Bing Crosby - Were You Sincere? Vinyl test, rec. 1931

[JHolmesesq]

Hi everyone,

I'm beginning to re-record my best discs with my new deck, a Vestax BDT 2600, equipped with a Stanton 500 and a 2.7 conical stylus.

The results are fantastic! The uploads I did on my old cheap deck from eBay sound so flat in comparison.

[youtubehd]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YzeITNM2HtM[/youtubehd]

Also, for those interested here is the video of me talking about my new setup

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nSbkETtLBm8[/youtube]

[Wolfe]

Sounds nice! Very immediate.

Interesting to hear one of those Brunswicks from a vinyl test.

Crosby's Brunswick period I think is my favorite of him as a solo artist. Unfortunately some of them are a bit ratty sounding recording wise, distortion and things that are even apparent on that record you posted. Though it's one of the better ones, and pressed on vinyl to boot. That's a keeper.

[JHolmesesq]

Wolfe, I agree - his voice was so young and tender at this stage and it really does show.

And yes - the distortion was annoying on this one, but you can't win them all! It's odd to think I paid jusr £2 for this off eBay and I was the only bidder!

[Wolfe]

That song had a commercial (shellac) issue that was recorded the same day.

Makes me wonder if that wasn't some kind of private pressing made for some reason, in later years.

I wouldn't expect they were using vinyl for test pressings in 1931, but I could be wrong.

[OrthoFan]

I agree with Wolfe. Don't think the test pressing, itself, dates from 1931, since vinyl didn't come into commercial usage for phonograph records until after WWII, though some were issued during the war, notably, V-Discs. The very first vinyl pressing of a 78 recording was made in 1939. ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gramophone_record )

The recording, itself, was recorded on 5/4/31 and issued as Brunswick 6120, a shellac based disc. (The matrix number, LA1036, corresponds to the number on the vinyl pressing -- http://settlet.fateback.com/BRN6000.htm )

[JHolmesesq]

Just for reference I didn't think it was originally pressed on vinyl - I stuck the date in title because Bing's singing early in his solo career really stands out compared to his later works

[OrthoFan]

Just for reference I didn't think it was originally pressed on vinyl - I stuck the date in title because Bing's singing early in his solo career really stands out compared to his later works

I actually put down the information more for the new-bees who might spot this post.

I remember reading in one of the Crosby biographies that as he aged, he lowered his range ½ to one octave every decade. The elderly Crosby, I remember from my childhood, who used to croak out Christmas tunes every year with his second (flat voiced, tone deaf) family was a far cry from the Crosby in his prime.

I've noticed that there are quite a number of early Crosby recordings on YouTube. Unfortunately, judging by some of the more nasty comments posted on that site, his reputation is forever tarnished because of what his alcoholic son wrote about him--after he was dead and couldn't defend himself--in order to make a fast buck. Who couldn't trash their parents in a tell all biography? Simply take a few one-time best forgotten incidents from your childhood, when your parents overreacted to something you did, and precede them with daddy/mommy(dearest) "used to."

Getting back to your recording, I suspect that it may have been made from the original stamper in order to transfer a pristine copy to tape, but that's only speculation. It sounds great, and it shows what a high quality setup can do.

[Wolfe]

I've noticed that there are quite a number of early Crosby recordings on YouTube. Unfortunately, judging by some of the more nasty comments posted on that site, his reputation is forever tarnished because of what his alcoholic son wrote about him--after he was dead and couldn't defend himself--in order to make a fast buck. Who couldn't trash their parents in a tell all biography? Simply take a few one-time best forgotten incidents from your childhood, when your parents overreacted to something you did, and precede them with daddy/mommy(dearest) "used to."

I think Gary Crosby's book came out while Bing was still alive. I remember Bing making passing reference to it in his last TV interview with Barbara Walters.

I also recall that Gary Crosby (just before he died) admitted that much of the book was exaggerated, on the behest of his publisher, who believed that the book that Gary originally submitted wasn't interesting enough. Too late for that admission, though, that kind of stuff sticks for a very long time, regardless of any recantation. Kind of like when someone is falsely accused or convicted of a crime, even after their innocence had been proven, they'll still forever lurk in that shadow.

[syncopeter]

It is a vinyl pressing by Dutch Harry Coster from the late 20th century from the original metal master. I recognise his handwriting. He did loads and loads of vinyl pressings on his purpose built press both for the big companies like Sony and BMG and smaller specialised ones. After transfer onto digital tape lots of these records found their way into the hands of collectors.

[Wolfe]

It is a vinyl pressing by Dutch Harry Coster from the late 20th century from the original metal master. I recognise his handwriting. He did loads and loads of vinyl pressings on his purpose built press both for the big companies like Sony and BMG and smaller specialised ones. After transfer onto digital tape lots of these records found their way into the hands of collectors.

Some of those may have been used on the His Legendary Years 1931-1957 CD box set.

Harry Coster has/had a good job.