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FEATURED
SITES:
Holdridgerecords.com
- A new site hosted by Larry Holdridge, one of the foremost dealers
and experts in rare classical and operatic records. Larry's annual
auction catalogs are truly encyclopedic, running to hundreds of
pages and containing a wealth of biographical information and rare
photos. The latest edition (now closed, but well worth perusing)
is posted here in Adobe Acrobat. The site also offers scans of rare
labels, an extensive resource list, and links to current eBay offerings.
TELEVISION
AND RECORD INDUSTRY HISTORY RESOURCES - A new website
from Tim Brooks, author of Lost Sounds, The Complete
Directory to Prime Time Network and Cable TV Shows, two volumes
of The Columbia Master Book Discography, and other major
works. The site includes authoritative articles, book and CD reviews,
and an extensive collection of links.
THOMAS EDISON'S ATTIC - This weekly radio show hosted by Jerry Fabris, audio curator of the Edison National Historic Site, regularly aired test pressings, experimental recordings, and other rarities from the ENHS. The show went off the air in late 2007 after a long run, but happily, the archived broadcasts remain available online.
CYLINDER
PRESERVATION AND DIGITIZATION PROJECT (UCSB) - An excellent
overview of the cylinder record, with illustrated company histories,
sound files, and a searchable collection listing. Compiled by David
Seubert at the Davidson Library, University of California—Santa
Barbara. NAUCK'S
VINTAGE RECORDS - One of the world’s premiere
auction sites for rare recordings. Also offers an extensive catalog
of books and discographies for collectors, plus top-quality variable-speed
turntables and audio equipment, including the Archeophone cylinder
deck. The site also includes an interesting gallery of rare labels
and other free content.
VINTAGE
JAZZ MART - The online counterpart to VJM magazine, and one of the finest traditional jazz sites on
the web. In addition to its legendary jazz and blues record auctions, VJM publishes excellent original research on its website.
ASSOCIATION
FOR RECORDED SOUND COLLECTIONS - Although its focus
tends towards issues of interest to librarians and academicians,
ARSC's membership includes a significant number of collectors. ARSC
promotes serious discussion and research into the history, technology,
collecting, and preservation of recorded sound from all periods.
Membership benefits include the ARSC Journal, a newsletter,
and discounted rates for their annual conference.
AL JOLSON SOCIETY
- For fans of the "World's Greatest Entertainer," offering
an abundance of interesting historical material, including sound
clips.
AMERICAN
VARIETY STAGE: VAUDEVILLE AND POPULAR ENTERTAINMENT, 1870-1920
- Multimedia site from the Library of Congress
features many sound files (mostly from Edison recordings) and rare
film clips.
APSCO
(ANTIQUE PHONOGRAPH SUPPLY CO.) - A virtual supermarket
of high-quality phonograph replacement and repair parts, steel needles,
accessories, new record sleeves and cylinder tubes, and miscellaneous
items for collectors. Great quality and service.
ART
GILLHAM, THE WHISPERING PIANIST - George Blau's site
devoted to the popular Columbia recording star. Includes sound files
and a fine collection of photos and other rare source material from
Gillham's long and varied career.
THE
BIXOGRAPHY DISCUSSION GROUP - An astonishing resource
devoted to Bix Beiderbecke. Like most discussion groups, this one
offers offers hundreds of postings ranging from quirky to invaluable.
Among the many interesting items to be found here are scans from
band contractor Ed Kirkeby's original journals.
THE
BLUE PAGES: THE GUIDE TO 78 RPM PARTY RECORDS - David
Diehl's masterful, and often amusing, site devoted to those long-neglected
"under-the-counter" 78s. Also includes extensive information
on Eli Oberstein, one of the most unethical and colorful of the
early independent record producers.
BLUES
WORLD - The ultimate blues link site also features a fine array of articles
and features on blues and blues roots, plus one of the most useful
links pages on the web. A bonus is Joel Slotnikoff's auction of
choice 78s.
A
BRIEF HISTORY OF RECORDED SOUND IN CANADA - A superbly
written and beautifully illustrated history from the National Library
of Canada. Focus is on early Berliner products.
BRITISH
DANCE BAND ENCYCLOPEDIA / BRITISH 78 RECORD LABELS -
A tremendous amount of information on English dance bands of the
1920s and 1930s, on a well-organized site. Equally interesting is
an extensive sub-site featuring scans and brief comments on hundreds
of English 78 labels.
CALIFORNIA
ANTIQUE PHONOGRAPH SOCIETY - Website of one of the
leading collectors' organizations. CAPS publishes "The Sound
Box," a beautifully produced publication that contains many
interesting articles.
THE
CANADIAN COLUMBIA GROUP OF LABELS, 1921-1931 - Colin
J. Bray and Jack Litchfield's detailed, illustrated treatise on
how to distinguish Canadian from U.S. Columbia 78s. CLASSIC
RECORD COLLECTOR - The premiere quarterly for advanced
collectors of vintage classical and operatic records (78 and LP).
Their site includes free articles from current and past issues,
a back-issue index, and subscription information
CRAP-O-PHONES
AND OTHER PHONOGRAPH FORGERIES - The ultimate Crap-O-Phone
identification guide. These trashy fake "Gramophones," mass-produced
in Asia, are flooding eBay and the flea markets. Check the detailed
photos on this site to avoid making a costly mistake!
