Victor had a long-standing policy of keeping an alternate backup take for each recording it issued, designated “H” [hold], “H30” [hold 30 days] or “HC” [hold conditional] in the files. They’re generally of little interest for pop and classical recordings, but with jazz it’s another story. Here are two of our favorites for comparison, exhibiting striking differences in each performance, along with some subtle engineering variations. We’re extra lucky with the Johnson title, since Victor took the relatively uncommon step of designating two “holds.” Normally, one of the three would have been singled out for destruction [“D”].
The custom vinyl pressings of the unissued takes used here appear to have been made in the 1950s, probably in conjunction with RCA’s “X” reissue program. Apparently a fair number were pressed; they turn up with some frequency in private collections, including ours, and they occasionally still surface on high-end auction lists.
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THOMAS [FATS] WALLER WITH THOMAS MORRIS & HIS HOT BABIES: Red Hot Dan
Camden NJ (Church studio): December 1, 1927
Victor mx. BVE 40096 – 1 (“Hold” — Unissued on 78)
From a c. 1950s custom vinyl pressing of the original stamper
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THOMAS [FATS] WALLER WITH THOMAS MORRIS & HIS HOT BABIES: Red Hot Dan
Camden NJ (Church studio): December 1, 1927
Victor mx. BVE 40096 – 2 (“Master” — Issued on Victor 21127)
Other than Waller and Morris, no personnel are listed in the Victor files. Brian Rust’s guess that Victor studio manager Eddie King played drums is incorrect. King was no longer employed by Victor at the time of this session, having moved to Columbia as an assistant A&R manager in late October 1927.
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CHARLIE JOHNSON & HIS PARADISE BAND: Walk That Thing
New York: September 19, 1928
Victor mx. BVE 47532 – 1 (“Hold” — Unissued on 78)
From a c. 1950s custom vinyl pressing of the original stamper
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CHARLIE JOHNSON & HIS PARADISE BAND: Walk That Thing
New York: September 19, 1928
Victor mx. BVE 47532 – 2 (“Master” — Issued on Victor 21712)
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CHARLIE JOHNSON & HIS PARADISE BAND: Walk That Thing
New York: September 19, 1928
Victor mx. BVE 47532 – 3 (“Hold” — Issued May 1939 on Bluebird B-10248)
Personnel listed in the Victor files appear to have been added at a later date by an unknown party, from an unknown source, probably in connection with the 1939 Bluebird release.
Discographical data from the Victor Talking Machine Company files, via John Bolig and the Discography of American Historical Recordings.
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Filed under: 78 rpm records, Harlem jazz on 78 records, Jazz, MP3, Recording Studios & Equipment, Uncategorized, Victor 78 rpm Race Records Tagged: Bluebird 78 records, Charlie Johnson Paradise Orchestra Band Ten, Edward (Eddie) King, errors in Brian Rust's jazz records discography, Thomas Fats Waller, Thomas Morris Hot Babies, Thomas Waller, unissued Victor takes jazz, Victor 78 rpm alternate takes jazz, Victor Camden church studio
