In regard to Bill Kenney's comments made about the Gay '90s Village
buildup orchestrions, the "Beale Street Special" appears on another
recording from Gay '90s Village. The LP is called "A Nickel's Worth
-- When?" I think the instrument plays "Beale Street Blues" and "Joe
Turner Blues". Does anyone else remember this record? The album was
a gate-fold and featured photographs and descriptions of the six or so
machines on the recording.
I haven't looked at or played my copy in some years, but I remember
it also featured the Sextrola (where are you going to hear that one
again ... does anyone know where that machine lives now?) playing a
couple rag tunes and the Seeburg H playing "Ramrod Rag", unfortunately
with newly installed bells instead of xylophone. The notes indicate
that "... the original xylophone was (mercifully! - J.R.) re-installed
..." after the recording.
I remember the most disappointing part of this disc was the Nelson-
Wiggen orchestrion playing two of the sleepiest tunes they could find.
These are really nice machines to listen to, but here they chose to
record "Carry Me Back To Old Virginia" and "Silver Threads Among The
Gold", neither of which use anything except piano and single stroke
xylophone.
On the flip side are snappy O-roll renditions played by the Coinola C2
of "Yes Sir, That's My Baby" and "Because of You", the latter not to
be confused with the rather bland tune of the same name which came out
much later than this tune. Overall, I remember a "A Nickel's Worth --
When?" as a pretty fun record despite any shortcomings.
John D. Rutoskey
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