Century-Old Sounds

Pathé Sapphire Records
1914-1922
Pathé was a French company founded in the 1890s by brothers Emile and Charles Pathé. After briefly dealing in Edison and Columbia goods, they began making their own cylinders and phonographs. Discs were added in 1905 with some odd materials (wax on concrete!), speeds (often 90 RPM, sometimes from 60-130 RPM), and sizes (6 to 20 inches) employed before shellac and some standardization set in to make them commercially agreeable. Emile managed the record side of the enterprise while Charles focused on motion pictures. Pathé Records became an international giant that recorded many of the musical greats, especially Classical, in studios throughout the world. The film company became equally popular and still exists today.

However, Pathé didn't have an official presence in the United States until the 1910s. Imports were briefly offered before a studio was set up in New York to make domestic records under the direction of Russell Hunting, an American pioneer recording artist from the 1890s. By 1914 such 80 RPM discs were for sale in Pathé's American catalog (the official U.S. branch name being: The Pathé Frères Phonograph Company). However, several patents in the States were still in effect and Pathé had to record performances differently to avoid infringement.

Pathé brought over their practice of using a sapphire ball to play a vertically recorded groove of large width. Such a groove was very similar to what is found on wax cylinders. In fact, Pathé recorded their masters on giant 13-inch-long cylinders (that spun quickly to maintain sonic quality) and then pantographed (dubbed) them to discs. This of course causes some loss of quality, but it's not too noticeable on vintage phonographs. Modern equipment is less forgiving, especially with rumble that is often transferred from cylinder to disc. The shallow and wide grooves sometimes cause skipping, especially if the record is warped, off-center or worn. Special techniques then have to be used to make them play through. Finally, yes, they can only be played on a Pathé phonograph or on one with a special tonearm attachment. Playing them with a lateral steel-needle reproducer will shred them.

American Pathé manufactured vertical recordings from 1914 to 1922. Other companies had cornered the market on acclaimed American performers so the catalog was not as prestigious as what could be found in Europe. However, Pathé still attracted many of the popular free-lance performers that recorded for everyone like Billy Murray, Ada Jones, Fred Van Epps and Arthur Fields. They also scored the occasional coup by recording such greats as James Reese Europe and Noble Sissle. Russell Hunting even took to the recording horn on occasion to cut some comedy records. Exact recording dates for most American Pathés have been lost to time. However, existing monthly catalogs and other literature can be used to narrow them down. Usually when a "ca." year is noted below, the recording is probably from that year, give or take one.
Encoded Speed: 192 Kbps


Demonstration Record - Exhibiting superiority of tone of Pathé recording	The Owl and The Pussy Cat
Russell Hunting	Male Quartet (Big City Four?)
Pathé 2-A	Pathé 2-B
Matrix# (G?)66373-3A, 42	Matrix# E66727-1C, 41
ca. 1917	ca. 1918
New York, New York	New York, New York


America, Here's My Boy	Pozzo
American Republic Band	American Republic Band
Pathé 20076-A	Pathé 20076-B
Matrix# T66206	Matrix# T66205
June 1917	June 1917


Brighten The Corner Where You Are	If Your Heart Keeps Right
William Wheeler	William Wheeler
Pathé 20159-A	Pathé 20159-B
Matrix# 66082	Matrix# T-66081
ca. 1917	ca. 1917


Casey Courting His Girl	Casey Selling Patent Medicine
Russell Hunting	Russell Hunting
Pathé 20202-A	Pathé 20202-B
Matrix# 66284	Matrix# 66285
July 1917	July 1917


Love In Idleness	Stepping Stones
Imperial Symphony Orchestra of London	Imperial Symphony Orchestra of London
Pathé 20231-A	Pathé 20231-B
Matrix# A.92750	Matrix# A.93956
ca. 1917	ca. 1917


Round Her Neck She Wears A Yeller Ribbon	The Yanks Started Yankin'
Collins and Harlan	Louis Winsch
Pathé 20361-A	Pathé 20361-B
Matrix# T66677	Matrix# T66774
ca. 1918	ca. 1918


A Darky's Dreamland, Part 1	A Darky's Dreamland, Part 2
London Military Band	London Military Band
Pathé 20386-A	Pathé 20386-B
Matrix# A78255	Matrix# A78256
ca. 1918	ca. 1918
London, England (?)	London, England (?)


