Tuesday, November 20, 2012

Transcription Mystery Disc #145


This is one of the best discs I've ever found. It's a 10-inch 78 rpm acetate recording, with an outer edge start. It's in nice shape, and recorded very competently with a good signal-to-noise ratio. the bit of surface noise now barely detracts. The recording is of a truly amazing musician(s) A man is singing in a language I don't recognize over truly masterfully fast fiddling. It reminds me of some Banat, Raga and Sarangi music I've heard. The text on the label looks a bit like Greek, but what the hell do I know?

Frank Eulau,  02/17/1955

At first the playing was so fast I thought I had incorrectly adjusted the speed, but the vocals sounds dead on... so it must be right. The recording is dated clearly to 02-17-55,  and in big block letters on the hand cut label is the "brand" Frank L. Eulau. There is a notion lower as to the name of the engineer but I can't read whatever language it is in. It also describes itself as a "tru-tone record" so that may be the brand of blank below the label. There is a further detail here. The disc is labeled "5" on one side and "6" on the other... indicating at least 2 more discs by this genius. I have in fact three more, with the same recording date discs 1/2 and 3/4. But I also have one recorded in 1954, with the same make. I can only hope they are all as good. 

6 comments:

  1. My father is Frank L Eulau and he made this recording and record. I am interested to know where you found it? Can you send me an mps of it? My mother may be able to identify it for you.

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  2. Actually I have several more discs with the same Elau label, presumably all by your father. I'd be happy to share my MP3s. I'd be glad to return the discs to your family as well.

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  3. I am a lifelong friend of Erica, and of the Eulaus, and knew Frank well. I'm also an audio archivist. I'd love to be in touch about where you came across the records. I'd love to hear the mp3s, as well, though I can follow up with Erica about getting them.

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  4. Message me on G+ I'll tell you anything you want to know. I've heard from Erica. I plan to digitize a couple more and post the audio... then ship her the original discs.

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  5. Frank Eulau_02171955.mp3 no audio can not listen to song

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  6. Yeah this one is dead.. I will re-rip. I thought I had the MP3 archived.. can't find it.

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