It's been quite a while since I updated the Scotch Tape Box series, mostly because I've barely had time recently to complete posts at all. But today's the day. Last time I updated the series, I acknowledged having accidentally skipped over two designs, and offered up one of those, promising one more to come.
I actually suspect that this one, while coming after the iconic and stark black and gray box they used in for much of the 1950's, actually came before the clock motif one that I shared last time, but there's no way I can be even remotely certain.
Regardless, this one is an absolute favorite, one which they didn't use for very long at all, judging from the frequency with which these boxes turn up (rarely). There's a hell of a lot going on here. The scotch design on the outside edge is still there, and there is a vestige of the grey image of a reel, but if you didn't know what it was, you wouldn't necessarily figure it out.
As to the rest of the box, it's so busy that I'm not surprised they dispensed with it quickly. It says "PE backing", directly over part of the writing on the grey box, and the entire left side of the box is given over to drawings of various kinds of weather, with the phrase "Weather Balanced" in the center. This phrase is also on the edges of the box. I have no idea what that has to do with anything - maybe someone can enlighten me. And like the previous tape box shared, this one again trumpets the fact that the reel has 50% more tape on it than a seven inch reel could previously hold.
I'm guessing they decided this was too complicated to be worthwhile, but I love it.
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Another project, one I have been keeping up with, is the "Very Short Reels" project, which is linked with that phrase at the bottom of this page. This time around, instead of again tacking the short reel onto the end of my post, I'm going to lead off with it, because this is one of my favorite tapes ever. I found it in 1992, most likely at the ALS Mammoth Music Mart, which I've written about multiple times, so won't describe it again.
The five inch box had a cover I would have found irresistible, then and now:
Are you kidding me? Some local ad agency's own tape of an ad produced for some company's Cherry Sauce? And recorded two days after I was born? That's for me.
In most cases when I find something this cool, the actual contents turn out to be something of a disappointment. But not this time. I love old-timey radio advertisements, as my multiple posts of the Star Ads should make clear. And this one is as good as all but the very best of the Star Ads.
It's heard in two versions, a version with the chorus vocals (including a section of individual vocals), but with no voice over, and the version with the spoken voice over. Oddly, perhaps, I prefer the version without the voice over, by far. There is just so much going on in that basic track, The section from 0:10 to 0:18 is masterfully arranged and played. I almost feel like it's spoiled when someone talks over it. I also love the xylophone player getting his part right as the take is announced at the beginning of the backing track version. Finally, I think it's entirely possible that one of these singers later moved over to the Star Ads agency. If you have a listen to some of those ads, particularly the ones featuring the guy I call "the voice" of Star Ads. He's heard here in the first and last ads, and I think he's in this ad, solo, at the 0:48 spot.
One of my favorite things that I've ever found on a reel - The Comstock Cherry Sauce ad by The Gordon Best Company.
Play:
Play:
Always remember: Lighten each dish with extra delish.
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Well, that's a tape I've been enjoying for over 25 years. Here's one I just discovered this week. It was in the middle of a off-the-air recording of Victor Borge's TV show circa late 1958 or 1959. That was enjoyable enough, but basically captured his act, which I adore (I would rank Borge among the top three or four comedians of the century), but which I am extremely familiar with/
However, the show contained several lengthy ads for Pontiac, including, delightfully, one of almost two minutes featuring Bob and Ray, and which I don't believe has ever been anthologized or captured on youtube, etc. So here is that ad, for your dining and dancing pleasure:
Download: Bob and Ray for Pontiac, Circa 1959
Play:
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Next up is a short bit of recording which I found in the middle of someone's recordings of some mid-1950's pop music. Usually that type of tape is wholly uninteresting, containing material that either never needs to be heard again (ahem, Mantovani), or which is readily available on youtube, or things that qualify for both of those descriptions.
And yet, here was an absolutely lovely little 7 1/2 minute blast of a happy family (or perhaps family and friends), singing together fairly joyously at times. There are several children present and someone playing a guitar. After a brief rendition of the children's song, "Five Little Ducks", we move on to the recent hits of the day.
Based on the songs sung, I'm guessing this tape to be from 1957, probably early 1957, based on the familiarity everyone present has with several hits from late in 1956. That this is right in the heart of what is perhaps my single favorite 18 months ever for popular music surely adds to my enjoyment, but I hope those who listen to it will find it at least pleasant and sweet.
The songs that follow are: Marianne, Wringle Wrangle, and one I don't recognize, all featuring guitar and enthusiastic singing from the children present, then Horace the Horse (a children's song) and The Green Door, both sung a capella, and with a lot of comments from the children. The raucous nature of these recordings then gives way to a very sweet and harmonious version of "Blueberry Hill". During this song, though, one of the children decides it's time to stop recording and becomes increasingly loud about his or her displeasure, and the recording is ended.
Download: Family Sing Along Circa 1957
Play:
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And finally, a tape I find fairly tedious, but which is unique enough and certainly rare enough to make it worth sharing. This tape contains what appear to be a few friends, repeatedly rehearsing and practicing songs - mostly just two of them - over and over again in different settings and styles, with both organ and piano backing. I have done a lyric search, and I don't believe these are songs which ever became popular - they may not have even ever been published - so this may have been the work of an amateur songwriter with some hope, via these demos, of having a hit song, or simply friends performing material they'd written. Who knows? At the end there are performances of the standard "Laura" and of a song called "Don't Take Your Love From Me" (and there is a glitch in the latter performance), but for the first 36 minutes or so of this 41 minute segment, it's just the same couple of songs, again and again and again.
Play:
