorded it more than once!

Thanks! I'll go with the 1922 dating.

For some reason, the link on Wikipedia gave me a 404; but your second link works.

Bill

The date of 9 Oct. 1922 is correct. According to the CHARM database, it was recorded in Hayes with G. W. Byng as the conductor. Takes 1 & 2 were cut on 25 Sep. 1922 and were apparently not used. Takes 3, 4 & 5 were cut on 9 Oct. and take 4 was mastered on HMV DB.105 (in addition to the Victor).

Matrix numbers with the Bb or Cc prefix generally indicate a Gramophone Company recording done in the UK between 1921 and 1930 (Bb for 10", Cc for 12", Yy for Zonophone).

-HA

Doesn't anyone here have the wonderful 2 volume-discography of Victor Red Seals (to 1930) by John Bolig? Well, I'm not at home at the moment, so can't check mine...but will check later.

Um, no, not at those prices: http://www.mainspringpress.com/book_RS1.html

The wiki is more affordable (for me).

Henry wrote:According to Moses (Julian Morton Moses, "Collectors' Guide to American Recordings 1895-1925," p. 45), 88663 was issued on Red Seal in the period 1923-25. Moses lists it in a group of recordings "Most of [which] were pressed from imported masters which, in a few cases, soon gave way to domestic replacements under the same numbers," but Moses does not include 88663 among "a group of his 1909-1912 European recordings in Russian [which] were also given catalogue numbers in 1924 though they did not appear under them in this country." However, this source (http://www.russian-records.com/search.p ... t=1&page=5 ; see sixth item on list!) gives 88663 recording date as 9-10-22 (i.e., Oct. 9, 1922). Note that the matrix number, as well as the catalogue number, are the ones you cite. This may be as close as you get. HTH.

The citation to "www.russian-records.com" came from the Chaliapin entry in the wiki: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Feodor_Chaliapin . Scroll down to the bottom of the page for the citation.

Check here to listen and determine whether this is the same recording that you seek: http://www.russian-records.com/details. ... ge_id=9480 . Apparently he recorded it more than once!

Somehow, mysteriously, the citations to the russian-records site weren't working for me today; they were coming up with a different recording altogether! Now they seem to be working again, but in case they don't, try this: http://www.russian-records.com/search.p ... ords=88663