Types of transcriptions and radio recordings
Recordings of shows from radio's "Golden Age" survive in many different forms. Having an original transcription disc of a show doesn't always mean that it has pristine sound quality.
Besides the condition of the disc, there's also the origin of the recording to think about. Here's an outline of the different types of radio transcriptions you'll hear on the blog and floating among old time radio collectors.
Reference or Master Recording
"Reference Recording" was a term used by NBC, but would generically apply to instantaneous master lacquer discs or master tapes of shows made directly at a network facility, recording studio, or radio station. The discs were created by the network or station as a record of the show and are usually of very high quality, with some approaching high fidelity range. Some were produced as a record of a broadcast for legal purposes; others may have been made as a master to press vinyl discs for syndication or for direct playback on the air for a program that was "transcribed".
- Dennis Day Show - January 8, 1947 (NBC Reference Recording)
- Night Beat - May 19, 1949 - Ted Carter Murder Case - Audition No. 1 (NBC Reference Recording)
- Your Home Front Reporter - Pgm 1 - May 10, 1943 (Vinyl discs pressed for a sponsor)
- Americans at Work - Sept. 29, 1942, WCFL, Chicago (Set of 78 rpm lacquers made for talent)
- Adventures of Dick Cole - Pgm 24, circa 1946 (Red vinyl syndication discs, possibly pressed by Decca)
- Jungle Jim - Pgm 13 - January 25, 1936 (Vinyl syndication discs, pressed by RCA)
- The Two Daffodils, Pgm 2080 (Shellac syndication disc, pressed by Columbia)
- Ports of Call - Pgm 33, New Zealand (Shellac blue syndication disc, pressed by Columbia)
- Nonsense and Melody - Pgm 16 (Shellac syndication disc)
- Lum N’ Abner, Accidentally Yours - July, 1947 (Vinyl syndication disc, pressed by RCA)
- Hoosier Hot Shots Alka-Seltzer Show - Pgm 51 (Vinyl extension spotting disc, pressed by RCA)
- Joyce Jordan MD – July 3, 1947 (lacquer line check from unknown NBC station)
- Kraft Music Hall - July 3, 1947 (lacquer line check from unknown NBC station)
- Bing Crosby Show - March 12, 1953 (lacquer air check of KCBS, San Francisco)
- Pick and Pat - August 8, 1938 (lacquer air check of WEAF, New York)
- Smile-A-While, Aug 3, 1951 (wire recording air check of WLS, Chicago)
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