Do we know who early Explanatory side voice was?

[larryh]

I put up an pretty early record today of Bonnie, Sweet Bessie, the reverse is a Explanatory talk.. I am pretty sure the vocal is not Harry Humphrey who seems to be on most of the records I have run into before.. Does anyone know who this is? Its not nearly as clear as the latter vocal sections I am used too.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OAgPl2ex2zU


Larry

[52089]

I can't get to my copy of Ray Wile's Diamond Disc discography, but I would bet it has that info...

[52089]

According to the Excel file produced by Truesound Transfers, the speaker is John Charles Thomas. Recorded Sept. of 1915.

[larryh]

Thanks that is interesting that after all that time you came up with it!. John Charles Thomas rings a bell, I will have to look him up.

Larry

[edisonplayer]

John Charles Thomas,I believe did a couple of the Explanatory Talks for Edison.It's more common to find them by Harry Humphrey.edisonplayer

[VintageTechnologies]

I had no idea John Charles Thomas had recorded anything for Edison. Did he ever record a song for Edison? Thomas recorded several records for other labels that are among my favorites. My earliest recording by Thomas is "Danny Deever", recorded on a 12" red shellac single-sided Aeolian-Vocalion.

"The Lord's Prayer"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kOq4PpBn2QY

"The Green Eyed Dragon"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qB1tF6IhfYQ

[edisonphonoworks]

As usual even though the surface noise is pretty high on this, the clarity of the speaking voice comes through, and has excellent quality. Oh yes I must confess the old wives tale of using a lot of spit on the connections from the recorder, to the horn, especially on the swivel, that goes up and down, is absolutely true, and it increases the sound level, and clarity.

[larryh]

As a fan of Old Time Radio shows I can recall him being on various shows that had musical interludes. I wasn't sure at first if it was the same person but when I looked it up on line it sounds like it would be him.. Born around 1891 If I recall right, so he would be in his low 20's most likely when these records were made. He was an operatic star as well as popular singer. He did a lot of radio shows. It would seem likely that he would then be someone to be involved in promoting classical singers though the Explanatory Sides... I didn't note any actual singing records on Edison but did see the list of other companies he recorded for.. Most likely after he had left Edison and Humphrey Began to replace him.

Larry

[52089]

In reviewing the spreadsheet, it seems Thomas did explanatory talks for only a handful of records, all in Sept. 1915. He also did a handful of other recordings that were approved but not released, starting in 1914.

The spreadsheet can be downloaded for free from truesoundtransfers.de in the discography section of the site.