Uncategorized

Florrie Forde – Selections of Old Time Hits

/ Jacob Whittaker / 1 Comment

Florrie Forde - Selections of Old Time Hits

Australian born Florrie Forde was a popular singer and music hall entertainer in the UK. ‘During World War I, her most famous songs were some of the best known of the period, including “Pack Up Your Troubles in Your Old Kit-Bag”, “It’s A Long Way To Tipperary” and “Take Me Back to Dear Old Blighty”.

Florrie Forde

I was interested to find that not only was the 1915 ‘Pack up your troubles in your old kit-bag’  written by Welshmen George Asaf (aka George Henry Powell) and his brother Felix Powell, but ‘Take Me Back To Dear Old Blighty’ was written by Swansea born Fred Godfrey (aka Llewelyn Williams).

Florrie Forde - Selections of Old Time Hits

The Decca Junior “Trench” gramophone

/ Jacob Whittaker / Leave a comment

Eos yng Nghapel y Graig - A Nightingale in Capel y Graig

The Decca Junior gramophone.
8″ high, 10.75″ deep, 9.5″ wide.

This type of gramophone employs “Bowl-in-lid” amplification by which sound is reflected forward from the lid.  Sometimes this design is apparently called a “Trench” gramophone because in World War One British Troops were supplied with gramophones based on this design for use in the Trenches.

The Decca Junior along with the Crescendo Junior Soundbox was introduced in 1923. The motor is Swiss made. Decca never made their own Motors or Soundboxes, the Crescendo Soundbox was also made in Switzerland.

This 8inch Eclipse record dates from the 1930s

Eclipse - Wartime songs of 1914

Dylan, Daniel a D Jacob Davies

/ Jacob Whittaker / Leave a comment

Educated in Swansea, composer and friend of Dylan Thomas, Daniel Jones “As well as composing song-settings for Thomas’s Under Milk Wood (1954) and dedicating his fourth symphony (1954) to Thomas’s memory, he edited collections of Thomas’s poetry and prose, and in 1977 published the memoir, My Friend Dylan Thomas.”.

Daniel Jones

Under Milk Wood

The renowned Unitarian minister Rev D Jacob Davies recorded a Welsh language version of Dylan’s ‘A Story (The Outing)’.  Released on Cambrian records it is the first side of this album ‘Jacob…ar ei orau!’ which translates as ‘Jacob…at his best!’.  The story is described on the back as ‘more than a translation…’.

D Jacob Davies - Jacob...ar ei orau!

 

Swansea Records / Recordiau Abertawe

/ Jacob Whittaker / Leave a comment

Swansea recordings include this one by Horizon Recordings ltd, Dylan Thomas House, 32 Alexandra rd

Cor Merched Meirion

This from Swan Records Limited, Swansea. No mention of whereabouts in Swansea they were based…a fine figure of a hound though!

To Love and be Loved - Ieuan R Evans

and these from Recordiau Mynydd Mawr, who were at 381 Gors Avenue, Cockett, Swansea

Cymanfa Ganu Fodern

Cor Telyn Teilo a Bois y Blacbord - Emyn a Thelyn a Thant

Dylan Thomas House on Alexandra rd was where the BBC recorded the 1963 version of Under Milk Wood with Richard Burton apparently.  I don’t seem to have that one but found this one from 1954.  (BBC article about the 1954 version)

Under Milk Wood

End of Empire & Now the Hero

/ Jacob Whittaker / Leave a comment

I have been invited to create a new performance at the Glynn Vivian Gallery in Swansea to take place 5-8pm on Friday 21st 2018 as part of the preview event for Yinka Shonibare’s “End of Empire” exhibition and start of the week of art activities tying into Marc Rees’ “Now the Hero”. 

I am searching my archive to find records connecting to the themes of these two works and to the gallery and its location.  Looking at the partially installed work by Yinka Shonibare last weekend I was reminded of this Talking Heads album cover ..

Talking Heads - Little Creatures (2)

I plan to use records made in Swansea, (I discovered the Welsh Teledisc label was run from 139 Walter Rd, Swansea), by artists from the Swansea area (Harry Secombe and Morriston Orpheus Choir perhaps..), and songs/artists connected to WW1 and empire (Oh What a Lovely War!, Alf Garnet etc).

Warren Mitchell - Songs of World War 1

I might also throw in some records responding to the Glyn Vivian collection, I noticed a series of seascapes and wondered about some shanties…

The Twelve Buccaneers - Shanties

Songs of the Sea

and this…

Roger Evans - The Ballad of Swansea Jack

I did some work with records for Swansea and the Glyn Vivian some years ago for a Welsh-Estonian artist exchange thing.  It included a mix of records made with artists and recordings from the area and a performance on Swansea beach.
About a year later I (unsuccessfully) applied for an exhibition opportunity there and made some other mixes.. I made a playlist of things from back then on Youtube which I cant seem to embed so have to link to by here instead

Mixes at an Exhibition

/ Jacob Whittaker / Leave a comment

I was invited to create a live mix for the opening of Strange Eden, an exhibition of work by James Moore in Oriel Mwldan Gallery, Cardigan.

Records were selected in response to the work on display and following a few conversations with James ahead of the event.

Records used include: Tomita – Pictures at an Exhibition; Emerson, Lake and Palmer – Pictures at an Exhibition; Debussy – La Mer; Jean Michel Jarre Live; BBC Sound Effects No6; RCA Home Movie Sound Effects; Landscape III – You Know how to Hurt me; Top Gun OST; I also used a cassette tape of VU-3D for Sinclair ZX Spectrum.

Loops were found randomly from the records using bits of wire to hold the tone arms.