Franwil 5028 - Ballads - Before You Fall In Love

[1stleidi]

This Record Label was produced by my husband's great Grandfather, William "Doc" Francis. Anyone have more info?

[jakeco26]

Hey! I can vouch for the fact that the Ballads are from Connecticut because I am one of them, The original group all went to Branford High School in Branford, CT. We picked up a few more singers along the way and had guest singers from other local New Haven groups that came to perform with us at High School dances and record hops.

[4JUKEBOXSATURDAYNITE]

BALLADS.- Franwil 5028 -- Before You Fall In Love b/w Broke--1956.

BALLADS -- Before You Fall In Love --(from Connecticut).

[hkyplyr61]

@EagerBoy- I have TONS of Franwil records, most of which are in unplayed condition. I bought a record collection from the Estate of Nicky May ( Nick Giamio). Let me know please if you have any interest in them.

[CrisVangel]

Finally I figured out how to make the video play, u have to reduce the bitrate to 360p.. thanks for posting, I was bidding on the 78 but got outbid.. by a dollar! It sold for 24.50! Oh well, I tried,.. great record! At least I had the chance to hear it..

[EagerBoy59]

Try again. It's working for me right now.

[13loomisst]

Nice sound. Every once in a while, it reminds me of "Sunday Kind of Love." I'm certainly not comparing the two -- the Harptones' "Sunday" is perhaps my favorite ballad -- just a couple of notes here and there. Thanks very much for putting this up. Two questions -- How do you know they're from Connecticut? and do you know which town? (I'm from there.) Thanks again.

[EagerBoy49]

I'm not sure what town but I'm sure they were from Connecticut. Can't remember where I learned this, but it was once my job to know these things and some of the information I learned then has stuck with me.

[hkyplyr61]

Franwil Records was in New Haven. I stumbled across a huge collection of Franwil discs at an estate sale. The owner was a local politician and musician. I have handwritten music and the finished songs on records. Trying to sell them so I can buy a house!

[PJDooWop]

I don't have the record to actually look at.. I've only come across one copy and didn't have the money at the time to pick it up. I'm trying to read the matrix #s on the bottom of the label... It looks like an RCA custom matrix ##-OW-####

[EagerBoy59]

Yes, that's where the real clue is. The first letter (G) tells us it's 1956, H = 1957, J = 1958 (no 'I' - looks too much like '1'). The font and very thin lines are also typical as well.

[PJDooWop]

I thought I saw an O.... Being that it's a G I'd say this is absolutely an RCA press.

[PJDooWop]

The look of the label (the fonts used) do support your theory of this being an RCA custom press... However, I remember the record being much thicker and more rigid than an RCA.

[bdm099]

I never thought i would hear this one again. A basement party was the last place I heard it. Early nineties. You got a great collection!

[EagerBoy59]

That's terrific! Hope it brought back some good memories.