Hello and welcome to another edition of Vintage Media Millennial. I took something of an unexpected break from writing for the website last week, mainly due to needing to take a break due to mental health reasons. I’m constantly working on ways of improving my workflow.
All sections are written by Jamie Dyer, unless noted.
Music
Destination Jail Volume 2
Written by Jane Grandle
Destination Jail Volume 2 is the follow-up from Bear Family Records’ previous jail-themed compilation Destination Jail. Whereas the first instalment focussed primarily on Hillbilly and Rockabilly music, volume 2 centres around Rhythm and Blues. As such, it seems Bear Family‘s intent was to highlight the African American experience of incarceration. There is extensive discussion in the included booklet, citing studies and quoting those with experience of the subject.
Comprised of 24 tracks all centred around incarceration, both literal and metaphorical, the mood is quite different from the first volume. The musical style brings a totally different vibe to this compilation. An element of Rhythm and Blues music is using upbeat and peppy tempos to counter the tragedy of the subject matter. This is featured in a number of songs here. My favourites from Destination Jail Volume 2 are Ottilie Patterson’s Jailhouse Blues, Wynona Carr’s Please Mr. Jailer and Sonny Knight’s Jailbird. Another standout, for the story alone, is The Prisonaires’ A Prisoner’s Prayer, for the mere fact that they were discovered while serving time in jail. Sam Phillips of Sun Records arranged for them to be transported to Memphis under armed guard in order to make their first recording.
For more details and a full track listing, please visit Bear Family Records’ website.
Film
Searching for Disney’s Removed Titles on Music Magpie
When Disney Plus in the UK decided to remove dozens of classic pre-1980 titles, I felt a great sense of sadness. My interest in the service was fueled by the opportunity to see titles from the company’s history. They hadn’t loaded up on historic titles, but there had been enough to satisfy my hunger. Sadly it looks like classic and profitability doesn’t go hand in hand.
Thanks to other interests, I have discovered an increased interest in physical media. I have made several orders from Music Magpie, which has led to searching for Disney titles. I have sought to look for titles unavailable on streaming, for which there are a few. Many of these titles were released back in the 2000s, and the price varies greatly.
Titles such as Greyfriars Bobby and Big Red can be paired together in a £1 discount that comes out to £3. Add another 2 titles and it makes the total £5, a decent price for a small smattering for vintage Disney. Other titles, such as The Great Locomotive Chase and That Darn Cat, are available to buy used between £5 and £20 each. I guess the difference in value depends on how many titles were sold in the first place, and the number in stock.
Overall I can see myself loading up on classic Disney, at least the stuff that sold better the first time around. As for the rest, I’ll either save up or wait for Disney to come to their senses.
Radio
Antioch OTR
I’ve been a fan of this online radio station since 2015, when I first discovered it. It has been a great comfort to me, and an excellent resource to fuel my growing interest in its main subject matter. Each hour of the scheduled day features a different genre of Old Time Radio, playing episodes from this day in history when available.
I’ve lost count of the amount of times I’ve tuned into the Comedy-themed hours, they were a staple of my day at one point. It boosted my knowledge of such shows as The Great Gildersleeve, The Jack Benny Program, Fibber McGee and Molly, Phil Harris Alice Faye Show and Our Miss Brooks. Hearing what people enjoyed on this day in the 30s, 40s or 50s never fails to intrigue me.
I’ve dipped into other genres at times, especially the Western genre. Some references, commercials and attitudes haven’t aged well, but much of the material is timeless. It’s a wonderful starting point for those interested in the history of American radio. I highly recommend it.
