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Them Old 78's

To: <brass-band@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Subject: Them Old 78's
From: "Colin Randle" <colin.randle@xxxxxxxxxxxx>
Date: Fri, 20 Jul 2001 14:05:42 +0100

Hi there listees,

So......there I was, in this Cafe having a spot of nosh recently and out the
back there was a yard full of old furniture, bric a brac, reclaimed building
materials plus some assorted junk,  and various pieces of objaydaaaar,
all at inflated prices.

After I had scoffed up I went for a mooch around the yard and happened to
spot a great pile of what I thought were common or garden L.P. records,
(remember them?).  I managed to negotiate several iron framed beds and old
cast iron fireplaces and jump over a chest of draws to have a closer look.

As I was flipping through them, (Richard Tauber, Victor Silvester - that
sort of thing), I came across two 12 inch 78's the first one featuring the
Fairey Aviation Works Band conducted by non other than Harry Mortimer.
Curiosity aroused, I took it out of its brown paper sleeve and was at once
stuck by its immaculate condition.  It was on the Columbia label, very flat
with no damage but felt very heavy.  The record was of a work that I must
admit I didn't know called "Overture for An Epic Occasion"  - the unusual
thing being that it took up both sides of the disc.  (I've only know of this
once before - a recording of Le Roi Dy's by Dyke).  Do any listees or ex
Fairey players know anything of this piece?  At a guess it may have been a
test piece from Belle Vue and an early example of the winners recording the
piece.

The other disc, this time on the Rex label, featured the Fodens Band but was
a massed band recording that also featured Wood Green Silver Prize, Edmonton
Silver and the Friary Band and is entitled "Melodies That Never die".  The
melodies in question are: Side A - British Grenadiers, Annie Laurie, The
Keel Row, Abide With Me, Rule Britannia.  side B: Men Of Harlech, Song Of
The Volga Boatmen, Loch Lomond and God Save The King,  (this should give an
indication of just how old it is.)  There is no conductor indicated on this
disc, but it does say it was recorded at Alexandra Palace.

Well .....you've guessed it......I bought 'em for a smacker each - I don't
know why, I can't play 'em, sentiment I suppose.  May be ......if I keep
scouring the junk shops I may come across and old "Dansette" whirlygig
machine (of blessed memory), that will play 'em.

Colin Randle.



--

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