The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

Great song on Podcast # 77 (https://www.buzzsprout.com/1449838) which goes to show that Edison's Music Company featured many "Hot" Jazz numbers.

Marc

OK, so you found one... that doesn't mean "many"...

The reason I enjoy my Edison A250 so much is because of the Golden Gate Orchestra and B.A. Rolfe. I have several of their Edison recordings and I wish I owned all of them. Certainly, the Original Memphis Five are great additions to the catalog. Compared to other record companies, Edison's Jazz catalog might seem a bit thin. The simple fact is that Diamond Disk Records have many excellent qualities that the competition lacked. If you have a chance to own a Diamond Disk phonograph, jump on it and you won't regret it.

One of my favorite Diamond Discs. I. have it in my C-250.edisonplayer.

With regard to the quality of Diamond Discs...

I have many 78 records both Acoustic and Electric that I have worked to restore. Since the copyright is "murky" for the 78 records I have not put any on my Podcasts, however, I have to say that the Diamond Disc Acoustic records were recorded much better than the 78's. When I examine the frequency content of the DD records it is not uncommon to find frequencies as high as 8 kHz even though the Edison Phonographs could not play these high notes. The 78 records have less frequency content along with much more reverberation due to the "lively" recording studio verses the "dead" recording studio used by Edison.

Edison used continuous improvement to the recording process and many of the early jazz artists on these DD records sound wonderful.

The 78 RPM records are a real challenge to restore due to the use of steel needles and the fact that the groove wall was the driving source to move the tone arm. Many of the records have metal particles in the groove bottom and sides along with one wall worn more than the other side. The business model for 78 records was that they were made to be replaced after so many uses; whereas the DD records had a much longer play time (when played on Edison Phonographs). Victor and others were very successful with this approach to records.

Marc

With regard to the "lack of Hot numbers" for Edison Records...

During the Edison cylinder peak period , Edison took a hands off approach to the music content that was recorded. When the Diamond Disc records were manufactured, the selection of a record to be released needed Edison's approval for many records. At this point, many people today feel that this meant that his personal taste in the song entered into the selection, however, that is not really true. The criterion for the song selection was mainly driven by if the music recorded well, not if the content was to his liking.

Edison also wanted the listener to be able to hear each instrument in the song which resulted in the arrangements being "less full" sounding verses the "wall of sound" used at times on the 78 records.

There is much more to the music story and although I have read many papers from the Edison site at Rutgers with regard to the Music Business, I am still learning; but the often statement that the songs Edison Recorded were ones that Edison "liked" the melody is just not correct. The song had to have been recorded well for him to release it.

Marc

It may or may not be true, but I have heard it said that Edison's sons waited until the old man was on holiday and then recorded jazz.