This episode is a little bit different. Dave interviews co-host James about his novel on the early days of recorded sound, The Industry of Human Happiness. James tells how he chanced upon the adventures of Fred Gaisberg and William Sinkler Darby in the sleeve notes of a CD that he bought outside a concert, and how they inspired him to write a fictional account of those heady days of format wars, skulduggery and breath-taking invention. James also talks about his campaign to have a commemorative plaque erected on the Maiden Lane building where the industry started (a plaque that was unveiled by Queen drummer Roger Taylor in December 2019).
Links:
How gramophones changed the world forever – James writes in the Telegraph
Blog on the BPI website about the birth of the record industry
https://www.bpi.co.uk/news-analysis/the-industry-of-human-happiness-james-hall-guest-blog/
James writes in the Telegraph about his Maiden Lane commemorative plaque campaign
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/music/news/fight-honour-britains-first-recording-studio/
The Industry of Human Happiness on Amazon
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Sound Of The Hound 