THE
DEVIL'S MUSIC - Extensive blues website with artist
bios, photographs and videos, blues lyrics, merchandise, and a guest
forum.
THE
E-DISCOGRAPHER - David Diehl's online digest features
older articles by Brian Rust, Ray Wile, Ross Laird, and other major
researchers. Issue #3 features an extensive bibliography of label
research. New material has been sparse in recent years, but the
site is worth a visit if you've not already seen its well-aged contents.
EDDIE LANG - A TRUE JAZZ PIONEER - A new site by Mike Peters devoted to the pioneering jazz guitarist. Includes a useful sessionography, photos, and other interesting features.
EDISON
NATIONAL HISTORICAL SITE - NPS expanded site includes
rare photos, short articles, and sound files. (See also "Thomas Edison's Attic," in the Featured Links section.)
ENGLISH
RECORD LABELS (and much more, on NORMAN FIELDS' WEBSITE) -
A dazzling array of hundreds of English labels, primarily from the
early 1900s through the 1920s, with outstanding scans and some helpful
explanatory text. The site also includes an outstanding section
devoted to Bix Beiderbecke and his circle, and other jazz-related
topics, with some very interesting sound files.
THE
GENNETT COLLECTION, UCLA MUSIC LIBRARY SPECIAL COLLECTIONS -
Detailed discographical data on UCLA's extensive Gennett holdings.
THE
GERMAN NATIONAL DISCOGRAPHY - Information on this massive
undertaking to catalog all German 78s. A promotional site, but well
worth visiting for its gorgeous photos of rare German labels.
HAWTHORN'S ANTIQUE AUDIO - Another high-quality auction with a wide selection of records; plus sheet music, machines, repairs, and appraisal service at their California retail locations. Site features good photos of selected auction items.
BLUES IMAGES - John Tefteller's site is a must-see for fans of traditional blues, featuring images of incredibly rare discs and ephemera, plus a great selection of blues-related calendars, posters, photos, records, and other merchandise.
KAB
- The top source for variable-speed turntables, Stanton
and Expert (UK) custom 78 styli, sound restoration equipment, record
cleaners, sleeves, and accessories. Excellent service, and highly
recommended.
KIDDIE
REKORD KING - Peter Muldavin's nostalgic site features
vintage children's labels, cover art, phonographs, and more, plus
news on Peter's kiddie-record discography project.
LIBRARY
OF CONGRESS SONIC CATALOG - Locate basic discographic
data on a part of LOC's massive sound-record holdings with a robust and well-designed
search engine. (A word of caution, however: Errors that apparently occurred in transcribing information from the labels, although infrequent, have not been corrected.)
LITTLE
WONDER RECORDS AND BUBBLE BOOKS - A beautiful new site
devoted to the history and collecting of these diminutive 78s. Includes
the latest corrections and updates to the Tim Brooks Little Wonder
discography.
MAJESTIC
PHONOGRAPH CO., INC. & MAJESTIC RECORDS - A highly
detailed study of Majestic vertical-cut records, one of the shorter-lived
hill-and-dale brands of the pre-World War I period.
MICHIGAN
ANTIQUE PHONOGRAPH SOCIETY - Homepage
of MAPS, which publishes In the Groove, an informative monthly
newsletter for members. Site includes information on state and regional
chapters (they're not just in Michigan anymore).
MUSIC
HALL 78 RPM RECORDS - Roger Wilmut's site is devoted
to recordings from the golden age of the British music hall (the
English counterpart of American vaudeville). Includes sound files
of recordings made as early as 1897-1898, plus technical articles
on reproducing and equalizing historic recordings.
NATION'S
FORUM: AMERICAN LEADERS SPEAK - An outstanding multimedia
site from the Library of Congress. Includes a detailed history of
the Nation's Forum label, discographical details, and complete sound
files for this entire series of rare political recordings.
OKIN-LYNTON
RECORD RESOURCE - Features an outstanding gallery of
photos of Golden Age operatic stars, as well as some rare European
labels. Okin & Lynton also supply dubbings to CD producers from
their extensive collection.
PARAMOUNT
RECORD DATABASE - An ongoing project of the Mills Music
Library, University of Wisconsin, to catalog Paramount and its subsidiary
labels. Excellent source of data on the Paramount material (pop,
classical, and ethnic, for instance) that discographers have tended
to overlook.
PHONOFAN
- Author Tim Fabrizio's site for antique-phonograph collectors.
The site focuses primarily on books for collectors, featuring Fabrizio
& Paul's lavishly illustrated tomes. Also has a fine assortment
of machines and gadgets for sale at set prices.
THE RAGTIME EPHEMERALIST - One of the most important ragtime publications, and certainly the most visually attractive. The website features some "teaser" excerpts from the magazine that are well worth a visit.
RED
HOT JAZZ - This massive online jazz archive hosts
more than 7,000 historic jazz recordings in Real Audio, all free
of charge. Includes photos, biographies, and rudimentary discographies
of all major and many minor figures of the 1920s.
THE
78 RPM RECORD HOMEPAGE - Gary Herzenstiel's eclectic
site includes some excellent articles, news for collectors and researchers,
and label photos (including many post-1943 and foreign brands not
covered in ARLAC).
TIM
GRACYK - Tim Gracyk's Victrola & 78 Journal
is no longer with us, but his webpage lives on with an interesting
group of articles for novice-to-advanced collectors. Also has details
of his biographical encyclopedia of pioneer recording stars and
many reprint publications.
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