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Regal
78 Association for Collectors of 78 Records issued by or pertaining to The Salvation
Army
Colin Waller
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Between 1927 and 1958, The Salvation Army in conjunction with The Columbia Gramophone Company Ltd. (latterly a component subsidiary of EMI Ltd.), issued two hundred and twenty 78 rpm records featuring various Headquarters and Corps musical sections, instrumental and vocal soloists and the voices of three Generals. The first recordings were issues on the Regal label with "G and
MR" series prefixes and a maroon label, later Army sections appeared on Regal Zonophone with a dark green, red and gold label. In May 1935 the
Regal Zonophone Salvation Army Record appeared with a royal blue and gold label incorporating the crest and MF series suffix. The Swedish and U.S.A. Eastern and Central Territories also issued their own series of 78 records. In addition to these 'official' records there were several private recordings, which were made in conjunction with overseas tours or as a fund raising venture by the Corps concerned. With the advent of the LP and CD, 78's are no longer played or collected by the majority of people and many have been dumped or destroyed. There are however a small number of enthusiasts who collect and enjoy these records and to this end the Regal 78 Association has been formed.
The aims of the Association are:
To provide a forum whereby collectors of Salvation Army 78 rpm records and other relevant vintage sound media can exchange sale,
swap or want lists and provide opportunity to preserve this aspect of Salvation Army history. . To maintain links with former Salvationists. To use this common interest to bring others under the influence of the Gospel.
Most of our activities cover the two hundred or so S.A. 78's issued on the various Regal labels between 1927 and 1957, and we have been able to locate and compile a full listing of these complete with recording dates, matrix numbers
and full details of content etc. Additionally we are slowly uncovering details of records and cylinders issued between 1897 and 1927 as well as other commercial, overseas and private UK 78's featuring
S.A. soloists and sections. Of particular interest has been the discovery of a previously forgotten recording of William Booth made in February 1898 whilst he was in the U.S.A. This record featured in the first U.K. releases of The Gramophone Company Ltd., forerunner of today's EMI, issued in June of that same year. Information also shows that Bandmaster Caleb Burgess paid the first of several visits to the first London recording studio on its second day of operation, August 8th 1898, to record the cornet solo My Pilot O'er Life's Sea. Unfortunately copies of both records have yet to be located. The Association also details recordings which contain references to the Salvation Army or feature former Salvationists e.g. Gipsy Smith.
At present the Association has forty-one members, the majority of them resident in the U.K. with one Canadian, two Australians and two Americans. A quarterly newsletter containing 78 gossip and features on the various sections, soloists and personalities along with
swap, sale and want lists is published. We confine ourselves to recordings issues prior to 1958, the end of the
S.A. Regal era (or later provided it is a 78 rpm disc).
For details and a newsletter, please contact Mr C.R.Waller, 22 Bourtree Road, Hamilton,
M13 8PT, Scotland. |
|
| Editorial |
| Salvation
Army Philatelic Circle |
| Regal
78 Association |
| The
Christmas Kettles |
| The S.A. and The Third Reich |
| Thomas
Giles - Cornet Soloist |
| Weston-super-Mare
and the S.A. |
| Interesting
Publications |
| Salvation
Army Heritage Centres |
| The
Booth Family Tree |
| Ridgway
Portrait Plates & Plaques |
| Rare
and Interesting S.A. Postcards |
| Introduction
to S.A. Orders & Medals |
| The
Story of The Horridge Museum |
| In
Memory of Ernest Titmus |
