Century-Old Sounds

Victor 12-Inch Black-Label Records 1903-1942
Victor introduced the twelve-inch disc in the Fall of 1903, even though experimental pressings were made the previous year. Over four minutes of music could now be had in one play. Ironically, a short-lived line of fourteen-inch disc line preceded them in March 1903. They provided almost six minutes of music at 60 RPM yet proved to be beyond the size limit of what the consumer was able to handle and store. Twelve-inchers were very popular in the Red Seal line because of the nature of Classical music. They were a somewhat distant but still common second elsewhere.

Victor's Black-Label twelve-inch discs pretty much featured the same kind of content as ten-inchers. Of course, longer orchestra pieces were better served by the 12-inch than popular songs. 1933 is once again the cut-off date for the purpose of this website but the format remained popular until the late 1940s. The introduction of the 33-1/3 RPM record by Columbia in 1948 spelled quick doom for the 12-inch since Classical music fans could now have entire works unabridged and uninterrupted on one disc. Ten-inch pop song 78s had a few years of life left going into the 1950s until 45 RPMs did the same to them.
Encoded Speed: 192 Kbps

Laughing Water

Victor Band

Victor 31135

Matrix# Y-332

Spring or Summer 1903

New York, New York (?)

Note: EDVR notes these "Y" recordings may be of Zonophone origin.

Peer Gynt Suite, No. 1 (opus 46)
Part III, "Anitra's Dance"

Arthur Pryor's Band

Victor 31393

Matrix# C-2407, Take 3

May 10, 1911

Camden, New Jersey

Note: In-studio bump at 2:08. Worn.

Woodland Songsters

Victor Orchestra

Victor 31486

Matrix# C-2947, Take 2

December 13, 1905

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (?)


Uncle Josh Keeps House	(Blank)
Cal Stewart
Victor 31715
Matrix# C-6393, Take 2
September 4, 1908
Camden, New Jersey (?)


Rose of Schiras Waltz	(Blank)
Sousa's Band
Victor 31726
Matrix# C-6561, Take 1
October 23, 1908
Camden, New Jersey (?)

La Paloma

Sousa's Band

Victor 31727

Matrix# C-325, Take 1

October 20, 1908

Camden, New Jersey

Note: Warp swish.

Gems from "The Prince of Pilsen"

Victor Light Opera Company

Victor 31795

Matrix# C-8984, Take 1 or (probably) 6

May 23, 1910 or May 23, 1912

Camden, New Jersey


Peer Gynt Suite - Part I, "Morning" (Edvard Grieg, op. 46)	Peer Gynt Suite - Part II, "Death of Ase" (Edvard Grieg, op. 46)
Arthur Pryor's Band	Arthur Pryor's Band
Victor 35007-A	Victor 35007-B
Matrix# C-2404, Take 6	Matrix# C-2403, Take 3
May 10, 1911	September 17, 1908
Camden, New Jersey	Camden, New Jersey (?)


Hungarian Rhapsody, No. 2 - Part 1	Hungarian Rhapsody, No. 2 - Part 2
Arthur Pryor's Band	Arthur Pryor's Band
Victor 35122-A	Victor 35122-B
Matrix# C-6409, Take 2	Matrix# C-6415, Take 4
September 15, 1908	September 18, 1908
Camden, New Jersey (?)	Camden, New Jersey (?)


Love Dance - Intermezzo	Concertino
Victor Orchestra	Charles Draper
Victor 35182-A	Victor 35182-B
Matrix# C-9443, Take 2 or 4	Matrix# 3633f, Take 1
September 13, 1910	September 10, 1909
Camden, New Jersey (?)	London, England
Note: Worn.	Note: Worn.


A Dream of Wagner	Reminiscences of Verdi
Arthur Pryor's Band	Sousa's Band
Victor 35230-A	Victor 35230-B
Matrix# C-11844, Take 2	Matrix# C-12009, Take 2
April 10, 1912	May 13, 1912
Camden, New Jersey	Camden, New Jersey


Kentucky Minstrels (No. 23) My Gal is a High Born Lady My Dinah When You Ain't Got No Money, Well, You Needn't Come Around	Working on the Farm
Victor Minstrel Company	Golden and Hughes
Victor 35260-A	Victor 35260-B
Matrix# C-12387, Take 1	Matrix# C-10935, Take 2
September 23, 1912	September 7, 1911
Camden, New Jersey	Camden, New Jersey


