Music recorded in June 1925

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Music recorded in June 1925

June 1925 was a month of political, industrial, cultural, and disaster events coinciding in various parts of the world. On June 3, the Goodyear Pilgrim airship of The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company made its maiden flight, and on June 6, the Chrysler Corporation, led by Walter P. Chrysler (1875–1940), was established. On June 17, the Protocol for the Prohibition of the Use in War of Asphyxiating, Poisonous or Other Gases, and of Bacteriological Methods of Warfare was signed in Geneva, and on June 23, the Shaki incident occurred in China amid the aftermath of the May 31 Movement, further expanding the Guangzhou-Hong Kong strike. On June 25, Theodoros Pangalos (1878–1952) seized power in a coup in Greece; on June 26, Charlie Chaplin's (1889–1977) "The Gold Rush" premiered; and on June 29, the 1925 Santa Barbara earthquake struck California, USA, causing extensive damage to the city.

Confirmed recordings this month: 0

Summary of information regarding the June 1925 recording.

June 1925 was a month in the recording industry when the transition to electrical recording suddenly became apparent. From the release materials of the month and later matrix analyses, it can be confirmed that electrical recordings were being sold and put into practical use at Victor Talking Machine Company, Columbia Phonograph Co., Inc., and Brunswick-Balke-Collender Company. On the other hand, Thomas A. Edison, Inc. continued to improve mechanical recording and operate existing systems, so even though it was the same month of June, the paths of each company were quite different. Furthermore, General Phonograph Corporation's OKeh Records, Starr Piano Co.'s Gennett Records, and Brunswick-Balke-Collender Company's Vocalion continued diverse recording activities, including ethnic and regional music.

Victor

Following its agreement to introduce the Western Electric system in March 1925, the Victor Talking Machine Company entered the practical stage of electrical recording by June. According to Allan Sutton's analysis, the company released its first commercially produced electrical recording in May, and "Orange Airs Medley," recorded in Camden on June 17, is considered one of the earliest electrical recordings. In June, Victor can be seen as a pioneering company that began to make electrical recording the core of its new products.

Columbia

Columbia Phonograph Co., Inc. continued supplying electro-recorded records in June, following the launch of the initial electro-recorded records in May 1925. According to Allan Sutton's notes, the initial electro-recorded records listed in new release catalogs at the time did not yet bear the "Viva-tonal" name, indicating that the actual change in recording method preceded the product name in June. In June, Columbia was in the process of distributing electro-recorded records to the market while later branding the new method.

Brunswick

At the Brunswick-Balke-Collender Company, commercial masters were being produced using electrophonic recording from April 7, 1925, and discs that would later be confirmed as electrophonic recordings already appeared in the industry's new release catalog in June. However, it cannot be confirmed that the company had fully adopted the new method by June, and it appears to have been a transitional period in which the change in the recording process was preceded. In June, Brunswick was at the forefront of electrophonic recording, alongside Victor and Columbia, but its methods of announcing this change were still in the transitional stages.

Vocalion

Vocalion, under the Brunswick-Balke-Collender Company, began creating electro-recorded masters on May 2, 1925, after the acquisition, but as of June 1925, it was still in a transitional period where mechanical recording was also being used. The Discography of American Historical Recordings confirms recordings of "Jarabe tapatío" and "Himno nacional mexicana" by the Vocalion Concert Band on June 29, 1925, indicating that Vocalion was continuing actual production in June, including folk and regional repertoire.

Edison

In contrast to other companies that were switching to electro-recording, Thomas A. Edison, Inc. continued to improve its mechanical recording methods and maintain existing processes as of June 1925. On June 26, a regular session with Anna Pinto (dates of birth and death unknown) on a 125-foot horn took place, but this did not result in any published records. On the other hand, recordings of "Automobile Polka" and "Flower of the Rocks" by the Piedmont Trio were confirmed on June 30, making it clear that the company had not ceased recording activities in June. In June, Edison focused more on extending and reorganizing existing technologies than on changing methods.

OK

On June 29, 1925, OKeh Records, a label of General Phonograph Corporation, recorded songs such as "Mabel (See What You've Done)" and "Camilla (When You Go, Please Don't Come Back)" with the Cole Jazz Trio, featuring Sam Manning (dates of birth and death unknown). These were released as OKeh 65004 and 65005, clearly demonstrating the company's market strategy of commercializing Caribbean and immigrant repertoire in New York. In June, OKeh was steadily expanding its presence not only in the mainstream popular music market but also in recordings for diaspora communities.

Jennette

Gennett Records, a subsidiary of Starr Piano Co., recorded religious and vocal music on June 13, 1925, and "I miss my sweetie (My Swiss miss misses me)" by the Nathan Glantz Orchestra on June 30. Multiple sessions can be found from mid-June to the end of the month, confirming that the company's recording operations continued throughout that month. In June, Gennett can be seen as a company that maintained its existing production network while supplying a diverse repertoire, operating on a different axis than the major companies' shift to electronic recording.

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