My mom worked in the office for Customusic when my dad, who worked for Rowe, came in to have a meeting. The rest is romantic history. He worked for Rowe his entire life. She always remembered the music as playing in the background when he walked in the office door.
@@PneumatinisPlaktukas15 - I do not. I know that most if not all were re-recordings by bands/orchestras. I have several in my dad's handwriting here - like reel to reel tapes. He spent his life with Rowe/Rowe AMI - I have lots of history - but lost him a couple years ago so the oral history is gone.
If only the owners of these magnificent "seeburg" channels could do direct capture of the music and not through the camera microphone. So much of the fantastic tunes would be preserved in better quality.
"Attention, shoppers - are you searching for that perfect gift for someone special? Then visit our Giftware department for an outstanding selection of fine merchandise, at prices to fit every pocketbook..."
I have some of these Rowe records. The sound quality is a little better than the Seeburg. They were with a batch of Seeburg records I picked up. Since only Seeburg made the machines that played records for this size spindle I think they were just another division of the Seeburg line. See my vids.
Some of what I've found suggests it wasn't a competing product so much as it was a competing SERVICE. That is, Rowe supplied records compatible with the existing Seeburg background players. Perhaps they offered the service at a lower cost than Seeburg, or perhaps they offered a wider (or just different) selection of material, I don't know. There's precious little information out there.
Question remains did Rowe have its own record machine for these discs. Rowe was under the Umbrella of Atlas Music Company. It could be Atlas made an agreement with Seeburg to feature its Rowe background music in the Seeburg BMS units. This may have been short lived as Customusic was more palatable for tape format and the 16 rpm record did not go over well with the public. So the mystery remains. In 1979 Canteen was formed which used the more efficient and less costly cart playback format. Customusic is still available via the internet.
There is so very little information out there to work with. I believe Rowe/Customusic was just a third-party vendor. There are two more I'm aware of - MTN and Kingtone, and possibly others. If I'm not mistaken, the client would actually buy the Seeburg 1000 machine, and then service for the machine (including repair, maintenance, and update record sets) was a subscription type arrangement. That means that the client could select any competing service to maintain and update the machine. It may be that Rowe was simply a competing service. If the Seeburg 1000 machine was leased, the lease would probably include the maintenance and updates as part of the lease, and of course there would have to be an agreement between Seeburg and the third-party vendor. Not unlike how how long-distance services are implemented in your landline telephone. Obviously, Rowe also offered a tape-based service using Fidelipac-type cartridges, but I was under the impression that it was in service before the date you mention. I could be mistaken, of course. Interestingly, I've seen Rowe Customusic SEVEN INCH BGM records on RUclips. Identical in appearance to 45s, but they ran at 33-1/3 rpm and so would be compatible with a standard automatic changer. The records featured music very similar to this. From what I've seen, three tunes (about 7-1/2 to 8 minutes total) per side. If these were indeed used in a regular automatic changer, then it means someone had to go and restack the records every hour or so. I could see a common jukebox being adapted to play them automatically, though. ruclips.net/video/7gW5hEM9HnE/видео.html I really wish I could find more information about these services and how they worked.
More information has come to light. Rowe introduced tape-based background music systems in 1962 - and the same basic player was used well into the 1970s, probably into the 1980s. Prior to that, Rowe had their own record based background music machine, which played the 7 inch, 33 rpm records I mentioned in my last post. The mechanism was similar to the carousel arrangement used in their jukeboxes; holding 100 records, three tunes per side, for a total of 600 songs. Rowe also made records for the Seeburg 1000 machine as a competing service to Seeburg (one service bulletin refers to the machine as a 'brand 'S' control unit', so definitely competition!). In virtually all details, Rowe's service was identical to Seeburgs, providing 5 records per update, although they never went to a 28-record stack the way Seeburg did in 1966. In fact, based on that same service bulletin, I've been able to tentatively date the record in this video as being in-service most likely from October 1970 to January 1972.
@@20035079 correct. It is a different song. It has one or two’hooks’ that remind the listener of ‘I Not C’ but the differences are obvious two bars in. Similarly it’s *not* ‘Putting on the Ritz’ either!
