Sunday, April 30, 2017

An Audio Letter from a Sailor

Furst off, I want to thank everyone for the comments, feedback and corrections. I've been getting a good number of comments posted on my recent offerings, and I really appreciate it.

For those who would like to look back at the previous posts for more information than I had initially, a few good folks have left comments clarifying and explaining things about the "Mysterious Hunk of Tape", and the "Blue Material". I have also heard from multiple people about their enjoyment of last week's slide narration, all of whom asked for more, and I will look for more of those among my collection. I know I have a boy scout troop's slide narration already digitized, and I will share that in May.

Every now and then, I will comment back on the page of the post in question, but in most cases, if the poster's name is not included, or doesn't have an e-mail link, I don't know how to get back to him or her. I do often respond to those for whom I have an e-mail address. If you don't (or can't) hear from me, though, please know that your comment is very much appreciated.

And now...
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Here's a neat slice-of-life, featuring the stories and thoughts of a sailor, sending home his love and good wishes on a tiny three inch reel of tape - at the low-sound-quality-but-lots-of-time-affording speed of 1 7/8 inches per second. At that speed, that three inch reel managed to capture over a half hour of recording, and it was cheap to mail, too, weighing barely a few ounces. My collection is full of audio letters on three inch reels, including many that I've shared here and at WFMU.

I'll let you enjoy the highlights of this reel as they unfold - if you've been frequenting this site, my guess is that you'll enjoy it a lot. I'll just say two things: that the tape opens with about two minutes of music, but then the rest is spoken word, and that at the halfway point - when he sings Happy Birthday - that's where the second side of the tape begins.

Enjoy - and by all means, please offer up any comments you might feel like making.

Download: Unknown - Audio Letter from a Sailor
Play:

3 comments:

  1. I often wonder how I'd deal with being in the military, especially in a confined place like a ship. A submarine might be even harder. Thanks for posting this.

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  2. Sorry for arriving late to the party again Bob & whatever spectators perusing your blog.
    I enlisted into the Army just a couple of months after my 17th birthday. I was closer to 16 years than 18 years. I didn't even shave. I had no life experience.
    The first year was difficult to adjust. Lots of homesickness and yearning for familiarity. Letters and calls from home was a big shot in the arm for me, as they are for all servicemen and women.
    Thanks for this fine recording, Bob. All your recordings are winners in their various and unique ways.

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  3. It seems that many people sending taped letters wrote a letter and read it, or at least made notes before recording. This would seem to defeat the purpose of a tape other than hearing the person's voice, which a written letter cannot do.

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