Duke Ellington - Black and Tan Fantasie (1927)

From October 26, 1927, here is Duke Ellington's landmark recording of "Black and Tan Fantasie." Growling trumpeter Bubber Miley, along with trombonist Joe Nanton, are the star of this record. The pressing heard here is actually from the 1930's and is a dub of the original recording. I included it as an example of how these studio dubs sounded to record buyers who played them on acoustic machines, which is to say 'very good.'

The record player is an Orthophonic Victrola model VE4-4X, or "Granada". The "E" in the model number indicates that the Victrola is fitted with a synchronous A/C motor instead of a wind-up motor. The machine has a full "orthophonic" playback system (for electrically-recorded records) including the special orthophonic sound box with a duralumin diaphragm and a folded exponential horn inside of the cabinet. Although the gigantic Credenza Victrola produced deeper bass, the Granada had the most accurate overall frequency response of all the acoustic Orthophonic Victrolas. The serial number indicates that this machine was probably manufactured in 1926.

I shoot my video with a Sony Digital 8 format camera. For audio, I use a Shure SM-57 microphone on a stand placed about 4 feet in front of the Victrola horn. I use "soft tone" needles to keep from overloading the microphone. The mic is plugged directly into the video camera. The videos are edited with Windows Movie Maker. I use Sound Forge 9 to clean up the audio, but don't worry -- you're hearing the record exactly as the Victrola plays it!

For more great music, videos, and trivia from this era, please visit my website, http://www.virtualvictrola.com.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Duke
• Ellington
• Jazz
• Big
• Band
• Victrola

[Turkeydoodlers]

Hi I bought a early Granada the other day for 75.00, I noticed it had a 4 digit serial number so I wondered if it had a brass reproducer not pot metal and it was brass, not bad for 75.00 my question is do you think a 4 digit serial number Granada came with a brass or pot metal repro? I'm wondering if it was aced later on. Not sure when they started making brass and ended,

[mlaprarie]

@Turkeydoodlers - I think the brass reproducer was a 'higher end' option available for these machines. The standard reproducer was the pot metal one. They are identical in their construction, but the brass reproducers sound a little better and are not prone to the oxidation and cracking that plagues the pot metal.

[transformingArt]

Thanks for posting this!

[onbendedknees]

thanks for posting, great old music from a great jazzer

[bigkittysmile]

wow. fantastic! thanks much for the post.

[packers56789]

I think the okeh records are much better, including this song.

[n64wilbert]

Thanks is that a electric Victrola

[sirjuandabicho]

Maravilloso, muchas gracias por publicarlo.

[donkemoz]

dammi sto vinileeeeee :)

[IFeelHappy]

that first minute sounds like Danny Elfman's oogie boogie song

[MrXnews]

@mikeb1444 The back-and forth oval run-out was a Victor design, in order to trip auto-shut off.