Novelty gramophone records. - UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum

Graham G3ZVT · 22nd Jul 2017, 4:25 pm

The discussion in "the Kings Speech" thread about recording techniques reminded me of a couple of novelty records I owned.

The first was more novel than novelty, a The Look "I Am the Beat" 7in 45RPM
The novel aspect was the end was cleverly timed and recorded into the run-out groove so it never ended. DJs loved it.

The other was a comedy record 12 inch LP. One side had a pair of concentric spiral grooves so it carried two entirely different programmes and it was a toss-up which one you heard.

I wonder how difficult it must have been to set up the recording lathe to do that?

I know that latter technique was used with miniature disks in talking dolls' sound-boxes, before electronic alternatives were available.

Graham.
G3ZVT

af024 · 22nd Jul 2017, 5:30 pm

Not nearly as clever, but there was "They're Coming To Take Me Away, Ha-Haaa!"
Napoleon XIV which was recorded backwards on the flip side.

One of these:-
Chris Hill - "Renta Santa" and "Bionic Santa" (I forget which) ended up on the run-out and locked groove, something like, 'oy, you broke my record player .. player .. player ..'

Andy

llama · 22nd Jul 2017, 6:03 pm

A friend of mine had a record with either 4 or 6 (can't remember which) start points - each had a different horse race commentary on it allowing a "random" selection for betting on. I think he used it for a game on local community radio.

Anyone know what the "annie-opel-vice" run out at the end of Sgt Pepper's is?
Graham

Dave Moll · 22nd Jul 2017, 7:37 pm

Then, of course, there's the famous Monty Python's Matching Tie and Handkerchief with interleaved second sides - only two on that one, so not quite as many possibilities as the one mentioned above.

I shall have to dig out my Sergeant Pepper and listen out for "Annie-opel-vice". Wasn't there also a reversed recording on a Beatles album (Abbey Road?) with John Lennon saying "I'm very bored"? It raised conspiracy theories about the death of Mr McCartney because some people thought it said "I buried Paul", combined with Paul being depicted barefoot on the zebra crossing!

Tractorfan · 23rd Jul 2017, 2:30 pm

Hi,
I think that 'Annie-opel-vice', when played backwards, comes out as: "I'm a f

kna

ered superman". That's how it sounds to me.
Apologies for the swearies.

I bought 'Monty Python's Matching Tie and Handkerchief' LP when a spotty youth, and was puzzled at first as to why side two only ran for just over ten minutes. The next time I played it I got a completely different recording, which confused me even further, until the penny finally dropped.
Cheers, Pete.

Dave Moll · 23rd Jul 2017, 5:27 pm

Fortunately, I knew about the two "B" sides before I bought the LP - in fact, that was why I bought it.

Top Cap · 23rd Jul 2017, 6:43 pm

Craziest LP I have bought is JACK WHITE - Lazaretto (12" Vinyl)

- 2 vinyl-only hidden tracks hidden beneath the center labels
- 1 hidden track plays at 78 RPM, one plays at 45 RPM, making this a 3-speed record
- Side A plays from the inside out
- Dual-groove technology: plays an electric or acoustic intro for “Just One Drink” depending on where needle is dropped.
- The grooves meet for the body of the song.
- Matte finish on Side B, giving the appearance of an un-played 78 RPM record
- Both sides end with locked grooves
- Vinyl pressed in seldom-used flat-edged format
- Dead wax area on Side A contains a hand-etched hologram by Tristan Duke of
Infinity Light Science, the first of its kind on a vinyl record
- Absolutely zero compression used during recording, mixing and mastering

22nd Jul 2017, 4:25 pm	#1
Graham G3ZVT Dekatron Join Date: May 2010 Location: Greater Manchester, UK. Posts: 18,713	Novelty gramophone records. The discussion in "the Kings Speech" thread about recording techniques reminded me of a couple of novelty records I owned. The first was more novel than novelty, a The Look "I Am the Beat" 7in 45RPM The novel aspect was the end was cleverly timed and recorded into the run-out groove so it never ended. DJs loved it. The other was a comedy record 12 inch LP. One side had a pair of concentric spiral grooves so it carried two entirely different programmes and it was a toss-up which one you heard. I wonder how difficult it must have been to set up the recording lathe to do that? I know that latter technique was used with miniature disks in talking dolls' sound-boxes, before electronic alternatives were available. Graham. G3ZVT Last edited by Graham G3ZVT; 22nd Jul 2017 at 4:37 pm.

