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Merry Christmas to you as well! Glad you enjoy the music!

I love sharing my joy for these records, I'm glad you enjoy it. Merry Christmas to you too!

"The Old Piano Roll Blues" was issue on disc 15003, it was the first Cook disc on the label, and the first and biggest hit Abbey ever had. It charted for 11 weeks, peaking at number 13. Cook was the best-selling artist for Abbey, and most of his discs were reissued in Canada on Quality. I only have three discs on Abbey, two of them being by Lawrence Cook.

@theshellacstation78 good to know

By a player piano I would assume, I read some rolls also had extra holes punched for notes that would be otherwise impossible for a single human to record.

@theshellacstation78 makes sense

It's unfortunately just how time is, but we are fortunate to have a memory of these people from a moment in time preserved for future generations. I think what's more saddening to me all the people who don't have something like this to carry on their legacy in some way

It is a lovely one, always fun to collect new labels.

Oh I have no intention of doing so I assure you

you bet

Possibly, I don't usually listen to music from the 60s, but it was not uncommon for standards like these to be covered then, and even later on.

@@wmbrown6 It's a fascinating piece of history

Well you'll find plenty of it on my channel!

Of course! It's a lovely song

@@theshellacstation78 Indeed! ⭐️

The Goodman cover with Liza Morrow is also a great one

@@theshellacstation78 yeah I've heard it several times in the last day

Were the personal the same throughout those 20 sides?

@@theshellacstation78 Nope, there were five sessions between December 1938 and December 1939. Hymie played on two, Dave Matthews and Toots Mondello on the others. Babe Russin played on one session, Arthur Rollini the other four, Harry Goodman was the bass on the first, Artie Bernstein on the rest instead of Joe; Milt Raskin and Johnnie Guarnieri replaced Jess on the last two sessions and Nick Fatool licked the skins instead of Al on the final two sessions.

Thank you, I didn't figure they were, but wanted to check.

Glad you liked it!

It seems like I've had the whole family comment now! Glad you enjoyed it Eileen. This record definitely really stands out in my collection, especially now.

Wow! What an honor it is to get the chance to speak with any 78 rpm artist! If I recall correctly I bought this at a record store in Little Rock called "Been-Around Records & C D's." Over my fall break from school my father and I had been traveling through Arkansas and then into Memphis and Southhaven hunting for 78s. I saw this record and knew I had to buy it, I enjoy collecting a lot of these smaller labels like these, and "Peace In The Valley" is one of my favorite gospel songs. So this is the only record ever released on the label then, that is good to know. Now, if you're interested in discussing it, I can't help but have quite a few more questions: Did you ever record elsewhere for any other label, or perform for radio? How was this record distributed, was it sold primarily by that visiting evangelist? Do you recall the name of the recording studio? How was the process of creating the label, and who pressed them? Was this only on 78 or was it issued on 45 as well? What was it like recording? Sorry for the all questions, but information about labels like these is so scarcely available, and I have never had the honor of actually speaking to anyone who recorded 78 before. Thank you so much for commenting!

@@theshellacstation78 I'm happy to answer questions I can. Unfortunately, the business of securing the company to produce the record was handled by my older sister and our pastor Reverend Blount and I have no recollection of who it might have been. Most of the sales came from friends in our church and quite frankly I suspect we gave most of them away. We made a few recordings at the same local studio but just single copies for our own use. We were guest singers at many area churches and performed a monthly program for a period of time at a local VA Hospital. Most of our programs were hymns and gospel songs with we did have a few popular numbers we did for secular occasions. Recording a 78 was simply singing into a mike, I guess not much different than any recording. No, we never converted the 78 into a 45. We were guests on radio a few tiimes but never on a regular basis. Many memories have come to mind in thinking about this time in my life and a bit sad to know I'm the lone survivor of anyone involved in the process. At 89 I'm thankful for reasonably good health and lots of great memories. If I can answer any other question for you just let me know.

