Hi folks,  The song, "I'll See You in C.U.B.A." is a great
favourite of mine.  It caused a few problems when it was released,
for it is an "anti-Prohibition" song (a bit like "Goodbye Broadway,
Hullo Montreal").  It contains the phrase "The season opened last
July, ever since the USA went dry," and "I'll drink 'til I won't
be able to see you in C.U.B.A."  Well, I'm sure you get the idea!

Edison released the song as a Diamond Disc and [simultaneously] as
a dubbed Blue Amberol cylinder, which was the usual way then.  Because
the manufacture of Diamond Discs was so much slower than Blue Amberols,
the cylinder version got out to market first.

My understanding is that, not long after a few thousand cylinders
were released, the song was deemed an "unsuitable" number, and was
withdrawn from the Edison catalogue before any Diamond Discs made
their way out of the factory.   It is, therefore, a rare Blue Amberol
cylinder, and one dubbed from a Diamond Disc that was never released.
Well, that's what I heard.

All the best,
Paul Morris
http://www.paulmorrismusic.co.uk/ 

 [ Hear the 1920 Edison Blue Amberol performance at
 [ http://cylinders.library.ucsb.edu/search.php?queryType=@attr%201=1016&query=7237
 [ -- Robbie