Kansas City Kitty Edison 5716 Billy Murray and His Merry Melody Men
Kansas City Kitty
Billy Murray and His Merry Melody Men
Edison 5716
Cylinder played on my Edison Model 50.
This is among the rarest of all Blue Amberols because it was released in June 1929, and cylinder production ended on July 6, 1929. According to original inventory forms, only 102 copies of this particular cylinder were ever produced, and far fewer than that were ever sold to the public. The remaining unsold cylinders were destroyed at the end of 1929, when Edison shut down the production of records and cylinders. There are very few existing 5716 cylinders and the few other cylinders released in June 1929.
Also special about this cylinder is that it is one of only a handful of Blue Amberol cylinders that were electrically-dubbed from an electrically-recorded Edison Diamond Disc. Only Blue Amberols from around catalogue number 5650 and up were electrically-dubbed, and very few copies of any electrically-dubbed cylinders were produced, so it is extremely difficult to find an example of a true electrically-recorded cylinder..
William Thomas \"Billy\" Murray (May 25, 1877 – August 17, 1954) was one of the most popular singers in the United States in the early decades of the 20th century. While he received star billing in Vaudeville, he was best known for his prolific work in the recording studio, making records for almost every record label of the era.
Nicknamed \"The Denver Nightingale\", Murray had a strong tenor voice with excellent enunciation and a more conversational delivery than common with bel canto singers of the era. On comic songs he often deliberately sang slightly flat, which he felt helped the comic effect. Although he often performed romantic numbers and ballads which sold well, his comedy and novelty song recordings continue to be popular with later generations of record collectors.
