Melba toast. Peach Melba. Melba sauce. Why are we listing foodstuffs (and sounding a bit like Alan Partridge in the process)? Because they are all named after the subject of this episode of The Sound of the Hound, Nellie Melba. The soprano was one of the most famous singers of the era – and itContinue reading “Diva Alert! Fred records Nellie Melba: A peach of a new podcast episode. Listen now!”
Tag Archives: fred gaisberg
New podcast episode in which we tell the tale of the UK recording industry’s Employee #1. William Barry Owen.
With these episodes focusing on the life and work of the mighty Fred Gaisberg, we may have given the impression that he was his own boss. That would be wrong. Working for The Gramophone Company in London, Fred was answerable to a man called William Barry Owen. In this episode we tell Owen’s story. ItContinue reading “New podcast episode in which we tell the tale of the UK recording industry’s Employee #1. William Barry Owen.”
James Hall finally tells all about his book The Industry Of Human Happiness – its the new episode of The Sound Of The Hound podcast!
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, andContinue reading “James Hall finally tells all about his book The Industry Of Human Happiness – its the new episode of The Sound Of The Hound podcast!”
Fred Gaisberg records the Great Caruso and kickstarts the modern record business – our new podcast episode out today
It’s the spring of 1902. Italian tenor Enrico Caruso is due to sing in Covent Garden later in the year, and Fred and Will are still in Milan desperate to record him. Their plan – in what predates the now-ubiquitous music industry ‘360’ marketing deal by over 100 years – is to print the masterContinue reading “Fred Gaisberg records the Great Caruso and kickstarts the modern record business – our new podcast episode out today”
When Fred Gaisberg set the Vatican on fire
Fred Gaisberg and his brother Will had been sebt to Milan in early 1902 to try to entice the superstar opera singer Enrico Caruso. When he was playing hard to get the brothers headed to Rome with the hope of recording the Pope. That proved impossible but they did get to record the last castratoContinue reading “When Fred Gaisberg set the Vatican on fire”
The Last Castrato – if you are going to listen to one episode of our podcast this is the one!
Fred and his brother William travel to Milan in 1902 with the aim of convincing opera superstar Enrico Caruso to record for them. However Caruso is busy and non-committal, so the men seek out other forms of sound to record while they wait for an answer. Aiming high, they approach the Pope to ask ifContinue reading “The Last Castrato – if you are going to listen to one episode of our podcast this is the one!”
New podcast episode – Gaisberg returns to Russia, his girlfriend says Ta Ta, he goes to record Tatars!
After the mixed success of the recording trip to Russia in 1900, it is a curious decision of Fred’s to return to the country the following year. But back he goes – twice – with a point to prove. Still waiting for that elusive breakthrough, The Gramophone Company has diversified into typewriters and Fred’s notContinue reading “New podcast episode – Gaisberg returns to Russia, his girlfriend says Ta Ta, he goes to record Tatars!”
New podcast episode – Fred Gaisberg heads east to pre-revolutionary Russia
Today we publish the first of two episodes following Fred on recording expeditions to Russia. In early 1900, with their bosses dissatisfied with what they’ve recorded to date, Fred and his colleague William Sinkler Darby are under pressure to find fascinating sounds. Their agents in St Petersburg, charged with finding singers and musicians, are uselessContinue reading “New podcast episode – Fred Gaisberg heads east to pre-revolutionary Russia”
Recording pioneers- Part 8, William Conrad Gaisberg
“We realised how many different degrees of smells there are in the world” -William Gaisberg’s observation of Hyderabad, India Name: William Conrad Gaisberg Born: 26th June 1877 Resident: Born in Washington DC, USA Occupation: Recording engineer, managing director & head of London Recording Department Loves: Travelling, opera, pushing the boundaries of music and his brother (Fred) In 1894, Fred GaisbergContinue reading “Recording pioneers- Part 8, William Conrad Gaisberg”
Friday Mystery Object of the week #7 Answer
And the answer is….A Klingsor gramophone, well done to those of you who answered correctly!
Sound Of The Hound 