The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

Here is Victrolaman's 100th Anniversary Remembrance of one of the greatest Maritime Disasters in peacetime. The Sinking of the Titanic on April 15th 1912.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LWWqcmW9 ... 96tGHuA%3D

Also check out a recording by Ernest Stoneman singing "Sinking of the Titanic" on Edison.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RG9gLD32EW8

I have a copy of it on Blue Amberol that I should play on April 15 to commemorate the occasion. BTW, I think Vernon Dalhart recorded a better rendition on the Columbia label.

My ultimate Titanic song... God Moves On The Water
sung by BLIND WILLIE JOHNSON (1929) Gospel

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rb6b0EKI_yE

Year of nineteen hundred and twelve, April the fourteenth day
Great Titanic struck an iceberg, people had to run and pray
God moves, moves, God moves, ah, and the people had to run and pray
The guards who had been a-watching, asleep cause they was tired
When they heard the great excitement, many gunshot were fired
God moves, moves, God moves, ah, and the people had to run and pray
Captain Smith gave orders, women and children first
Many of the lifeboats piled right up, many were liable to crush
God moves on, God moves, God moves, ah, and the people had to run and pray
Ahh ah
How many leaving happy homes, all that they possess
Lord Jesus, will you hear us now, help us in our distress
God moves, God moves, God moves, ah, people had to run and pray
Women had to leaving loving ones, they were the safest
When they heard the liner was doomed, hearts did almost break
God moves, God moves, God moves, ah, and the people had to run and pray
A.G. Smith, mighty man, built a boat that he couldn't understand
Named it a name-a god in a tin, fed to the sea, Lord to pull it in
God moves, ah, God moves, God moves, ah, and the people had to run and pray
Well, Ahh, ah, Lord

I really don't care what goes on UK board. The board is rather inconsequential if you ask me, and suffers from may of the same ills that brought down a certain other phonograph board that will remain nameless. One member has already been given a permanent ban for trying to infect this board with what I can only describe as paranoid rantings. Bringing in the trash from the UK board will not be tolerated. Leave their garbage there, and let them wallow in their pseudo sense of superiority, while howling at the moon muttering about illegal auction rings and Indian steele. IT HAS NO PLACE HERE.

JUMBO

Cunnl, just how fully do you wish me to quote? I though I'd copied and credited the gist of the matter.

As a matter of fact you DO have a valid point- Nearer my God to Thee does have two (or more) tunes associated with it and there's a greater than 50/50 chance that the version most familiar to the bandsmen would have been played. There's also the alternate story with the hymn tune Autumn, or a Scots hymn tune with a similar sounding name (that I recall). In addition Ian Whitcomb has popularized the notion that the "Songe d' Automne" waltz was played and that has gained strength....particularly with the crowds at Titanic themed teas and balls. Good article here: http://home.earthlink.net/~rlbroberg/Ri ... Music.html

Who knows what the truth is? The whole Titanic story is a combination of engineering evidence (or lack of) and the testimony of eyewitnesses- and you know how accurate THAT can be, especially when filtered through the years and through retelling by generations. The whole thing has become a romance and a fragile one which is easily threatened by facts.

Please leave the petty bickering and insanity at the asylum. It may be tolerated, and even encouraged over there, but will not be accepted here.

JUMBO

Why don't you two PM each other...charming.
I guess this is what oozes up when no one moderates a Board.

Well, personally, I think both tributes were nice.

Interestingly, the legend of the "last song" also goes back 100 years --

http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=Ob ... thee&hl=en

Whether they played that, or ragtime, as has been speculated, or "The Irish Washerwoman," I guess, is moot at this point. (Note: If I've offended any survivor of the Titanic by that last remark, you probably wouldn't know it.)

DS

It's likely that very few people were close enough to hear that last song amongst all the noise and commotion and still survive so not surprising that different versions of the legend developed. The fact that it's a legend was pointed out in the first video.

I enjoy threads which link historical events to the hobby, truth & legend both & one is much more likely to see that type of thing here where the demeanor of the members is positive and welcoming.

Wowsers: here I am, innocently picking up and continuing this thread as I have a Titanic-related question. But I see that there had been quite a rumble here....

Question is: The Titanic was a luxury liner, provisioned with all the best. Has anyone seen any testimony as to whether the great ship was equipped with phonographs (say in some of the upper class dining areas, etc.--or would that have been too gauche--live music provided only?