Stars and Stripes Forever March	Under the Double Eagle March
Sousa's Band	Sousa's Band
Victor 35286-A	Victor 35286-B
Matrix# C-241, Take 2[a]	Matrix# C-355, Take 4
October 22, 1908	October 20, 1908
Camden, New Jersey	Camden, New Jersey


Blue Danube Waltz	Southern Roses Waltz
Sousa's Band	Arthur Pryor's Band
Victor 35289-A	Victor 35289-B
Matrix# C-271, Take 10	Matrix# C-4823, Take 4
May 17, 1912	September 9, 1912
Camden, New Jersey	Camden, New Jersey


Sea Songs Sailing Larboard Watch Rocked in the Cradle of the Deep Life on the Ocean Wave Asleep in the Deep Nancy Lee Anchored	War Songs Tramp, Tramp, Tramp Just Before the Battle, Mother Marching Through Georgia Vacant Chair Tenting To-night When Johnny Comes Marching Home Battle Cry of Freedom
Victor Mixed Chorus	Victor Male Chorus
Victor 35351-A	Victor 35351-B
Matrix# C-13723, Take 4	Matrix# C-14204, Take 1
September 12, 1913	December 16, 1913
Camden, New Jersey	Camden, New Jersey
Note: Groove wear at loud passages.	Note: Groove wear at loud passages.


"Laughing Husband" Medley You're Here and I'm Here Take a Step with Me Bought and Paid For	High Jinks
Victor Military Band	Victor Military Band
Victor 35376-A	Victor 35376-B
Matrix# C-14532, Take 2	Matrix# C-14531, Take 1
March 3, 1914	March 3, 1914
Camden, New Jersey	Camden, New Jersey


Ballin' the Jack	Meadowbrook
Victor Military Band	Victor Military Band
Victor 35405-A	Victor 35405-B
Matrix# C-15221, Take 1	Matrix# C-15223, Take 1
September 25, 1914	September 25, 1914
Camden, New Jersey	Camden, New Jersey
Note: Played at 78 RPM.	Note: Played at 78 RPM.


Riverside Bells Waltz	Youth and Beauty Waltz
McKee's Orchestra	McKee's Orchestra
Victor 35526-A	Victor 35526-B
Matrix# C-17061, Take 3	Matrix# C-17060, Take 3
January 25, 1916	January 25, 1916
New York, New York	New York, New York
Note: Worn.	Note: Worn.


Gems from "Have a Heart" I'm So Busy And I'm All Alone The Road that Lies Honeymoon Inn You Said Something	Gems from "Love 'o Mike" Look in the Book It Wasn't My Fault Drift With Me We'll See I Wonder Why
Victor Light Opera Company	Victor Light Opera Company
Victor 35624-A	Victor 35624-B
Matrix# C-19309, Take 3	Matrix# C-19308, Take 2
February 23, 1917	February 23, 1917
Camden, New Jersey	Camden, New Jersey


Gems from "Rainbow Girl" My Rainbow Girl Just You Alone I'll Think of You Mister Drummer Man I'll Think of You	Gems from "Rock-a-bye Baby" The Big Spring Drive Lullaby Little Tune, Go Away The Kettle Song There's No Better Use for Time Than Kissing
Victor Light Opera Company	Victor Light Opera Company
Victor 35677-A	Victor 35677-B
Matrix# C-21997, Take 3	Matrix# C-21998, Take 5
June 20, 1918	June 26, 1918
Camden, New Jersey	Camden, New Jersey


Oh, My Dear!	Somebody's Sweetheart and Good Morning, Judge
Joseph C. Smith's Orchestra	Joseph C. Smith's Orchestra
Victor 35690-A	Victor 35690-B
Matrix# C-22395, Take 2	Matrix# C-22749, Take 2
March 4, 1919	April 23, 1919
New York, New York	New York, New York


Gems from "Listen Lester" Show a Little Something New Oh! You Sweet Stuff When Shadows Fall I'd Love To Waiting	Gems from "Somebody's Sweetheart" Twinkle On Wings of Doubt In the Old Fashioned Way Girl of My Heart It Gets Them All
Victor Light Opera Company	Victor Light Opera Company
Victor 35691-A	Victor 35691-B
Matrix# C-23002, Take 5	Matrix# C-23003, Take 2
June 13, 1919	June 13, 1919
Camden, New Jersey	Camden, New Jersey


