Here's one of a few songs that references those 'old phonograph records'. It was used as a theme song for a radio program that I listen to back in the late '70's and early 80's. This was before the internet and mp3's, and a time when the cassette ruled. Consequently, I have dozens of hours of his shows taped and still revisite them for a listen.

This was my initial exposure to this old music. The show was 'The Spirit of '78' and hosted by Don Chichester. A very knowledgable gentleman and he usually had a main topic for each show and would intersperse the music program with interesting bits of historical data on the music.

Does anyone else remember this show? And also, do you know of any other songs that reference phonograph records?


Don...




Get Out Those Old Phonograph Records

I remember hearing Don Chichester in the '80s. Unfortunately the station out here that carried him had a rather weak signal. The ones I used to listen to here in L.A. for 1920s and 30s music were Joe Monte, Ian Whitcomb, and the late Don Brown.

Hey Victor,

You helped jog my memory. As I remember now it was the late 70's and early 80's that I was listening to the Spirit. There was another radio show out of Louisville, Ky, can't remember the fellows name now, but it was called The Big Bandstand. He leaned more toward the big band era. But what made his show interesting was that he would have some of the celebrites from that era on his show and would have then discuss their first hand experiences with the big bands.

He also had tapes of many of the hotel bands that he would feature. One I particularly remember was a rebroadcast from the Aragon Ballroom on the the last night of featuring big band music from it. If my memory serves me corretly, it was the Russ Morgan Band. I've got it taped and in my collection somewhere.

Don...

It shows just how much music had changed in less than the 20 years between the 20's and 30's and when this Decca record was made, probably about 1946 or 1947. The music of the 20's was so completely different from the music of the 40's, even tho still played by bands and even some of the same personnel, that it seemed exotic by comparison. Today I can't even distinguish between the music of today and that of 30 years ago--it all sounds bad. When you think of it, the design of everything in the 20's still had the elaborate and to me beautiful detail of the early 1900's that was done away with during the 30's and by the 40's appeared to be old-fashioned. I went to a car meet this weekend where they were playing 50 year old music of the 50's and it sounded perfectly acceptable. You'd never have heard 50, or even 20, year old music played at a public venue in the 40's without its seeming completely bizarre or for the purpose of ridicule.

Eddie the Collector

For those Nick Lucas fans out there, here is a clip of him singing "Get Out Those Old Records". It is really pretty good...the clarinet solos are reminiscent of Benny Goodman's when he recorded with Ben Selvin in 1931.

Nick Lucas still sounded good in 1951, but the vocal trio is a bit corny.

Nick Lucas - "Get Out Those Old Records, Those Old Phonograph Records"

Matt

I am the Don Chichester referred to in this posting. I did "The Spirit of '78'" from 1980 through mid-1987, originating in Erie, PA, and distributed via the NPR satellite system. I am now a Dismuke member, so can answer any questions readers might have, Incidently, I now live in Roanoke, VA.

"The Big Broadcast" was produced and announced by Ted Fleishaker (sp?) out of Louisville, KY, about the same time I was doing my show. I never got to meet him, though we did correspond once or twice.

Don

Hello Don,

A great big welcome to the board.

Let me say that I really did enjoy your broadcast back in those days before this new internet medium. I can't remember the exact day your program was aired on the radio here, but I was always ready for a delightful hour and had the cassette recorder loaded and ready. In fact I still have all those old tapes and really do get them out to play again.

You and your show were very instrumental in me becoming a rabid fan of this great music. And you and others of your time are to be thanked and commended for keeping the flame lit and helping pave the way for these programs that are now on the internet.

It's great to have you here. I hope you find it an enjoyable and fun place to share, discuss, and talk about this common bond we share. And we hope you will share some of your great music knowledge with us.

And for those that don't know of Don Chichester, let me assure you that we have as a fellow Dismuker one of the pioneers and experts in this world of vintage jazz. Please give him a big welcome.

Don..

Don,

You really jogged some memories with this post. Wish you could have had the complete Guy Lombardo version of the song, but luckily I have it. (I must have no taste but I'm a big fan of Guy's and that definite, clear beat). Fun to hear the other version, too. Anyone else have others? Would love to hear 'em.

A big welcome to Don Chichester. What are you up to now? Could you start a program like Dismuke and just play your old programs? That would be interesting.

KALW, the public radio outlet of the San Francisco Unified School District, used to feature hours of programs of 1920s and 1930s music. (I know I'm repeating myself). It carried the Big Bandstand with the live remotes. I, too, taped a whole bunch over a cassette recorder and still have all those tapes. They also carried a program by Don Guillette (sp?) and Bill Moriama (sp?). Fine guys with great programs. Bill died and I think gave his records to Ted at the University of Louisville. I may be in error. Would love to find out and even hear from Ted. Don was murdered at his home in Diamond Heights in SF (never found the killer(s). Much later after this tragedy I contacted his one-time roommate to see if I could borrow the tapes and transcribe the programs for future use--as history or for a college. He had the tapes (again, I had taped many of the programs) but he was seemingly uncooperative. So, I don't know where those valuable tapes are. I was even willing to try to put them on CDs. What a loss!

Gart in Oakland, CA

Mr Chichester, I recently heard a cassette tape you didinvolving Vernon Dalmart. The tape was very old and I cannot transfer it to a CD to keep because of all the static. Do you know of any way I could get a copy of this radio program that is clear? I love it and would like to listen often. E mail address Porter1934@charter.net. I live in Suffolk, VA Thank you

Hello Porter,

You may have to send Mr. Chichester a PM. I don't think he's a regular visitor to the board. The last time he was on was Nov. 20, 2007. If you don't get a response this way, let me know.

Don...

Here's a guy Lombardo version of "Get Out Those Old Records!"

Plus the rest of the album--Listen: http://boppinbob.multiply.com/music/item/6738/Guy_Lombardo

And here is my little mix of that album!!

(Right-Click-Save-File-As) http://www.geocities.com/gregory_may_jr/GuyLombardoMix.mp3

Thank you,Roseman, for your reply. I am fairly new to computers and I do not know what a PM is. I would like to see if Mr. Chichester could help . I have not heard from him. I am very interested in folk music and any help you coould be I vould be ver;y thankful.

Hello Porter,

A PM is a feature on this board to send someone a private or personal message. They will be notified via their regular e-mail that they have a message on Dismuke's Message Board. They will have to logon to the board to receive the message.

To use this feature for Mr Chichester, make sure you'll logged on and them simply scroll back up this message thread and let your cursor hover over his board name 'Spirit of 78'. This should highlight his name with a down arrow on the right. Click on the arrow and select Send Message; this will open up another screen with a page that you can use to send the message. The page is very similar to the regular message page. You'll have to give it a message title. Give this a try and good luck.

Don...

Roseman, The Spirit of 78 has responded and I have been able to obtain the repuested tapes of old 78's that I wanted. Thanks for your help

I am the Don Chichester who produced "The Spirit of '78'" in the '80s. Reach me at dnjchi@aol.com

Don