The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

name your favorite blue amberol cylinders : )

OK, although I don't have an Amberola 30 (mine is a 75), I'll start.

28146 Puccini: Tosca, Act III -- E lucevan le stelle. In Italian. Leo Slezak with orchestra. My favorite account of this aria that I've heard by anyone in any format.

28189 Anonymous: Volksliedchen; Komzak: Bohemian Dance. Hoffmann Quartet. The Komzak is just catchy fun.

28102 Massenet: Thais, Act III -- Meditation. Albert Spalding. One with some sentimental meaning.

I AmberolaAndy will respond with a controversial one: I like the Uncle Josh records. *dodges tomatoes*

AmberolaAndy wrote: Tue Jan 02, 2024 2:03 am I AmberolaAndy will respond with a controversial one: I like the Uncle Josh records. *dodges tomatoes*

Let's be honest, we're all into a bunch of stuff that very few other people would like or understand. Uncle Josh stuff is no different. No need to dodge tomatoes from this crowd.

JerryVan wrote: Tue Jan 02, 2024 10:21 am No need to dodge tomatoes from this crowd.

Gourds, on the other hand....

Blue amberol 2344, “On the shores of Italy” will always be my favorite one. Great recording, very catchy, and very romantic sounding.

I like on the shores of Italy too! I wish I could buy one but I can find any on amberola on ebay.

drh wrote: Tue Jan 02, 2024 12:13 pm

JerryVan wrote: Tue Jan 02, 2024 10:21 am No need to dodge tomatoes from this crowd.

Gourds, on the other hand....

All of them!

I don't have a spot to display my 30 but it's on the dining room table!

My first phonograph, which is what we Brits call cylinder machines, was an Amberola 30. Of the few BA's which came with it, my favourite was 1994 "Never the maiden dreamed" from the opera Mignon.

Over the years I have upgraded to an Amberola 50 (bigger horn and better motor) then to a Triumph (so unreliable that my repair man renamed it a "Tribulation") and finally to an Opera. I stick to directly recorded BA's as far as possible, and my wide ranging favourites include :

Opera, including Agostinelli, Arral, Bonci, Constantino, Galeffi, Labia and Rio.
Recitations by Harry Humphrey, especially 2484 "The night before Christmas".
American Civil War, especially 1881 "We're tenting on the old camp ground", and 1516 "Just before the battle, Mother".
World War 1, especially 3553 "When Alexander takes his Ragtime Band to France", and 23367 "Boys in Khaki, Boys in Blue".
Descriptive, especially 27048 "Express Orient : Galop Imitatif" and 23330 "Cavalry Charge".
Comedy, especially 2197 "The Pussy Cat Rag" and 1808 "And the green grass grew all around".