The Edison phonograph monthly (Mar 1903-Feb 1904)

EDISON PHONOGRAPH MONTHLY. 13 Drum Corps. It introduces "Marching Through Georgia," "Dixie," and the bugle work is excellent. Harry Von Tilzer, the well known song writer, has been most successful in his adaptation of the names of old songs for new compositions. No. 8561, "Down Where the Swanee River Flows," is an especially good example of this success. It is a descriptive song and is rendered with orchestra accompaniment by Byron G. Harlan. This song has become very popular in the music stores. It has a very pleasing air and Mr. Harlan sings it in good style. "Peaceful Henry," the title of No. 8562, is a characteristic march and two-step played by the Edison Concert Band. It was composed by E. Harry Kelly and has already achieved great musical success. It will certainly, however, have a vogue for a long time and be one of the airs always played for dance music, — one of those airs that dancers always ask for. The Record as made by the Edison Concert Band could hardly be better. It is seldom that we are able to offer a better male duet than is given in No. 8563, "Won't You Write a Letter, Papa." It is sung by Harlan and Stanley and is very pleasing. The song tells of a child's request to her papa to write a letter to the angels asking them to send her mamma back to her. The music is quite in accord with the song and the Record is bound to sell. The words and music of it are by Thomas J. Hughes and Charles Miller. In No. 8565 Harry MacDonough gives an excellent Record of "Sammy," the serio-comic song from the "Wizard of Oz." Mr. MacDonough's distinct articulation is especially good in songs of this character. No. 8566, "Melody of Love," by the Edison Symphony Orchestra, is a Record that will especially appeal to those who are fond of fine musical compositions. It has a soft, pleasing melody. It introduces the singing of birds, good violin music and the playing of bells. It is altogether a delightful Record. In No. 8567, Collins and Harlan present in "Moriarity" a comic Irish male duet. This tells in verse of the glorious things done by Moriarity and reminds one of the fame of Dooley. The air is good and the Record is made in the usual excellent style of these two artists. The words of the song are by Charles HQrwitz and the music by Fred T. Bowers. No. 8570, "I'm Longing for You, Sweetheart, Day by Day," is a sentimental song rendered by Francklyn Wallace. The success of this song in sheet music form cannot fail to make a demand for it in Edison Records, and those who buy it will not be disappointed in Mr. Wallace's rendition, of the air. The words of the song are by H. Wakefield Smith and the music by James W. Casey. SUPERFLUOUS. Duffer — You ought to buy a talking machine. There's nothing like one to keep a fellow home nights. Suffer — Buy one? I married one. That's what keeps me out. '♦A LITTLE TALK ABOUT A TALKINO MACHINE." It is seldom that Dealers get out more attractive advertising literature than the booklet sent us by the Bergen Empire Athletic Goods Co., of 5603 Third avenue, Brooklyn. It is a booklet of eight pages and cover, the whole of a size small enough to go in an ordinary business envelope. The cover is of gray paper, printed in red and white inks, and it overhangs the inside pages on three sides. The first page bears the above title. The inside pages are of antique paper and are attached to the cover with red silk cord. The argument on the merits of Edison Phonographs and Records is so good that we take pleasure in quoting part of it : The Edison Phonograph of to-day is acknowledged on all sides to be the leading talking machine and this recognition is the result of pure merit. In all the points that make for leadership in talking machines, such as ease in handling, simplicity, durability, style, or the ability to faithfully record and reproduce sounds, the Edison is far and away ahead of its rivals. There is no other form of amusement for the home that is at once so satisfactory, so easily controlled or that offers such a vast range of subjects as does the Edison Phonograph. It brings to you all that is best in music, both vocal and instrumental, rendered by leading artists of the day. The musical selections, run from the best productions of the leading old masters of music to the big hit of the current comic opera or the popular song of the day. It is no exaggeration to say, that the rendition of these pieces is often far above the best efforts of some of our leading orchestras and bands. The leading hits in the way of the latest popular songs are all listed in the Phonograph catalogue and there are also many of the good old favorites that never wear out. The vocalists who sing these songs for the Phonograph generally confine themselves to one sort of song, as for instance, comic, coon, sacred, or sentimental, and the result is the songs are sung in such a way as to bring out the best in the selection. The talking Records are pretty hard to beat in the way of real humor and are often as funny as a whole farce. Persons often desire to make a Record themselves. With the Edison Phonograph this is easily done — a simple change in the mechanism makes the machine ready for use. Considered in the way of an investment, the Edison Phonograph is as good as a bank account. It is something that is always ready to amuse you and it cannot become tired. You will never grow weary of it on account of the always growing number and variety of Records. It will give unending instruction and amusement. It will brighten many a dull hour and make time pass more pleasantly. Then follows a reference to the plan of the company in selling Phonographs on instal