VA ~ String Of Pearls: Jewels Of The 78rpm Era 1918-1951 [Mississippi/Canary, 2009]

Side A
1. Refik Bey - Chataraban Taxim [Turkish, 1927]
2. Ban-nhac Than-kinb - Tieng ai Tram Bong [Vietnamese, 1930s?]
3. Rosa Eskenazi - E Kardia Mou Theli [Greek, ca. 1950]
4. Lord Fly - When Mi Look Upon Janie So; Ada; Time So Hard [Jamaican, 1952]
5. John Halik - Malo Kolo [Serbian, ca. 1945]
6. La Nina de los Peines - Saeta: Pilatos por no dejar [Spanish, 1927]
7. Shalom Katz - Eil Malei Rachmim [Romanian, 1946]

Side B
1. Amelita Galli-Curci - Crepuscule [Italian/French, 1918]
2. Nji Raden Hadji Djoehla - Tjimpelang [Sundanese, ca. 1930]
3. Zaki Mourad - Biftikarak Eh Yefidak, pt. 2 [Egyptian, early 1920s]
4. unknown chorus - Harvest Dance [Zuni, 1941]
5. unknown group - Huculka & Kozachok [Hutzul, 1940s]
6. Ustad Abdul Karim Khan - Malkauns: Piran Jani Dekhi, vilambit [Hindustani, 1935]
7. Reuben Sarkisian - Hallay [Armenian, ca. 1950]



'Compilation selected by former True Vine record shop owner Ian Nagoski from his personal collection of obscure international 78s. This is a joint issue with Canary Records [CR-01], Nagoski's own label, manufactured and distributed by Mississippi Records. Includes music from Constantinople, Milano, Bucharest, Uttar Pradesh, Armenia, Sunda, Thrace, Jamaica, Serbia, Cairo, Huilotita, Seville, Hue, Aleppo, Rajastan, the Carpathians, a Zuni reservation, and more. Full notes, Black Mirror-style, opening with the quote from Gail Holst-Warhaft: "The role of the spiritual intermediary, like the polyphonic character of the lament, affords both license and protection to the individual. The dead may themselves lament through their intermediaries." Dedicated to Jason DiEmilio [1973-2006]

another collection of impossibly rare & random 78's from a myriad of regions, thrown together on a vinyl platter for our illumination. folkways started it in the 50's & pat conte's secret of musuem of mankind series on yazoo brought the same kinda sensibilities to the digital age. in 50 years thyme we seem to have come full circle with the 'offical' renewed interest in vinyl [though it never really went away]. unlike other mississippi 78 rpm joints, none of these tunes appear to be readily available anywhere else [that i am aware of] & the spectacular performances make this one truly precious. if there are any copies still around, i suggest snapping one up. my family loves this record. thanks to the original rippa. enjoy