"The Big Rock Candy Mountains" Played On Edison A-250 Diamond Disc Phonograph

[@rwblackwell]

all recorded in one take, no overdubs, one mic... pretty impressive just realizing that the banjo part alone is kick butt!

[@MrKidneypie]

The sound is extraordinarily clear and robust. I wonder why?

[@MusicBoxBoy]

I've always been impressed by the sound of the later Edison Diamond Discs (those pressed from 1925 and afterward including this rather late one here). Most of the WWI vintage Edison Diamond Discs were noisy in comparison to their lateral competitors like Victor and Columbia. But, Edison and company vastly improved their inferior record surfaces in the later years. Thanks for your comment!

[@fromthesidelines]

Dalhart recorded this twice for Edison on December 12, 1928: the first take was for this "Diamond Disc" [vertical cut]; the second was for an ELECTRICAL disc [lateral cut].

[@RobertWrightOneManCovers]

This recording is electric as well. Electric Diamond Discs sounded much fuller and clearer than the acoustic ones.

[@DeLorean4]

This was featured in "O Brother where art thou"! :)

[@The_Laser_Channel]

Wow...I am blown away by the sound quality! Most Edison Diamond Discs i've heard have alot of crackles and pops in them!

[@morrigankasa570]

great song and extremely clear which i figure is because it was well cared for and maybe the way it was pressed was delibretly intended to last a very very long time

[@zjsprout]

P.S. - I should have read MBB's info before restating his comments. He does a polished and complete video every time! By the way, thanks for keeping DD's accessible for us out here; we can forget how good they sound with NO processing or enhancement!

[@craigdylan3953]

For such primitive equipment, it is pretty impressive. I remember having access to one of the hard wax cylinders machines, and a lot cylinders. I was also impressive; until I drop one of the dang priceless cylinders.... NIce museum piece on the history...hard to believe. Thanks for sharing

[@MusicBoxBoy]

Thanks for your comments, zjsprout. Always a pleasure to receive encouraging comments such as yours. Please stop back anytime.

[@MusicBoxBoy]

@Philco66 Great to see your comments Philco66. First time I heard this Edison record I also was stunned at how wonderfully it was recorded. Every groove yields crisp clear sound and the selection itself is well done by Dalhart and company. I actually have 2 copies of this on Edison and might consider selling one of them sometime. Thanks for the nice comments.

[@alexgzel7801]

Surprising choice on Edison's part.

[@anjoliemoore1453]

Where I live, we have a big rock known as Candy Mountain. But it doesn't deliver any of these wonderful things!!!

[@DeLorean4]

In fact, the entire movie is on KZbin and the song is played during the opening scene.

[@luismantaras6460]

Lovely!!! Edisons' are almost beautiful. Thanks!

[@MusicBoxBoy]

You're very welcome! And thank you for your comments!

[@MusicBoxBoy]

@harryoakley The term "Diamond Disc" did not appear on the label but it certainly did appear on all of the 1915 Edison Record sleeves as "EDISON DIAMOND DISC RECORD". If you want to see an actual Edison Diamond Disc record sleeve picture from 1915 just Google "Edison Diamond Disc record sleeves" and click on the link. There you will see the different sleeves including the one I am referring to.

[@Philco66]

That's got to be the best Edison recording I've heard of Vernon Dalhart, and I have several myself. I also have him doing a version of "Rock Candy Mountain" on the Radiex label under Vel Veteran. The record is in good shape, but it cannot compete with an Edison. Also, the verses are different on my Radiex Disc.

[@eliotduhan4391]

Thank you.

[@gordonrice2819]

One microphone. Wow. Now *that's* engineering.

[@fromthesidelines]

Recorded on December 12, 1928.

[@RecordGuy3434]

I love the instrumental work in this piece. Thanks for posting.

[@luismantaras6460]

Your words were right and this was very nice. Thank you!

[@MusicBoxBoy]

@MrDarwinsDog Thank you for the interesting comments!

[@harryoakley]

OK, so the "Diamond Disc" slogan appeared on 1915 sleeves. As is apparently did not appear anywhere esle after that I very much doubt they were called that in the 1920's, or that they were actually described as such - only by modern day collectors.

[@MusicBoxBoy]

Thank you for sharing that information, DeLorean4. I have not yet seen this but will definitely be interested as a result of your sharing this information. Appreciate your comment!

[@zjsprout]

DeLorean4 - good ear, but a subtle difference. This is the same song, but by Vernon Dalhart, a prolific 'Hillbilly' artist for many record companies of the era, including Edison and Victor. The version in the movie 'O Brother' was performed by Harry McClintock, who wrote the song.

[@clarencecharlesriley3337]

Thanks SO MUCH !!

[@jerryking45]

Very nice voice!

[@joecro8463]

Hello, I too am amazed at the clarity of tone and the overall fidelity (aka tessitura) of this recording for something being played on an acoustical machine. I'm very curious, do you know what year it was recorded? Someone suggested it is an electrical recording, and judging by the way it sounds it very well may be. I may be wrong about this, but I originally thought the only Edison electrical recordings were made about 1928/29 on regular think type 10" records. If that were true then this record would also be an acoustical recording. Amazing sound quality indeed! Best regards and thanks for uploading to youtube. Joe Cro

[@RadioParanormaliumPL]

According to Wikipedia, this recording is from 1929.

[@paulnicholson1906]

@@RadioParanormaliumPL it’s an electronic recording.

[@harryoakley]

@MusicBoxBoy I still wonder where this "Diamond Disc" slogan comes from - I have never seen it on an Edison record label...

[@kevinceniceros1690]

Harry McClintock's version of The Big Rock Candy Mountains is the best in my opinion.

[@craigdylan3953]

Since Harry wrote it, I like his 1928 version used in the Great Liebowski and never bettered... EVER..

[@AngryVGFur]

the Cohen Brothers brought me here

[@Masternater1000]

+AngryVGFur Oh my brother, were art thou?

[@antoniolucricampagnefilho1753]

lindas esta época que vivemos era bem melhor que a época de hoje grandes musicas

[@becker215]

I didn't know Cleveland from Family Guy was a folk singer xD joking aside, cool recording!

[@michaelmills2625]

This is really fine. Dalhart makes this his own and not just a copy of Mac McClintock's version.

[@zacharybowen4247]

0:35

[@dhelton40]

Although "Vernon Dalhart" (not his real name) was born in Texas, He was kind of a phony country singer. He had a formal musical education and fained a very phony country voice. He lived most of his adult life in NYC and recorded many "country songs". I really don't understand his popularity at the time with so many real country artist available.