Won't You Be A Dear, Dear Daddy?	They Were All Out Of Step But Jim
The Farber Girls	Constance Farber
Pathé 20388-A	Pathé 20388-B
Matrix# T66779	Matrix# T66778
ca. May-June 1918	ca. May-June 1918
New York, New York	New York, New York


When I Send You A Picture of Berlin	I'm Gonna Pin My Medal On The Girl I Left Behind
Arthur Fields	Louis Winsch
Pathé 20413-A	Pathé 20413-B
Matrix# T66921	Matrix# T66925
ca. 1918	ca. 1918


Nona	Texas
American Republic Band	American Republic Band
Pathé 20417-A	Pathé 20417-B
Matrix# T66917	Matrix# T66916
ca. 1918	ca. 1918


Sweet and Low	When You and I Were Young, Maggie
Jules Levy, Jr.'s Brass Quartet	Jules Levy, Jr.'s Brass Quartet
Pathé 20477-A	Pathé 20477-B
Matrix# 68896	Matrix# 68897
December 1920	December 1920


The Picadore March	The Gladiator March
American Regimental Band	American Regimental Band
Pathé 20503-A	Pathé 20503-B
Matrix# 69123-1 B 3	Matrix# 69121-1 A 3
March 1921	March 1921


There's Something About You	Longing For Someone
Joe Gibson and His Orchestra	Joe Gibson and His Orchestra
Pathé 20511-A	Pathé 20511-B
Matrix# 69022	Matrix# 69021
January 1921	January 1921


Sweetheart	I'll Keep On Loving You
Casino Dance Orchestra	Casino Dance Orchestra
Pathé 20539-A	Pathé 20539-B
Matrix# 69162-1 A 2	Matrix# 69163-1 15
March-April 1921	March-April 1921
	Note: Worn.


Crooning	Good As Gold
Casino Dance Orchestra	Casino Dance Orchestra
Pathé 20559-A	Pathé 20559-B
Matrix# 69189-1 A 6	Matrix# 69191-1 (?) 18
April-May 1921	April-May 1921


Wait Until You See My Madeline	Do Another Break
Casino Dance Orchestra	Green Brothers' Novelty Band
Pathé 20560-A	Pathé 20560-B
Matrix# 69190	Matrix# 68530
March 1921	April 1921


Funeral March of a Marionette	The Elephant and the Fly
Leopold Bucci	Leopold Bucci and Nicholas Laucella
Pathé 20591-A	Pathé 20591-B
Matrix# 6(9?)280	Matrix# ?
ca. 1921	ca. 1921


I've Got The Joys	Mandy 'N Me
Lanin's Southern Serenaders	Lanin's Southern Serenaders
Pathé 20649-A	Pathé 20649-B
Matrix# 69392-1 (B?) 5	Matrix# 69393-1 (B?) 6
September 1921	September 1921
	Note: Worn.


Are You Playing Fair?	Parade of The Wooden Soldiers
Casino Dance Orchestra	Nathan Glantz and His Orchestra
Pathé 20780-A	Pathé 20780-B
Matrix# 69744-1 A 2	Matrix# 69722-1 B 3
June 1922	May-June 1922
	Note: Very worn. Rumble filtered.


The Sneak	Just Because You're You - That's Why I Love You
Nicholas Orlando and His Orchestra	Nicholas Orlando and His Orchestra (suspected)
Pathé 20800-A	Pathé 20800-B
Matrix# 69775-1 6	Matrix# 69776-1 A
July 1922	July 1922
	Note: In-studio bump at 1:51.


