Personal/Custom Recordings
The following are records pressed by commercial record companies for private parties, usually for a "small" fee and a minimum order of pressed copies. Some studios engaged in the practice more than others. Edison not at all, probably due to the complexity and cost of the Diamond Disc format (Edison wax cylinders could easily be recorded at home of course). Victor did a tiny business in it, Columbia somewhat larger. It was actually the second-tier labels that engaged in it most with Gennett in the lead. That company recorded for anyone with the money including aspiring jazz artists, religious organizations and even the Ku Klux Klan. Although rare, such sessions were also used by companies to scout and sign talent. The aural quality of such recordings, especially acoustical ones, are usually not on par with commercial releases since the performers and their instruments were not well-trained for the finicky recording equipment of the time.

Also included are records pressed by special order for individuals, usually after those selections had been withdrawn from the active catalog.
Encoded Speed: 192 Kbps

Merchant of Venice - Mercy Speech (Act IV) (Shakespeare)

Ellen Terry

Victor 64194

Matrix# B-9988, Take 3

February 28, 1911

Camden, New Jersey

Note: Commercially released. Horn bump at 0:15.

He's Coming Back Again	The Hallelujah Side
The Christian and Missionary Alliance Gospel Quintette	The Christian and Missionary Alliance Gospel Quintette
Columbia Personal Recording	Columbia Personal Recording
Matrix# 91409 1-A-2, Take 1	Matrix# 91411 1-A-2, Take 1
ca. 1923	ca. 1923
Note: More bass left in Here, but alot of the performance gets lost in it.	Note: More bass left in Here, but alot of the performance gets lost in it.

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