RCA Program Transcription Album Discography (1931-33)
In 1931, RCA Victor tried to introduce a long playing disc. They recorded music at 33-1/3 rpm on a
standard 10 or 12 inch shellac disc — or more often an early plastic material called "Victrolac"
which seemed to be softer and wore out more quickly than shellac. The grooves on the record were the
same as those used on 78 RPM discs, not the microgrooves used by Columbia when they introduced
their 33-1/3 disc on vinyl in 1948. This was a short lived experiment because at the height of the
depression few people could afford the very expensive machines needed to play the Program
Transcription discs. Also, the discs had poor fidelity and the heavy tone arms of that period wore the
discs out quickly. The records were produced from 1931 to 1933, but some discs were kept in the RCA
catalog until 1939.
|
|
|
The labels for the Program Transcription discs (far left) were gold with black print. They were issued with a paper sleeve that said "Program Transcription." The example at near left is one of several designs for these sleeves. |
|
Number - Title - Artist - [Release Date] Contents |
|
|
Samplers:
DL 5A - Join the Victor Artists Party - Frank Crumit, Victor Arden and Phil Ohman, The Revelers, Nat Shilkret and the Victor Orchestra [1931] The first of the Program Transcriptions series, this record was given away with the purchase of the Radiola-Automatic Electrola RAE 59 record player that would play them. DL 5B - Victor Music Festival - Nathaniel Shilkret and the Victor Symphony Orchestra [1931] RCA Victor 33 1/3 Classical Program Transcription L 1000 Series: L 1000 - Carmen Suite (Bizet) - Leopold Stokowski and the Philadelphia Orchestra [193?] L 1002 L 1003 L 1004 - Carneval Overture (Dvorak)/Fairy Tales-Folk Dance/Slavonic Dance No. 1 - Frederik Stock and the Chicago Symphony Orchestra [193?] RCA Victor 33 1/3 Program Transcription L 4500 Series: L 4500 - Victor Herbert Melodies - Nat Shilkret and Victor Salon Group and Concert Orchestra [1931] Double sided disc. Suite No. 1/Suite No. 2 L 4501 L 4502 L 4503 L 4504 - Nat Shilkret and the Victor Salon Group - Nat Shilkret and the Victor Salon Group [193?] RCA Victor 33 1/3 Classical Program Transcription L 7000 Series: L 7001 - Symphony No. 5 (Beethoven) - Leopold Stokovski and the Philadelphia Orchestra [193?] Double sided 12 Inch LP. L 7002 - La Grande Paque Russe Overture/Capriccio Italien (Tchaikovsky) - Leopold Stokowski and the Philadelphia Orchestra [193?] L 7003 L 7004 - Nutcracker Suite (Tchaikovsky) - Leopold Stokowski and the Philadelphia Orchestra [193?] Overture Minature/Danse de La Fee Dragee/Danse Arabee//Danse Chinoise/Dance Des Mirlitons/Valse Des Fleurs RCA Victor 33 1/3 Classical Program Transcription L 11600 Series: L 11600 L 11601 - Cavalleria Rusticana Parts 1 and 2 (Mascagni) - Breviario, Pantaleoni, Biasini, Sanzio, Carlo Sabajno and La Scala Orchestra [1931] L 11602 - Cavalleria Rusticana Parts 3 and 4 (Mascagni) - Breviario, Pantaleoni, Biasini, Sanzio, Carlo Sabajno and La Scala Orchestra [1931] L 11603 - Cavalleria Rusticana Parts 5 and 6 (Mascagni) - Breviario, Pantaleoni, Biasini, Sanzio, Carlo Sabajno and La Scala Orchestra [1931] L 11604 - Morning the Deathe Ase/Anita's Dance in the Hall of the Mountain King (Grieg)/Arabian Dance/The Return of Peer Gynt/Solvjeg's Song (Grieg) - Josef Pasternak and Victor Symphony Orchestra/Eugene Goosens and Victor Symphony Orchestra [1932] L 11605 - HMS Pinafore Part 1 and 2 (Gilbert and Sullivan) - D'Oyly Carte Opera Company, Henry Lytton, George Baker, Charles Goulding, Malcolm Sargent and the London Symphony Orchestra [1931] L 11606 - HMS Pinafore Part 3 and 4 (Gilbert and Sullivan) - D'Oyly Carte Opera Company, Henry Lytton, George Baker, Charles Goulding, Malcolm Sargent and the London Symphony Orchestra [1931] L 11607 - HMS Pinafore Part 5 and 6 (Gilbert and Sullivan) - D'Oyly Carte Opera Company, Henry Lytton, George Baker, Charles Goulding, Malcolm Sargent and the London Symphony Orchestra [1931] L 11608 - L 11635 - (information not available) L 11636/L 11637 - Tristan and Isolde