Truly	Murmuring
Max Terr and His Orchestra	Max Terr and His Orchestra
Pathé 20810-A	Pathé 20810-B
Matrix# 69810-1 B 5	Matrix# 69808-1 A 2
August 1922	August 1922
Note: Worn.	Note: Worn.


Blue	I Wish I Knew
California Ramblers	Joseph Samuels' Orchestra
Pathé 20814-A	Pathé 20814-B
Matrix# 69759-1 A	Matrix# 69807-1 A
July 6, 1922	August 1922


You Remind Me of My Mother	Japanese Moon
Joseph Samuels' Orchestra	Nathan Glantz and His Orchestra
Pathé 20829-A	Pathé 20829-B
Matrix# 69843-1 A	Matrix# 69820-1 A 3
September 1922	August 1922
Note: Extremely Worn.	Note: Extremely Worn.


Don't Let Us Sing Any More About War, Just Let Us Sing of Love	I Love A Lassie
Evan Davies	Evan Davies
Pathé 22051-A	Pathé 22051-B
Matrix# T67269-1 E 31	Matrix# T67270-1 A 4
ca. 1919	ca. 1919
Note: Played at 81 RPM. Stressed loud passages.


Give Me All Of You	Kiss Me Again
The Excello Trio	F. Wheeler Wadsworth
Pathé 22056-A	Pathé 22056-B
Matrix# T67286	Matrix# (? 8)
ca. 1919	ca. 1919


That Moaning Trombone	Memphis Blues
Lieut. Jim Europe's 369th U.S. Infantry ("Hell Fighters") Band	Lieut. Jim Europe's 369th U.S. Infantry ("Hell Fighters") Band
Pathé 22085-A	Pathé 22085-B
Matrix# T67485-1 A 1	Matrix# T67486-1 XB 30
ca. March 7, 1919	ca. March 7, 1919
New York, New York	New York, New York


Dear Old Pal Of Mine	Bring Back The Sunshine
Turner Roe	Lewis James
Pathé 22150-A	Pathé 22150-B
Matrix# T67614-1 D 21	Matrix# T67455-1 B 14
1919	1919


My Baby's Arms	Trousseau Ball
Tuxedo Syncopaters	Tuxedo Syncopaters
Pathé 22181-A	Pathé 22181-B
Matrix# ?	Matrix# 167901?
July 1919	July 1919


I Used To Call Her Baby	If You Don't Stop Making Eyes At Me
Billy Murray	Arthur Fields
Pathé 22197-A	Pathé 22197-B
Matrix# 167139?	Matrix# 167971?
1919	1919


Cohen Gets Married	Cohen On His Honeymoon
Monroe Silver	Monroe Silver
Pathé 22223-A	Pathé 22223-B
Matrix# 67998-1 C 16	Matrix# 67999-3 C 2
Late 1919	Late 1919
	Note: A bit of cylinder rumble was best left in.


Wonderful Pal	On The Trail To Sante Fe
Lewis James	Lewis James and Charles Hart
Pathé 22242-A	Pathé 22242-B
Matrix# 68(???)-1 A 10	Matrix# 68(?)61-1 D 5
ca. 1919	ca. 1919
	Note: Worn and weak pressing/transfer from master cylinder.


Stand Up For Jesus	Flee as a Bird
Earle F. Wilde	Turner Roe
Pathé 22350-A	Pathé 22350-B
Matrix# 67590	Matrix# ?
ca. 1920	ca. 1920


La Veeda	Zoma
Green Brothers' Novelty Band	Green Brothers' Novelty Band
Pathé 22365-A	Pathé 22365-B
Matrix# 68378	Matrix# 68377
ca. March 1920	ca. March 1920
New York, New York	New York, New York
	Note: Weak.