22nd Jul 2017, 5:30 pm	#2
af024 Octode Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Ashby-de-la-Zouch (it's not by the sea) Posts: 1,255	Re: Novelty gramophone records. Not nearly as clever, but there was "They're Coming To Take Me Away, Ha-Haaa!" Napoleon XIV which was recorded backwards on the flip side. One of these:- Chris Hill - "Renta Santa" and "Bionic Santa" (I forget which) ended up on the run-out and locked groove, something like, 'oy, you broke my record player .. player .. player ..' Andy __________________ Now where on earth did I remove that from?

22nd Jul 2017, 6:03 pm	#3
llama Octode Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: St Osyth, Nr Clacton, Essex, UK. Posts: 1,482	Re: Novelty gramophone records. A friend of mine had a record with either 4 or 6 (can't remember which) start points - each had a different horse race commentary on it allowing a "random" selection for betting on. I think he used it for a game on local community radio. Anyone know what the "annie-opel-vice" run out at the end of Sgt Pepper's is? Graham __________________ Half my stuff is junk - trouble is, I don't know which half!

22nd Jul 2017, 7:37 pm	#4
Dave Moll Dekatron Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: West Cumbria (CA13), UK Posts: 6,127	Re: Novelty gramophone records. Then, of course, there's the famous Monty Python's Matching Tie and Handkerchief with interleaved second sides - only two on that one, so not quite as many possibilities as the one mentioned above. I shall have to dig out my Sergeant Pepper and listen out for "Annie-opel-vice". Wasn't there also a reversed recording on a Beatles album (Abbey Road?) with John Lennon saying "I'm very bored"? It raised conspiracy theories about the death of Mr McCartney because some people thought it said "I buried Paul", combined with Paul being depicted barefoot on the zebra crossing! __________________ Mending is better than Ending (cf Brave New World by Aldous Huxley)

23rd Jul 2017, 2:30 pm	#5
Tractorfan Dekatron Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: St. Frajou, l'Isle en Dodon, Haute Garonne, France.(Previously: Ellesmere Port, Cheshire, UK.) Posts: 3,183	Re: Novelty gramophone records. Hi, I think that 'Annie-opel-vice', when played backwards, comes out as: "I'm a f knaered superman". That's how it sounds to me. Apologies for the swearies. I bought 'Monty Python's Matching Tie and Handkerchief' LP when a spotty youth, and was puzzled at first as to why side two only ran for just over ten minutes. The next time I played it I got a completely different recording, which confused me even further, until the penny finally dropped. Cheers, Pete. __________________ "Hello?, Yes, I'm on the train, I might lose the signal soon as we're just going into a tunn..."

23rd Jul 2017, 5:27 pm	#6
Dave Moll Dekatron Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: West Cumbria (CA13), UK Posts: 6,127	Re: Novelty gramophone records. Fortunately, I knew about the two "B" sides before I bought the LP - in fact, that was why I bought it. __________________ Mending is better than Ending (cf Brave New World by Aldous Huxley)

23rd Jul 2017, 6:43 pm	#7
Top Cap Octode Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Watford, Hertfordshire, UK. Posts: 1,270	Re: Novelty gramophone records. Craziest LP I have bought is JACK WHITE - Lazaretto (12" Vinyl) - 2 vinyl-only hidden tracks hidden beneath the center labels - 1 hidden track plays at 78 RPM, one plays at 45 RPM, making this a 3-speed record - Side A plays from the inside out - Dual-groove technology: plays an electric or acoustic intro for “Just One Drink” depending on where needle is dropped. - The grooves meet for the body of the song. - Matte finish on Side B, giving the appearance of an un-played 78 RPM record - Both sides end with locked grooves - Vinyl pressed in seldom-used flat-edged format - Dead wax area on Side A contains a hand-etched hologram by Tristan Duke of Infinity Light Science, the first of its kind on a vinyl record - Absolutely zero compression used during recording, mixing and mastering __________________ Whether the Top Cap is Grid or Anode - touching it will give you a buzz either way!