A Symphonic Synthesis - Leopold Stokowski and the Philadelphia Orchestra [1932] L 11637 - L 11642 - (information not available) L 11643 - Das Rheingold Parts 1 and 2 (Wagner) - Leopold Stokowski and the Philadelphia Orchestra [193?] L 11644 - Das Rheingold Parts 2 and 3 (Wagner) - Leopold Stokowski and the Philadelphia Orchestra [193?] L 11645 - Das Rheingold Parts 5 and 6 (Wagner) - Leopold Stokowski and the Philadelphia Orchestra [193?] L 11646 - Smphony No. 8 in B Minor Unfinished (Schubert) - Leopold Stokowski and the Philadelphia Orchestra [193?] L 11647 - L 11649 - (information not available) L 11650 - Symphony in D (Franck) - Leopold Stokowski and the Philadelphia Orchestra [193?] L 11651 - L 11654 - (information not available) L 11655 - The Swan of Tuonela/Finlandia (Sibelius) - Leopold Stokowski and the Philadelphia Orchestra [193?] L 116?? - Aida (Verdi) Rosa Ponselle, Giovanni Martenilli/La Boheme Death Scene Act 4 (Puccini) - Lucrezia Bori, Tito Schipa [193?] RCA Victor 33 1/3 Program Transcription L 15000 Series: L 15000 - Medley of Armstrong Hits - Louis Armstrong and His Orchestra [193?] I'll Be Glad When You're Dead, You Rascal You/When It's Sleepy Time Down South/Nobody's Sweetheart/When You're Smiling/St. James' Infirmary RCA Victor L 16000 Program Transcriptions 33 1/3 RPM albums. Single sided discs, production ended in 1933: L 16000 - Home/Save the Last Dance For Me/A Faded Summer Love - Wayne King and His Orchestra [193?] L 16001 - George White's Scandals - Paul Whiteman and His Orchestra [193?] My Song/This Is The Missus/Life Is Just A Bowl Of Cherries/That's Why Darkies Were Born L 16002 - Popular Selections - Paul Whiteman and His Orchestra, Mildred Bailey Vocal [1933] I'm Sorry Dear/Old Playmate/Good Night Sweetheart L 16003 - Good Night, Sweetheart/My Sunshine is You - Jack Hylton [193?] L 16004 - Don't Ask Me Why/Fate - Nat Shilkret and the Victor Orchestra [1932] L 16005 - Music from The Cat and the Fiddle - Leo Reisman and His Orchestra [193?] The Night Was Made For Love/One Moment Alone/French March/Poor Pierrot/She Didn't Say Yes/Try To Forget L 16006 - Popular Selections - Duke Ellington and His Orchestra [1932] Mood Indigo/Hot And Bothered/Creole Love Call L 16007 - Popular Selections - Duke Ellington and His Orchestra [1932] East St. Louis Toddle-Oo/ Lot O' Fingers/Black and Tan Fantasy L 16008 - Dance Music from Hot Cha and Face the Music - Paul Whiteman and His Orchestra [193?] You Can Make My Life A Bed Of Roses/There I Go Dreaming Again/Say/Soft Lights And Sweet Music/I Says It's Spinach/On The Roof In Manhattan/Lets Have Another Cup Of Coffee L 16009 - Dance Medley of Hoagy Carmichael Compositions No. 1 - Hoagy Carmichael Orchestra [1932] Rockin' Chair/Lazy River/Daybreak/Georgia L 16010 - Music from The Student Prince - Jesse Crawford [1932] Serenade/Deep in My Heart/Students' March L 16011 - Popular Waltz Selections - Gus Arnheim Orchestra with Buddy Clark [1932] Missouri Waltz/Down by the Old Mill Stream/That Naughty Waltz L 16012 - Schubertiana - Jesse Crawford [1932] Marche Militaire/Serenade/Moment Musicale/Unfinished Symphony/Song of Love L 16013 - Popular Selections - Isham Jones and His Orchestra [193?] A Million Dreams/A Little Street Where Old Friends Meet/What Would Happen to Me If Something Happened to You? L 16014 - Show Boat Melody - Jesse Crawford, Robert Simmons, Frances Langford [1932] Ol' Man River/Make Believe/Can't Help Lovin' That Man/Why Do I Love You? L 16015 - You'll Get By with the Twinkle in Your Eye/Sweet Mochacha/Fit as a Fiddle - Fred Waring's Pennsylvanians [193?] L 16016 - Music from Flying Colors (Original Cast) - Jean Sargent, Tom Waring, Waring's Pennsylvanians [193?] Louisiana Hayride/A Shine On Your Shoes/A Rainy Day/Mother Told Me So/Smokin' Reefers/Two Faced Women/Alone Together L 16017 - Paul Whiteman Dance Selections - Paul Whiteman and His Orchestra, Irene Taylor and Jack Fulton, Vocals [193?] Double sided disc. Willow Weep for Me/Take Me In Your Arms//In the Dim Dim Dawning L 16018 L 16019 - Dance Medley: Hoagy Carmichael Compositions No. 2 - Hoagy Carmichael, Dick Robertson [195?] Rocking Chair, Lazy River/Daybreak/Georgia on My Mind L 16020 - Melody in F - Jesse Crawford [1932] L 16021 - Isham Jones Program - Isham Jones and His Orchestra [193?] L 16022 - Dance Medley - Don Bestor Orchestra [1933] Close to My Heart/Meet Me in the Gloaming/You Must Believe Me L 16023 - Dance Medley - Glen Gray and His Orchestra [193?] (78 RPM version released as L 6023) Dardanella/Black Eyed Susan Brown/Casa Loma Stomp L 16024 L 16025 - Dance Medley - Ted Weems and His Orchestra [193?] H'ya Duchess/She Changed Her Hi-De Hie-De L 16026 - Happy as the Day is Long - Harold Arlen with Leo Reisman's Orchestra [193?] L 16027 L 16028 - Fred Astaire with Leo Reisman Orchestra and Neil Buckley with Don Bestor Orchestra - Fred Astaire/Don Buckley [1933?] L 16029 - Dance Selections - Jan Garber and His Orchestra [1933?] I've Got My Fingers Crossed/Can't We Meet Again L 16030 L 16031 - Dance Medley from The Good Companions - Ray Noble and His Orchestra [1933?] Three Wishes/Let Me Give My Happiness to You L 16032 - Dance Medley - Isham Jones and His Orchestra [1933?] Jealousy/Blue Prelude RCA Victor 33 1/3 Program Transcription L 24000 Double Sided Series: L 24001 - Gershwin Rhapsody in Blue/Victor Prize Selections - Paul Whitemen/Nathaniel Shilkret [193?] Rhapsody in Blue/Two American Sketches/Nocturne and March/Song of the Bayou L 24002 - L 24003 - The Band Wagon - Fred and Adele Astaire with Leo Reisman and his Orchestra [1931] Double sided disc. I Love Louisa/White Heat/Band Wagon L 24004 - Viennese Melodies: Lehar Melodies - Marek Weber and His Orchestra [193?] L 24005/L 24006 - Gems from the Mikado - Civic Light Opera Company with Orchestra [193?] L 24007 - Souvenir of Johann Strass-Grand Fantasy - Marek Weber Orchestra [193?] L 24008/L 24009 - Gems from Pirates of Penzance (Gilbert and Sullivan) - Civic Light Opera Company with Orchestra [193?] When the Foemen Bares His Steel - Jake Eaton and Chorus/Go Ye Heros - Vivian Hart and Chorus/A Paradox - Vivian Hart, Howard Marsh and Herbert Walroux/Ah! Leave Me Not - Vivian Hart and Howard Marsh L 24010 - L 24011 - (information not available) L 24012 - Restful Organ Music No. 1 - Charles O'Connell [193?] L 24013 - L 24015 - (information not available) L 24016 - Dance Selections - Mark Weber and the Havana Novelty Orchestra [193?] L 24017 - L 24019 - (information not available) L 24020 - Restful Organ Music No. 2 - Charles O'Connell [193?] Absent/Sweet and Low/I Need Thee Every Hour/Meditation/The Rosary/God Be With You Till We Meet Again L 24021 - L 24029 - (information not available) L 24030 - Abide With Me: One Sweet Solemn Thought - Green Brothers [193?] L 24031 - Deagan Vibra-Harp and Chimes - Green Brothers [193?] RCA Victor 33 1/3 Program Transcription L 35000 Double Sided Series: L 35000 - Sacred Music for Funeral Parlors - Charles O'Connell [193?] L 35001 - Grand Canyon Suite Parts 1 and 2 (Grofe) - Paul Whiteman and His Concert Orchestra [193?] Sunrise//Painted Desert/On the Trail (Beginning) L 35002 - Grand Canyon Suite Parts 3 and 4 (Grofe) - Paul Whiteman and His Concert Orchestra [193?] On the Trail (Concluded)/Sunset RCA Victor 33 1/3 Program Transcription LR 1 Series, 10 Inch double sided: LR 1 - The Bat Part 1/20 (Mary Roberts Rinehart) - Read by James Wallington [193?] LR 2 - The Bat Part 2/19 (Mary Roberts Rinehart) - Read by James Wallington [193?] LR 3 - The Bat Part 3/18 (Mary Roberts Rinehart) - Read by James Wallington [193?] LR 4 - The Bat Part 4/17 (Mary Roberts Rinehart) - Read by James Wallington [193?] LR 5 - The Bat Part 5/16 (Mary Roberts Rinehart) - Read by James Wallington [193?] LR 6 - The Bat Part 6/15 (Mary Roberts Rinehart) - Read by James Wallington [193?] LR 7 - The Bat Part 7/14 (Mary Roberts Rinehart) - Read by James Wallington [193?] LR 8 - The Bat Part 8/13 (Mary Roberts Rinehart) - Read by James Wallington [193?] LR 9 - The Bat Part 9/12 (Mary Roberts Rinehart) - Read by James Wallington [193?] LR 10 - The Bat Part 10/11 (Mary Roberts Rinehart) - Read by James Wallington [193?] |
Back to the Discography Listings Page
Back to the Both Sides Now Home Page