Old Cylinder Recordings

[Mike]

I found a link about a restoration project of old cylinder recordings:

http://cylinders.library.ucsb.edu

I had to try the search several times before it worked. The search box on the right side finally worked. Unfortunately I can't get mp3s on this webtv gadget. Pshaw! If anybody hears something interesting please advise. (Laura, there are 2 songs by Al Jolson listed). Mike

[Maxwell]

I heard about this site a few days ago from a Dixieland Jazz mailing group I subscribe to, and have been playing along with it. I spent an hour or two searching for stuff on Friday but I decided to go by year at 1890.

One of the things I found out pretty quickly is that, at least for the older cylinders listed, there are no .mp3s availalbe. I haven't tried searching by artist yet. That might be a project for winter break.

In a related area, I can hardly wait for the laser technology they're using to preserve the sounds on cylinders is perfected. It sounds as if they'll be able to get past a lot of the surface noise but not lose certain frequencies in the process, something that drives me nuts on CD reissues of old records.