Music recorded in February 1915
February 1915 was a month in which the war expanded geographically and popular culture became more visible. On the Eastern Front, the Second Battle of the Masurian Lakes took place from February 8 to 22, inflicting heavy losses on the Russian Imperial Army. On February 15, the Singapore Mutiny broke out in British Singapore, exposing the tensions between colonial rule and wartime mobilization. On February 19, the fleets of the British Empire and the French Republic launched an attack on the Dardanelles, marking the beginning of the phase that would later lead to the Gallipoli Campaign. On February 20, the Panama-Pacific International Exposition opened in San Francisco, showcasing the completion of the Panama Canal and the city's reconstruction after the 1906 earthquake to the international community. Culturally, on February 8, David Wolk Griffith's (1875–1948) film "The Birth of a Nation" premiered in Los Angeles, marking a technological turning point in film history, but also generating strong criticism regarding its racially discriminatory representations.
Confirmed recordings this month: 0
Summary of information regarding the recording from February 1915
February 1915 was a busy month for the recording industry, marked by the recovery of Thomas A. Edison, Inc. after a fire, the response to the demand for dance records, and the simultaneous expansion of sales networks and the introduction of new equipment. Available records from that month show the resumption of disc and cylinder supply, announcements of new releases for March, in-store demonstrations and advertising campaigns, and reorganization of agency networks across various companies. The continued demand for dance music was particularly evident in the new release announcements and sales presentations of the Victor Talking Machine Company and the Columbia Graphophone Company. Below, we will list only the companies whose activities in February 1915 could be directly confirmed from primary sources or contemporary industry documents.
Edison
At Thomas A. Edison, Inc., recovery and the resumption of shipments proceeded rapidly even after the great fire of December 1914. The January 1915 issue of "Edison Phonograph Monthly" explained that most of the master discs and molds had been preserved, that Blue Amberol Records would begin production on January 2nd, with shipments starting in mid-January, and that the $30 Amberol would begin shipping around February 1st. Furthermore, the February 15, 1915 issue of "The Talking Machine World" reported that there was a record shortage at the Edison Shop in Detroit until February 1st, but that new products arrived afterward, and demonstrations were being held at schools, churches, and clubs. The same issue also mentions that the first annual meeting of the Edison Disc Jobbers' Association was held on February 8th at the Knickerbocker Hotel in New York, confirming that Edison was simultaneously working on restoring production and reorganizing sales channels in February 1915.
- https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Audio/Edison-Phonograph/Edison-Phonograph-Monthly-1915-Vol-13.pdf
- https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-Talking-Machine/10s/Talking-Machine-1915-02.pdf
Victor
The Victor Talking Machine Company announced its new releases for March in the February 15, 1915 issue of "The Talking Machine World," indicating that dance records remained their main focus. The "MARCH DANCE RECORDS" listed included "Chin-Chin Medley," "Watch Your Step-Medley," and "Chinatown, My Chinatown-Medley" by the Victor Military Band (dates of birth and death unknown). The same issue's Lima, Ohio correspondent also reported that Hermans' store held a dance demonstration in-store on February 6, showcasing Victrola as a medium for dance music. In February 1915, Victor strengthened its ties with popular dance through both its selection of new releases and in-store demonstrations.
Columbia
The Columbia Graphophone Company was active in both expanding its distribution network and promoting records in February 1915. The February 15, 1915 issue of The Talking Machine World reported that the Cable Piano Company in Toledo had begun carrying the full line of Columbia products. The same issue also confirms that Columbia stores in St. Louis were advertising dance records and promoting them with rotating display windows. Furthermore, the March new releases section of the same issue featured vocal recordings by Margarete Matzenauer (1881–1963), Edward Johnson (1878–1959), and Eleonora de Cisneros (1878–1934), alongside foxtrot and one-step records by the Prince's Band (dates of birth and death unknown). It can be said that Columbia in February 1915 was promoting both high-quality vocal recordings and dance records in parallel.
putty
The Pathé Frères Phonograph Company was expanding its distribution network by February 1915. The February 15, 1915 issue of The Talking Machine World reported that the Story & Clark Piano Company would be carrying Pathé phones and Pathé records in its stores in Chicago, Detroit, Cleveland, Pittsburgh, and St. Louis, and that Schuler Bros. (dates of birth and death unknown), CW Snow & Company, and Fisher Piano Company would also begin carrying them. This is a move by Pathé that can be directly confirmed from primary sources in February 1915 as part of its distribution expansion.
Aeolian
The Aeolian Company of America was rolling out the Aeolian Vocalion in various locations in February 1915. The St. Louis correspondent in the February 15, 1915 issue of The Talking Machine World reported that the introduction of the Aeolian Vocalion and the advertising campaign had begun at the start of the month. A Cincinnati correspondent further noted that the first shipment had arrived and was scheduled to be put into regional markets within a few days. While what can be confirmed in February 1915 is not the recording production itself, but the market introduction and promotional activities for the new model, these activities are clearly verifiable as part of the company's activities that month.