Gems from "Apple Blossoms" The Second Violin You Are Free When the Wedding Bells are Ringing Brothers Star of Love Little Girls, Good-bye	Gems from "Irene" The Last Part of Ev'ry Party Alice Blue Gown Castle of Dreams Irene
Victor Light Opera Company	Victor Light Opera Company
Victor 35697-A	Victor 35697-B
Matrix# C-24137, Take 2	Matrix# C-24140, Take 3
May 19, 1920	May 20, 1920
Camden, New Jersey	Camden, New Jersey


Grieving for You - Feather Your Nest	My Wonder Girl - Coral Sea
Paul Whiteman and His Ambassador Orchestra	Paul Whiteman and His Ambassador Orchestra
Victor 35703-A	Victor 35703-B
Matrix# C-24556, Take 1	Matrix# C-24557, Take 4
October 28, 1920	October 28, 1920
New York, New York	New York, New York


Address at Hoboken on return for burial of 5,212 American Soldiers, Sailors, Marines and Nurses, May 23, 1921	Address at Washington at opening of International Conference for Limitation of Armament, November 12, 1921
Warren G. Harding	Warren G. Harding
Victor 35718-A	Victor 35718-B
Matrix# C-26488, Take 2	Matrix# C-26489, Take 2
May 24, 1922	May 24, 1922
Washington, D.C., White House, President's Study	Washington, D.C., White House, President's Study


Sportsmanship	God Bless The Prince of Wales with the Regimental Marches of the "Grenadier Guards", "Scots Guards", "Welsh Guards", "Irish Guards" and "Coldstream Guards"
H.R.H. Edward, The Prince of Wales	The Band of H.M. Coldstream Guards
Victor 35746-A	Victor 35746-B
Matrix# Cc-4815, Take 1	Matrix# Cc-4855, Take 2
July 1, 1924	July 12, 1924
London, England. York House.	London, England
	Note: Side-A label erroneously affixed.


Virginia Reel	Plain Quadrille (Ticknor's)
Henry Ford's Old Time Dance Orchestra	Henry Ford's Old Time Dance Orchestra
Victor 35771-A	Victor 35771-B
Matrix# CVE-34321, Take 2	Matrix# CVE-34320, Take 2
January 12, 1926	January 12, 1926
New York, New York	New York, New York


When Day Is Done	Soliloquy
Paul Whiteman and His Concert Orchestra	Paul Whiteman and His Concert Orchestra
Victor 35828-A	Victor 35828-B
Matrix# CVE-39227, Take 2 (noted as "Destroyed" in the EDVR, Take 3 as "Master")	Matrix# CVE-39228, Take 2
June 8, 1927	June 8, 1927
New York, New York	New York, New York


Among My Souvenirs	Washboard Blues (vocal by Hoagy Carmichael)
Paul Whiteman and His Concert Orchestra	Paul Whiteman and His Concert Orchestra
Victor 35877-A	Victor 35877-B
Matrix# CVE-40934, Take 4	Matrix# CVE-40901, Take 1
November 22, 1927	November 18, 1927
Chicago, Illinois. 952 North Michigan Ave.	Chicago, Illinois. 952 North Michigan Ave.


Together	My Heart Stood Still
Paul Whiteman and His Concert Orchestra	Paul Whiteman and His Concert Orchestra
Victor 35883-A	Victor 35883-B
Matrix# CVE-41635, Take 3	Matrix# CVE-41465, Take 3
January 21, 1928	January 24, 1928
New York, New York. Liederkranz Hall.	Camden, New Jersey. Church Building.
	Note: Recorded in-studio with high gain. 60 Hz electrical hum filtered. High-pitched whistle towards end filtered.


Ol' Man River (with Paul Robeson)	Selections from "Show Boat" Why Do I Love You? Can't Help Lovin' Dat Man You Are Love Make-Believe
Paul Whiteman and His Concert Orchestra	Paul Whiteman and His Concert Orchestra
Victor 35912-A	Victor 35912-B
Matrix# CVE-43122, Take 3	Matrix# CVE-43123, Take 2
March 1, 1928	March 1, 1928
New York, New York	New York, New York
Note: Dig from 0:28-0:35.


Washboard Blues	High Water
Paul Whiteman and His Concert Orchestra	Paul Whiteman and His Concert Orchestra
Victor 36186-A	Victor 36186-B
Matrix# CVE-40901, Take 1	Matrix# CVE-43117, Take 3
November 18, 1927	February 28, 1928
Chicago, Illinois	New York, New York
Note: re-issue of Victor 35877-B	Note: re-issue of Victor 35992-A

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