The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

A strange situation!

http://www.enricocaruso.dk/musicdetails.php?mid=120

The recording is very good, on the bass response, and the piano sound, the top end sounds typical of lateral records of the day, still not as clear as some 1910-14 Edison cylinders, I hear some of them played on an Opera, Breathtaking!

Fortunately the post-war shellac pressing AGSA2 (Matrix B-21774-2) has been included in CD compilations such as "Enrico Caruso in song Volume 2" Nimbus Prima Voce NI 7884.

The story that Calvin Child vetoed the release is interesting. As Victor's most eminent recording star Caruso could surely have overruled Child had he wished to do so, but unlike some other stars he never abused his status.

Not only did I enjoy the unissued Caruso recording,but I also enjoyed watching segments of his 1918 silent movie,"My Cousin".I wonder if its available on DVD?edisonplayer

Some years ago I bought "My Cousin" plus a 1998 Caruso documentary on VHS from the Bel Canto Society www.belcantosociety.org and had it shipped to the UK with several more titles.

Hopefully they have since embraced DVD technology.

That is a good recording, again maybe a good idea for a future release on cylinder record.

I noticed that this recording was issued on a hard 78 record that they said could be played on a acoustic machine, for some reason I think they are mistaking, by the 1940's were were looking at records with less abrasive material to wear down the steel needle. I suppose this recording would be rare today, as it was a for dealers.

That sound clip is one of the Thomas Stockham Soundtream transfers fro the 1970's. Whatever was done there makes the record sound a little more "goosed" than the straight 78 - which I don't think sounds that remarkable. The dynamics on his voice are good, though. In any case.

This Stockham transfer of Caruso singing Handel's Ombra mai fu in 1920 has characteristics similar to the Sei Morta posted above. But they don't all sound like this.

https://youtu.be/HhBdQN8FHh4

Victrolacollector wrote:That is a good recording, again maybe a good idea for a future release on cylinder record.

I noticed that this recording was issued on a hard 78 record that they said could be played on a acoustic machine, for some reason I think they are mistaking, by the 1940's were were looking at records with less abrasive material to wear down the steel needle. I suppose this recording would be rare today, as it was a for dealers.

The Caruso was a 10" record. The 12" red vinyl RCA Heritage Series discs that were out ca. 1946 were vinyl-ish. Wouldn't matter anyway as RCA was still generally issuing shellac (hard) 78's, right through the 1950's. If you want a common RCA Elvis Presley 78, like Joe Public bought, you get it on shellac.