HISTORY:
Sit down, have a cuppa and let me tell you a story (it gets a bit forensic!) ...
Due to my long past association with Marconi Wireless School and then being in the audio post production industry for many years, I had contact with many interesting folk who worked at or were closely associated with Amalgamated Wireless. Remember the big complex down in Ashfield, Sydney? That was just a small part of the organisation as they were one of Australia's largest design and manufacturing facilities in the world of electronics.
HERE is a link if the history of Marconi Wireless/Amalgamated Wireless (Australasia) Limited is of interest to you
But back to this record ...
I was talking to this chap about AWA and their semiconductor production for RCA and he suddenly pulls out this recording for me, saying "did you know AWA were also in the vinyl pressing industry? I was stunned and after I picked myself up from the floor, he told me that they had facilities in Sydney for vinyl pressing and this record was an example of their "short run vinyl" productions. This is VINYL not shellac nor is it Acetate, the latter was produced here in Sydney by Macquarie Broadcasting Service for use in "short life" recordings (they only last a few plays) for use by the radio broadcast industry.
I can't remember now (it was a conversation over 50 years ago!) but I think AWA Custom Recordings (this record) were somehow closely associated with ARC (Australian Record Company) and they do have very similar record labelling, text etc on ARC product. ARC was later purchased by CBS Records.
After a long conversation, I ended up scoring the record and have kept it as a momento of both AWA and the conversation (the "chap" was a very senior engineer with AWA, now long since passed away) ever since - I think it is now time to find a new "home" for this piece of Australian vinyl history
Some more record details are below in the description ...
Oh and don't forget the artist featured on the recording, Les Black. He was a pianist and party dance band leader in the 1950's but I can not find out much else about him. He passed away in 1963 aged 55
This record features three slow tempo bush dance classics, for those who like to do-si-do with no vocals other than a dance "intro" here and there, I actually recognise some of these songs on Side A but cannot remember their names, they are all produced as "medley's"
The "Orchestra" (uncredited) is in reality just drums (mainly Snare being "brushed") and a Bass cello
LES BLACK AND HIS ORCHESTRA - Barn Dance Selection
AWA Custom Recording
Material: Black Vinyl Straight edge trim
150g weight
Cat# MCP:64.AX
SPECIAL NOTE: This is the first vinyl recording I have seen with NO matrix coding at all on either side, just the running groove and nothing else
Cute text indicating a different era of recordings e.g OUTSIDE START
Plays at 33
Microgroove format, meaning that a "modern" stylus (smaller diameter) was to be used and NOT the older stylus used for the wider groove 78's - this period was just after the industry transition from 78's to the new smaller groove, slower playing 33 records. Play this with an older 78 stylus and you will severely damage the vinyl (and have terrible sound)
Early 1950's
Why the early 1950's? 45's were first released in Australia by ARC (1953) and the warning on the cover says "must only be played at 33-1/3 rpm" so I am thinking that the ONLY other speed that could be used at the time of this record release was 78's and of course they used different width stylus - the warning makes no mention of 45's which of course you can play this record at but it sounds VERY fast as Les "tickles the Ivories"!
Australian release
The cover is that Greenish colour cardboard that I remember being used by Government departments many years ago for folders. I have no idea why it is Green but this was before a Manilla or White bleached card was used. This base cover is printed in Black only. There has also been an hand applied "stamp" which reads:
IF YOU ENJOYED THIS RECORD
WOULD YOU RECOMMEND IT TO YOUR FRIENDS
I suspect this was added by Les Black or whoever was looking after his marketing at the time
The cover is in good (minus) condition, side seams are fine but the bottom seam has a small split due to the record pushing against it from the inside.
No other markings on the cover - no personal notes
Notice the White sticker on each side of the record label? They were required to be attached to all recordings from this period and indicate that mechanical copyright Royalties had been paid, one shilling or 10 cents in "today's money" Very plain and simple stamp, if you see these stamps on other recordings they can be very elaborate and people actually collect them!
Vinyl condition is very good, in fact I would say this copy has barely seen a stylus! I am not a great photographer and those "marks" in the photographs (on the vinyl) are actually reflections of our verandah roof, the surface of the record is like a mirror! Possibly a "left over" copy from the original production run that was never sold. Some very light scuff or markings to the vinyl surface but these are very light and most likely due to being inside the cover without any protective sleeve.
I have always stored this in a new, clean plastic sleeve and that is how it will be supplied.
I then played the ENTIRE recording, both sides, and while barn dances are not my "cuppa tea", this is a really good clean playback with very little surface noise or click/pops. I don't know where this was recorded, presumably AWA had a recording studio but the vocal announcements by Les sound like they were recorded in an empty room! The instruments are all recorded fine, the piano being dominant.
A new outer protective sleeve is supplied to protect the "whole package"
TRACKS: Barn Dance 1 (9:20) Barn Dance 2 (5:36), Canadian Three Step (7:52), Pride Of Erin
Track notes: The track titles are types of dance, not the song names. The Side A label indicates "Barn Dance" but there are two tracks and each track is a medley of songs. Same goes for Side B with Canadian Three Step and Pride Of Erin also being a medley of songs.
