Whispering, Paul Whiteman, 1950's version.wmv

Paul Whiteman was a very popular from the late teens through the 1950's. One of his popular early recordings, done in the acoustic era was "Whispering", recorded in 1920.

Sometime around 1950, a now aging Paul Whiteman, re-recorded "Whispering", complete with the slide whistle and in a more lively rendition.

A few years ago, I restored a 1948-1951 era Webser wire recorder. Before wire recorders, the only way to preserve sound was by using a disc recorder that put sound on a lacquer covered aluminum disk by cutting a groove in the soft lacquer, a rather touchy process. The wire recorder helped seal the fate of home (and professional broadcast) disc recorders and predated tape recording.

Wire recorders used the same principle as tape recorders to magnetize a thin steel wire. The magnetism was amplitude modulated with audio. Wire recorders suffered from a number of faults which sealed their demise as soon as affordable tape recorders became available in the early fifties.

One of the faults of wire recordings is that the quality is not very good. Another fault is the presence of a lot of "wow" or speed change in the recordings because they had no capstan to stabilize the speed. Wire recorders simply pulled the wire through the record/playback head assembly by driving the take-up spool. Another maddening fault of these machines was that, if the brakes didn't work perfectly, when rewinding and stopping, the wire would be thrown off of the reel resulting in a ferocious tangle.

Wires could be spliced by simply tying a little knot to connect the ends of the wire. Splices always resulted in a small (or large) "thump" when the splice plowed it's way across the head.

After I restored the Webster and to have something to demonstrate it, I dubbed several records onto a reel of wire. This video uses the audio taken electrically directly from the wire recorder without an intervening microphone. What you hear is a well worn 78 RPM record copied electrically to a wire recorder and then transferred electrically to this video.

As you can hear, wire recordings were just a little better than cheap AM radio. Ahh, yes! How technology marches on...........

BTW, to the technogeeks out there, the little trip along the wiring in the video (with a small detour 'cause I lost my way!) shows how I interfaced the output audio of the Webster to the input device of my PeeCee. From the "Output" socket, I run to the primary winding of a small 500 Ohm/500 Ohm audio isolation transformer. I do this because the Webster has it's chassis (and the common audio output terminal) connected directly to the AC power line. The transformer isolates this "hot chassis" from the interface box to keep the smoke from leaking out of the interface box or ME if the wall plug is the wrong way. Hey! That's the way they did it back then! You learned NOT to have your radio (or other AC powered appliance) anywhere near where you could grab a something grounded and touch the radio chassis or any metal part of it. I've been known to have a few "hair-raising" experiences.

Anyhoo, the secondary of the isolation transformer is hooked to a potentiometer to adjust the level going to the interface box. Simple -and- it gives the best quality transfer ....... A LOT better than a microphone held next to the speaker. :-)

My website is: http://www.eldensengines.com

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Paul Whiteman
• Whispering
• Wire Recorder
• Webster.

[CatsPjamas1]

This was Paul Whiteman's last chart record in 1954. Interesting since it was also the first song he charted with back in 1920. It charted on the Cash Box singles chart.

[enginecoot]

@CatsPjamas1

Thanks for that interesting factoid. I'm not sure just how popular his '54 version was but I do remember hearing it on the radio before I went out and bought the record with my hard-earned mowing money.

[bobbobato]

The original is much better. This recording just reminds me of some horrible nightmare image I've had since childhood, what with the shrill, blaring slide whistle sending shivers down my spine.

[enginecoot]

@bobbobato

I think that the newer version of "Whispering" shows that Paul Whiteman never quit refining his musical style. Each version of the song has it's own feeling.

Enginecoot

[jnizny]

do you have any other of Whiteman's 1950's recordings. I liked it!

[enginecoot]

The only other Whiteman 1950 tune is the one on the flip side of that one. The title of it is "You're Driving Me Crazy". I don't have that one on the wire recorder so I will have to dub it from the turntable if I do it.

Thanks for your comment - Enginecoot

[CatsPjamas1]

@enginecoot You're welcome. This record charted at #32 on the Cash Box singles chart in August 1954.

[enginecoot]

Sheps999:

You must be a young'un! Either that or I'm REALLY old!

Must be the latter 'cause I can remember when Webster wire recorders were new.

Enginecoot

[sheps999]

Never seen one of those before. Awesome stuff.