Music recorded in December 1917

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Music recorded in December 1917

December 1917 was a month in which the repercussions of World War I and the Russian Revolution were felt simultaneously in various places. On December 6, the Finnish Parliament recognized the declaration of independence, and on the same day, an ammunition ship explosion in Halifax, Canada, caused immense damage to the port city. In the Middle East, Jerusalem surrendered on December 9 amid the advance of British forces led by Edmund Henry Hynman Allenby (1861–1936). On the Eastern Front, an armistice was reached in Brest-Litovsk on December 15, and peace negotiations began on December 22. In Russia, the All-Russian Extraordinary Commission for Combating Counter-Revolution and Sabotage was established on December 20, and in the United States, the Woodrow Wilson (1856–1924) administration placed the railroads under federal control on December 26. Furthermore, the National Hockey League held its first official game on December 19, indicating progress in institutionalizing new forms of popular entertainment even during wartime.

Confirmed recordings this month: 0

Summary of information regarding recordings from December 1917

Based on publicly available contemporary sources, the recording industry in December 1917 can be identified more through monthly new release announcements, school demand, military use, year-end sales, and expansion of sales channels than through individual recording dates themselves. The December 1917 issue of "The Talking Machine World" features December new release announcements from Victor Talking Machine Co. and Columbia Graphophone Co., and Thomas A. Edison, Inc. is seen promoting the use of military models and recruiting sales personnel. In addition, industry articles and advertisements in the same issue confirm year-end demand and expansion of sales channels for Aeolian-Vocalion Co. and Brunswick-Balke-Collender Co.

Victor

Regarding Victor Talking Machine Co., the December 1917 issue of "The Talking Machine World" features a section titled "RECORD BULLETINS FOR DECEMBER, 1917," which lists new releases for that month. The same issue also reports on the company's education division's increased sales of Victrola records to schools that autumn, confirming the growing demand for educational purposes. In December 1917, Victor was simultaneously focusing on supplying new entertainment records and expanding its school market.

Columbia

The Columbia Graphophone Co. also had its December new releases listed in the December 1917 issue of "The Talking Machine World." Furthermore, the same issue reported that Steger-Dodgeon in New Bedford, Massachusetts, had opened a new sales outlet for Columbia Grafoñora and records, equipped with eight soundproof listening rooms and regular concerts. In December 1917, Columbia's activities can be seen in both the supply of new releases and the strengthening of in-store demonstrations.

Edison

Regarding Thomas A. Edison, Inc., the December 1917 issue of "The Talking Machine World" features an article about soldiers enjoying Edison army and navy phonographs. The article mentions that Arthur Fields (1888–1953) sang, and that a reproduction of the song was played back on a New Edison for comparison. The same issue also includes a job advertisement seeking a sales manager for the New Edison in the Kansas City area, confirming that military applications and the maintenance and expansion of the sales network were proceeding in parallel at that time.

Aeolian Vocalion

Regarding the Aeolian-Vocalion Co., a local article in the December 1917 issue of "The Talking Machine World" reported that Edmund Gram Company in Milwaukee, as the exclusive distributor of the company's products, was anticipating its biggest holiday sales season since its launch. The article also mentioned that sales for each month of that year had exceeded those of the same month of the previous year, confirming that the Aeolian-Vocalion sales were on an upward trend as of December 1917.

Brunswick

The Brunswick-Balke-Collender Co. was featured in an advertisement in the December 1917 issue of "The Talking Machine World," which prominently promoted its full record playback, two soundboxes, and automatic stop mechanism. Furthermore, a local article in the same issue reported that the Wasatch Phonograph Company had been established in Salt Lake City, opening a "Brunswick Shop" and beginning to handle Brunswick phonographs and Pathé records. In December 1917, Brunswick was active in both advertising campaigns emphasizing product features and developing new sales outlets.

November 1917
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