In a time where so much music is easily available, many wonderful artists from the earlier decades of recording are neglected, even forgotten. I'm John Cavanagh. I've been a record enthusiast all my life and a collector of "78" records since I was 13. I play one of these as a feature each week on my Soundwave radio show. I also have a round-numbered birthday coming up, so as I turn 60, I'd like to create a compilation of some special 78s in my collection and hope they find new fans. From Blanche Calloway and Nat Atkins and his Crazy Bees to Miss Hue Lee and the Opal and Pearl Dance Orchestra, plus lots more, the album will include music spanning around six decades of the twentieth century. The aim is to have the album pressed by Seabass Vinyl, the most sustainable record pressing plant in the world, located in Tranent, Scotland. I will prepare the transfers personally to preserve the sound quality of each record without knocking all the life out of it by over-use of filter processes. There will be surface noise, but as the late John Peel (another 78 enthusiast) put it: "life has surface noise"! Anything you care to give towards this adventure will be welcome. If you'd consider buying me a birthday drink or sending a card, why not chip in something to advance the project instead? If you'd like an lp posted to you in the U.K, please donate £25; for the rest of the world, £30 will cover it and if you'd like your name included on the sleeve as a special thank you, then send £50 and I'll be glad to have you on board. I will be sure to produce a digital version of the album for those who don't have lp playback facilities.
Thank you in advance, John C.
P.S. In case you're wondering, I've been known since the '90s as a radio presenter, voiceover artist, performer, record producer, writer and other things. I've also operated a record label occasionally with previous releases by Delia Derbyshire, Ron Geesin and Lol Coxhill & Raymond MacDonald.
@jcsoundwaveradio www.johncavanagh.co.uk