The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

"Did you ever stop to think that penance is a duty?"

Somehow I don't think that would have sold too many Victrolas...

Happy Ash Wednesday!

Happy Ash Wednesday to you as well.

A Victrola playing an Uncle Josh record would be penance indeed! (Sorry Uncle J. fans.)

JerryVan wrote:Happy Ash Wednesday to you as well.

A Victrola playing an Uncle Josh record would be penance indeed! (Sorry Uncle J. fans.)

gramophone-georg wrote:

JerryVan wrote:Happy Ash Wednesday to you as well.

A Victrola playing an Uncle Josh record would be penance indeed! (Sorry Uncle J. fans.)

But I suppose it would be more appropriate to break out some some records of Sam Ash, or maybe just play "No News, or, What Killed the Dog."

For maximum penance play something with Ireland, Heaven, or Mother in the title. Ugh.

I usually avoid foxtrots if they have vocal refrains.

Happy Ash Wednesday! For maximum penance I suggest a dirge, or a slow waltz. The dirge allows us to reflect on mortality, which is to me a big part of the Lenten season. Or just play it on a machine that isn't flashy or heavily metal-plated!

VanEpsFan1914 wrote:For maximum penance play something with Ireland, Heaven, or Mother in the title. Ugh.

I usually avoid foxtrots if they have vocal refrains.

And I thought I was the only one who wasn't fond of the vocal refrains plunked right there in the middle!

coyote wrote:

VanEpsFan1914 wrote:For maximum penance play something with Ireland, Heaven, or Mother in the title. Ugh.

I usually avoid foxtrots if they have vocal refrains.

And I thought I was the only one who wasn't fond of the vocal refrains plunked right there in the middle!

Oh, c'mon... they're not all horrible, but the ones that are more than make up for the rest.

VanEpsFan1914 wrote:For maximum penance play something with Ireland, Heaven, or Mother in the title. Ugh.

I usually avoid foxtrots if they have vocal refrains.

Hmmm, you must not listen to very many fox trots from the late 20s then. They almost all have vocal refrains. Myself, having been a singer, I prefer the sung interludes especially when they are by good singers. But, I have never been one to like what most others like.

For Ash Wednesday I suggest any version by the myriad of singers out there that recorded "The Old Oaken Bucket". To me possibly the worst song ever recorded.

BTW... I also cannot stand Uncle Josh records. I just don't get why obnoxious unintelligible laughing stories are a good thing. They just irritate me. I know many people think they are great, and I have a few, but I certainly am not a fan.

How about repeated playings of a "laughing record" for penance? Once may be amusing, but more than that...

While not an Uncle Josh fan, I don't think Punkin Centre stories are painful to listen to on occasion. I can understand the annoyance factor.

To me, an instrumental interlude compliments a mostly sung record. Personally, I don't find the reverse to be true. More often than not, a short vocal refrain in the middle seems to just interrupt a fine instrumental arrangement, talent of the singer notwithstanding. To each their own. I can't help but think "Gee, I would have enjoyed this record more without the singing."