Diskussion:Clayton McMichen

Missing, Previously Unknown Recording

Clayton McMichen and Georgia Wildcats recorded at least one Varsity release on their popular regional 'Hillbilly' label.

The record is Varsity 5029 (1942), "Wreck Of The 97" (Mx:1813-3-A) b/w "Old Joe Clarke" (Mx: 1840-1-B), by "Clayton McMichen and The Georgia Wildcats".

I own a pristine shellac of this record that was not played prior to me digitally transferring the sides using a Thorens TD124, SME 3012 tone arm, GE VR II w/ 3.0 mil nude stylus made by Wyndham Hodgson, a custom professional McIntosh valve mastering preamps, a custom impedance converter and isolation preamp. Digital conversion was accomplished with a Sony 24 bit high resolution A/D converter. As the source is so clean, little restoration was required and the dub noise can be heard in the beginning second. The compensation curve and speed were carefully researched.

Subsequently, the digital master is faithful to the original compensation as it might have been heard on period professional gear. If you would like a digital re-master of this record please let me know and I can probably email a 320 KBS mono MP4 file for each side. The fidelity will equal CD quality. However, remember that the source part is a pre-tape, dubbed lacquer from 1942! Despite this and Varsity's reputation poor shellac, this is an early stamping on exceptional pre-war shellac and therefore the sound quality on the digital master is uncommonly good.

I originally dated the recording around the late 1940s. I would never have guessed 1942. This record, like many "Hillbilly" sides recorded ca. 1920 - 1950 was recorded in the field on a portable lathe with portable microphones -likely a 4 channel RCA portable broadcast mixer with dynamic microphones and perhaps an RCA 44 ribbon mike for the voice.

I suspect that Varsity recorded more sides of this group as well as other artists on this trip. Matrices will ultimately provide us with the best information. (nicht signierter Beitrag von 68.45.12.142 (Diskussion) 00:58, 5. Aug. 2013 (CEST))

Hi, the recordings you were talking of are original Crown masters, recorded in 1932. Back then, the Georgia Wildcats were already in existence for two years. Varsity probably bought or leased the recordings from Crown (or whoever owned the tapes by 1942) and re-released them. However, I'm quite sure they are no re-recordings because McMichen stopped recording in 1939. During the years 1939-1945, he travelled across the country and played many different venues but did not participate in any recording sessions to my knowledge. I will check that. Hee Haw Waylon ^{Hee Haw Round-Up} 18:51, 5. Aug. 2013 (CEST)