Repository of odd 78 sides made into mp3s

From time to time, and for a variety of reasons, we take a 78 from our modest collection, and make it into an mp3. We have done this many times for the items that appear on specific web pages on this site: so those mp3s can be heard in the appropriate place. But a friend might ask to hear a certain side; or, I might find a 78 and think one of my friends might like to hear it too; so, an mp3 is made. After use, they all get filed away. But some of them might be of interest to you, who knows? So we will put some of the sides here, in case you might like to hear them. As time goes by, it wouldn’t surprise me if quite a miscellany of stuff accumulates here! 8^)

No1. The comic Will Evans (1875 – 1931) had a long career, which, as far as recordings go, began in 1903. This one is rather late in his discography, being made circa February 1917. He only made three more sessions after this: one in 1918 and the last two in 1929. I think the slightly younger (but far better remembered) comedian Will Hay (1888 – 1949) must have been influenced by Will Evans? A friend to whom I played this record observed: ‘They sound the same!’ However, Will Hay appeared in many comedy films from 1934 – 1943, most notably the railway-based ‘Oh! Mr. Porter’ (1937), so that is why he is much better remembered. In point of fact, Will Evans, the son of a stage acrobat, made a short film of the same kind (i.e. acrobatics) in 1899, though it is only available on-line to academic institutions. Still, if you can’t see them, at least you can hear Will Evans & Co. in 1917 by simply clicking on the picture of the label above.

Page started 8th November 2009.