@@theshellacstation78 I replied to your inquiries yesterday but don't see it noted here so perhaps I didn't punch the right buttons and I'll make another attempt. The visiting minister who insisted we make the record possibly sold a few and some were purchased locally by our church family and friends but I think we likely gave most of them away and we certainly never attempted another commercial recording. We made a few at that same local studio but just to keep for our own memories. We never converted to 45's. The business dealings of production of our record were handled by my older sister and Reverend Blount and I have no recollection of what company may have done the actual pressing. Sadly, there are no surviving persons involved in the process that could answer that question. We never had a desire to sing professionally. I think we realized we were not that accomplished and certainly would not have been a threat to the Maquire Sisters! We sang mostly hymns and gospel music in area churches and in our own church. In thinking back on those days, we may have been invited to sing in all those places because we never charged a fee!! Making a 78 recording was much the same as any other. We just sang into a mike and the guy on the other side of the glass did the rest. I'm glad you like "Peace in the Valley." Reverend Blount was an accomplished singer besides being a minister. It pleases me to know of your interest and I'll be happy to address any questions I can.

I noticed your first reply earlier this morning, for some reason it is a bit hidden, and so I had to look at a specific area to find it. Not anything of your doing, things can just be a bit odd at times. Pardon me for not replying a bit sooner, but I was at school and didn't have time to properly formulate a reply. All of this information has been so helpful, and it tells a tale that would have likely gone untold to most people had you not written it here! I think that others who stumble upon this recording will appreciate it. I had stumbled across your name in Reverend Blount's obituary, but I was thrown off by the fact that you were listed as his daughter-in-law. You've really made this record stand out to me even more than it already did. It's curious how this was only made on a 78, despite being from 1956 or '57, perhaps it was just cheaper? Could you make any guess on about how many copies were made/ordered, maybe 100 total? I know you said it didn't prove very popular among the other congregations the evangelist visited, and so I'm curious how many even exist today. I know you said that your sister and Reverend Blount handled the production of the record, but do you recall the inspiration for the name Ambassador, or design of the label, things like that? I'm sure you'd have so many great stories to tell, just generally. It's a very rare treat for me to get to speak with someone who was around back in the 1950s, I'm only 18 and I can't say I've had the privilege of meeting many people who are 89! This is also very interesting because it all happened not very far away from me, as I live in northeastern Oklahoma and Little Rock is only about three-and-a-half hours away.

I believe our original order was for 100 with the assurance we could order more if needed. Obviously more were not needed. As to why 78's rather than 45's you may be correct that they were cheaper. Since we were funding the venture we had to consider costs. I just don't have any recollection of the Ambassador Label selection. I may not have been included in that decision. I wouldn't be surprised if you and I have the only two records that exist today. I have kept one as a keepsake but I have no way of knowing who else might have one. I'm sure you found it in the record shop because someone was cleaning out and didn't know what to do with it. I can understand why the daughter-in-law reference in the Blount obituary was confusing. I married his son Bob a few years after the record was made. Bob passed away almost four years ago, a few days short of our 60th wedding anniversary. I've really enjoyed sharing what I remember and helped solve some of the mystery of our record for you. Sorry for the facts I can't supply but if you have other questions I'll be glad to give it my best. Best wishes.

Also worth noting that the flip side's artist, WA Blount, was my grandfather

Glad to hear she's doing well! Does she happen to recall when she and her sisters recorded this?

Wow, awesome to see you here John! Do you know anything else this record?

Yes he does! Although, that 1952 song is a completely composition of the same name, as mentioned in the description.

@@theshellacstation78 Ope, you're right. I dont know how I read that and then didn't get put the peices together.

Yes, I was a bit disappointed that is wasn't a vocal cover, just an instrumental cover, but it's quite a good one! As of present this is my only disc by him, at least with his own orchestra.

@@theshellacstation78 to my knowledge, he never recorded solo without his orchestra, only elsewhere with TD.

Yes, I mean his orchestra as opposed to Dorsey's or Goodman's

@@theshellacstation78 Most decisions are made the recording studio chief!