Al Jolson - His First Record from 1911 - That Haunting Melody - A Victor Recording

That Haunting Melody sung by Al Jolson from 1911 on his first record. The song was composed by George M. Cohan. It was Jolson's first of 3 recording sessions with Victor during that early period and he would later be signed to Contracts with first Columbia and then with Brunswick in the 1920's. His Brunswick contract was rumored to be the highest price ever paid for any performer on record up to that time.His Final Recordings were during his "revived popularity period" of 1945-1950 for Decca.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Al
• Jolson
• Victor
• Talking
• Machine
• Company
• That
• Haunting
• Melody
• George
• M.
• Cohan
• 1911

[pongboy1100]

i want one of those record players! my granny had one of these but where did it go??? Where can i found one???? TELL ME!

[victrolaman]

@pongboy1100 There are a variety of different places where an original Victor Talking machine can be purchased. In this day and age they come up for sale quite often on online auction sites like E Bay. Or you can buy one that may be for sale through members of your nearest Antique Phonograph Society. You should take care and be careful and be absolutely sure that what you are buying is real and authentic. There are lots and lots of phoney crapophones out there for sale so beware !!

[victrolaman]

@pongboy1100 Depending on where you are located, there are also some phonograph shows and sales where collectors and dealers offer Talking machines and phonographs as well as a large variety of related items and records for sale. The larger ones that come to mind are in Wayne, N.J., Danbury Conn. (coming up on August 29th, and in Union ILL. usually in June I believe.

Victrolaman

[Fiftiesflashback]

Is that a VICTOR II "Humpback" model? Very nice!

[victrolaman]

@Fiftiesflashback Yes, your observation is correct. This is the classic early Humpback style Victor II Talking Machine from about 1905.

Victrolaman

[bskfsp]

OMG this all is so rare! I luv it

[victrolaman]

Very True, His Victor's were the earliest, and also the most difficult for Collectors to find. Thanks for your comments, glad you enjoyed it.

[fnersch]

Thanks for sharing this. Al had a long career and a distinctive voice. My grandfather played saxophone with him in the "Jazz Singer" in 1927 (see the caberet scene where he sings Toot Toot Tootsie Goodbye). He is sitting in the back just behind Al Jolson. He always enjoyed working with Al.

[Eddy2730]

@victrolaman Or likewise, the City of London Phonograph & Gramophone Society. They welcome members from any part of the world!

[sirjuandabicho]

Gracias por compartirlo.

[Garr1984]

Any Jolson 78 RPM original is always a sweet find, as I understand his recording career was always secondary to his career as a stage entertainer. I read somewhere he did not record at all between 1930 and 1945.

[fromthesidelines]

Recorded on December 22, 1911.

[louisa1832]

@fnersch No kidding! In the Louis Silvers orchestra? I've loved that music all my life -- from the time when I was 10 (1971) and saw "The Jazz Singer" on TV for the first time.

[realgunslinger]

Thanks

[Babyhowdy233]

This man's voice is truly timeless, he puts ALL the current singers to utter shame! I have that lovely song on a collection of his earliest recordings.

[ZAPDUNGAA]

Al was only 25 when he recorded this....

[cartoonmusicandfilm]

@victrolaman phonogalerie has a phonograph/gramophone store in france