Sounds about right to my ears, though I would like to know more about how the audio is being digitized -- via direct line feed or camera microphone? Quality is very good regardless, and I'm very glad to see that someone appreciates and is trying to preserve this unique musical genre!
I've been told the stylus and associated groove size has a lot to do with it. The Seeburg records were cut for a slightly-smaller-than-standard 0.5-mil stylus instead of the typical 0.7-mil stylus found in most consumer stereo equipment, making it easier to track higher frequencies at the slower speed. But then, I'm not an engineer, so I might just be talking out of my arse....lol. Seriously, I'm relying on someone who appears to be fairly well-versed on the subject, but i have no way to verify what I was told.
I want to know who the musicians where, I found a seeburg app which does have video of a composer named Sascha Peres and explains how they recorded directly on vinyl then made copys from the master cut. And all this music was played live as it was cut. Amazing
Everything I've found suggests that Rowe was a competing service. I don't believe licensing the record format was necessary, only the music, probably from the same sources Seeburg did. In addition to Rowe, there were at least three other competitors making records for Seeburg's machine - Merrimac, Kingtone, and MTN.
My mom worked in the office for Customusic when my dad, who worked for Rowe, came in to have a meeting. The rest is romantic history. He worked for Rowe his entire life. She always remembered the music as playing in the background when he walked in the office door.
Do you happen to know who arranged these records?
@@PneumatinisPlaktukas15 - I do not. I know that most if not all were re-recordings by bands/orchestras. I have several in my dad's handwriting here - like reel to reel tapes. He spent his life with Rowe/Rowe AMI - I have lots of history - but lost him a couple years ago so the oral history is gone.
@@leahguis8767 That’s unfortunate. If you were wondering, Seeburg’s music was arranged and recorded by The Wrecking Crew in LA.
@@leahguis8767 would you mind uploading those reels when you can get them transferred? I'm sure many people would love hearing them. ;)
If only the owners of these magnificent "seeburg" channels could do direct capture of the music and not through the camera microphone. So much of the fantastic tunes would be preserved in better quality.
You may enjoy my channel
Great Music! So Timeless
"Attention, shoppers - are you searching for that perfect gift for someone special? Then visit our Giftware department for an outstanding selection of fine merchandise, at prices to fit every pocketbook..."
It's a foot-stomping, Impulse-buying good time.
I have some of these Rowe records. The sound quality is a little better than the Seeburg. They were with a batch of Seeburg records I picked up. Since only Seeburg made the machines that played records for this size spindle I think they were just another division of the Seeburg line. See my vids.
Nice quality and very well recorded.
Full length of the discs is 37.5 minutes per side (75min per disc) Here is a long-awaited full-length record ruclips.net/video/iyM13AtZMkc/видео.html
WOW, I had no idea Rowe had a competing unit.
Some of what I've found suggests it wasn't a competing product so much as it was a competing SERVICE. That is, Rowe supplied records compatible with the existing Seeburg background players. Perhaps they offered the service at a lower cost than Seeburg, or perhaps they offered a wider (or just different) selection of material, I don't know. There's precious little information out there.
Question remains did Rowe have its own record machine for these discs. Rowe was under the Umbrella of Atlas Music Company. It could be Atlas made an agreement with Seeburg to feature its Rowe background music in the Seeburg BMS units. This may have been short lived as Customusic was more palatable for tape format and the 16 rpm record did not go over well with the public. So the mystery remains. In 1979 Canteen was formed which used the more efficient and less costly cart playback format. Customusic is still available via the internet.
There is so very little information out there to work with. I believe Rowe/Customusic was just a third-party vendor. There are two more I'm aware of - MTN and Kingtone, and possibly others. If I'm not mistaken, the client would actually buy the Seeburg 1000 machine, and then service for the machine (including repair, maintenance, and update record sets) was a subscription type arrangement. That means that the client could select any competing service to maintain and update the machine. It may be that Rowe was simply a competing service. If the Seeburg 1000 machine was leased, the lease would probably include the maintenance and updates as part of the lease, and of course there would have to be an agreement between Seeburg and the third-party vendor. Not unlike how how long-distance services are implemented in your landline telephone.