Medley of Country Reels Keltons Reel The Devil's Dream Arkansas Traveller Old Zip Coon Chicken Reel Half Penny Reel	Medley of Country Jigs St. Patrick's Day in the Morning Mysteries of Knock Moll in the Wad Tivoli Jackson Fancy Garry Owens Haste to the Wedding
Joseph Samuels	Joseph Samuels
Pathé 22417-A	Pathé 22417-B
Matrix# 68666	Matrix# 68667
ca. 1919	ca. 1919


Marcelle	Dolls
George Jessel	George Jessel
Pathé 22418-A	Pathé 22418-B
Matrix# 68587-1G 15	Matrix# 68588-1C 17
ca. July 1920	ca. July 1920
Note: Stripped groove at 0:02-0:03.


Barney Come Over Here	Yum-I-Yum-I-Yum
Blanche Ring	Billy Jones
Pathé 22419-A	Pathé 22419-B
Matrix# 68607	Matrix# 68736
September 1920	October 1920


The Postman	Hi and Si on the Line Fence
Russell Hunting and Steve Porter	Russell Hunting and Steve Porter
Pathé 22430-A	Pathé 22430-B
Matrix# 68585	Matrix# 68586
ca. 1920	ca. 1920


Excelsior	The Voice of the Chimes
Lewis James and Elliott Shaw	Acme Male Quartet
Pathé 22432-A	Pathé 22432-B
Matrix# 68621	Matrix# 68785
1920	1920
Note: Dig at 0:21.	Note: Dig from 0:33-0:35.


Christians Awake Salute the Happy Morn	God Rest Ye, Merrie Gentlemen
Shannon Four	Shannon Four
Pathé 22433-A	Pathé 22433-B
Matrix# 6878(1?)	Matrix# 6878(3?)
1920	1920


Love in Lilac Time	Whip-Poor-Will
William Lowe	Gladys Rice
Pathé 22505-A	Pathé 22505-B
Matrix# 6906(6?)	Matrix# ?
ca. 1921	ca. 1921


I'll Sing Thee Songs of Araby	Invictus
Wells Clary	Wells Clary
Pathé 25049-A	Pathé 25049-B
Matrix# 68694	Matrix# 68695
ca. 1921	ca. 1921


Casey's Fight With Oney Goeghen	The Bureau
Russell Hunting	Russell Hunting
Pathé 35083-A	Pathé 35083-B
Matrix# E65706	Matrix# E65705
ca. 1916	ca. 1916


American Patrol	Serenade
Pathé Military Band	Pathé Military Band
Pathé 30333-A	Pathé 30333-B
Matrix# A54053	Matrix# A54052
ca. 1917	ca. 1917
Note: Small edge crack, not audible. Worn.

I Pagliacci - "Vesti la giubba" (On with the Play)

Lucien Muratore

Pathé 54012

Matrix# E65916-2B, 47

January 1919

New York, New York

The Star Spangled Banner

Lucien Muratore

Pathé 54017

Matrix# E67005-1C 2

ca. 1918


I Pagliacci - "Vesti La Giubba" (On With The Play)	Sigurd - "Esprits Gardiens (Guardian Spirits)
Charles Fontaine	Charles Fontaine
Pathé 59084-A	Pathé 59084-B
Matrix# 1890X, 1C	Matrix# 2107.X., 1E 5
ca. 1920	ca. 1920
Paris, France	Paris, France


Carmen, "Habanera"	Il Trovatore, "Fierce Flames Are Soaring"
Margarethe Ober	Margarethe Ober
Pathé 60020-A	Pathé 60020-B
Matrix# A54531, 1A 6(?)	Matrix# A54530, 1A
ca. 1916	ca. 1916
Berlin, Germany	Berlin, Germany


I Pagliacci - Prologue, Part I	I Pagliacci - Prologue, Part II
Luigi Montesanto	Luigi Montesanto
Pathé 62008-A	Pathé 62008-B
Matrix# A84159, 1A	Matrix# A84160, 1A 2
ca. 1916	ca. 1916
Milan, Italy	Milan, Italy

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