Obviously, Rowe also offered a tape-based service using Fidelipac-type cartridges, but I was under the impression that it was in service before the date you mention. I could be mistaken, of course.
Interestingly, I've seen Rowe Customusic SEVEN INCH BGM records on RUclips. Identical in appearance to 45s, but they ran at 33-1/3 rpm and so would be compatible with a standard automatic changer. The records featured music very similar to this. From what I've seen, three tunes (about 7-1/2 to 8 minutes total) per side. If these were indeed used in a regular automatic changer, then it means someone had to go and restack the records every hour or so. I could see a common jukebox being adapted to play them automatically, though.
ruclips.net/video/7gW5hEM9HnE/видео.html
I really wish I could find more information about these services and how they worked.
More information has come to light. Rowe introduced tape-based background music systems in 1962 - and the same basic player was used well into the 1970s, probably into the 1980s. Prior to that, Rowe had their own record based background music machine, which played the 7 inch, 33 rpm records I mentioned in my last post. The mechanism was similar to the carousel arrangement used in their jukeboxes; holding 100 records, three tunes per side, for a total of 600 songs. Rowe also made records for the Seeburg 1000 machine as a competing service to Seeburg (one service bulletin refers to the machine as a 'brand 'S' control unit', so definitely competition!). In virtually all details, Rowe's service was identical to Seeburgs, providing 5 records per update, although they never went to a 28-record stack the way Seeburg did in 1966. In fact, based on that same service bulletin, I've been able to tentatively date the record in this video as being in-service most likely from October 1970 to January 1972.
They did have. I think that I once saw flyer for that machine on eBay.
What is the first tune called? Really great arrangement!
"Istanbul was Constantinople"
Thank you for the info, VinylSpin!
@@VynilSpin The tune sounds a bit different from the song you mentioned. I don't think that's the right song.
"Istanbul (Not Constantinople)".
@@20035079 correct. It is a different song. It has one or two’hooks’ that remind the listener of ‘I Not C’ but the differences are obvious two bars in. Similarly it’s *not* ‘Putting on the Ritz’ either!
I bet radiotvphononut would like to get his hands on these and the special record players
This is nice stuff. Do you plan on uploading a bit more from this record or perhaps any other of the Rowe records you may have?
Here's a full length record from the C9g series ruclips.net/video/iyM13AtZMkc/видео.html
Nice sound quality and has a nice amount of compression, like an AM radio station. I think you get response out to 10KC no problem. Opinions?
Sounds about right to my ears, though I would like to know more about how the audio is being digitized -- via direct line feed or camera microphone? Quality is very good regardless, and I'm very glad to see that someone appreciates and is trying to preserve this unique musical genre!
I wonder how they get any top end at all at 16 RPM, any ideas?
+Mark Anderson most likely pre emphasis on certain frequencies at the mastering stage.
It sounds clean and amazing for low speed.
I've been told the stylus and associated groove size has a lot to do with it. The Seeburg records were cut for a slightly-smaller-than-standard 0.5-mil stylus instead of the typical 0.7-mil stylus found in most consumer stereo equipment, making it easier to track higher frequencies at the slower speed. But then, I'm not an engineer, so I might just be talking out of my arse....lol. Seriously, I'm relying on someone who appears to be fairly well-versed on the subject, but i have no way to verify what I was told.
my Shazam couldn't identify the tunes...
So could it be, that Seeburg licensed the record format to this company, allowing them producing content?
I want to know who the musicians where, I found a seeburg app which does have video of a composer named Sascha Peres and explains how they recorded directly on vinyl then made copys from the master cut. And all this music was played live as it was cut. Amazing
Everything I've found suggests that Rowe was a competing service. I don't believe licensing the record format was necessary, only the music, probably from the same sources Seeburg did. In addition to Rowe, there were at least three other competitors making records for Seeburg's machine - Merrimac, Kingtone, and MTN.
0:02:32 Ballad of Easy Rider
🎶🎶🎶😊
Pretty sure the 1st tune was arranged by the same person who did several Seeburg recordings in the 60s…
This is nice stuff. Do you plan on uploading a bit more from this record or perhaps any other of the Rowe records you may have?
What you have been waiting for (another record though) ruclips.net/video/iyM13AtZMkc/видео.html