Billie Holiday - in your living room...thanks Steve! (And another use for Wesson Oil)

[Togo]

Hi all,

Just picked up a nicely priced copy of Billie Holiday "From The Original Decca Masters" on MCA/JVC as mastered by Steve.

This is the best I've heard Lady Day sound in the digital format...wonderfully warm and rich. :love:

I have to say, those 3 classic tracks mastered from glass disc sound really amazing...how did that come about Steve? :)

[Steve Hoffman]

Wesson oil. Splattered on the discs during playback. (Fabled Decca producer Milt Gabler taught me that trick).

That and the correct stylus.

Glad you liked it!

[Togo]

Well Wesson oil certainly works for me in this instance!

I really do learn something new every day round here!!:cool:

Thanks Steve. :)

[Steve Hoffman]

You're welcome.

It's funny. Most of the old transcription discs I used to come across always had some substance on them but I could never figure out what it was. When I was told it was probably Wesson oil, my first thought was "Wow, really old Wesson Oil from the forties. Cool".

Like finding an old Candy Bar from 1938 or something. Neat, but I wouldn't want to lick it.

At any rate. Once sprayed with oil, the discs MUST be washed clean again for archive purposes; something they did NOT do at Decca.

[Ed Bishop]

I could ask why 'Wesson' oil instead of any other, but that would spoil the mystery....:rolleyes:

ED:cool:

[Michael]

Originally posted by Steve Hoffman
You're welcome.

It's funny. Most of the old transcription discs I used to come across always had some substance on them but I could never figure out what it was. When I was told it was probably Wesson oil, my first thought was "Wow, really old Wesson Oil from the forties. Cool".

Like finding an old Candy Bar from 1938 or something. Neat, but I wouldn't want to lick it.

At any rate. Once sprayed with oil, the discs MUST be washed clean again for archive purposes; something they did NOT do at Decca.


That's pretty neat. :)

[Michael]

Originally posted by Ed Bishop
I could ask why 'Wesson' oil instead of any other, but that would spoil the mystery....:rolleyes:

ED:cool:

Name Brand Man. They had the "Oil" market cornered back then.:laugh: Still as popular
today.

[Steve Hoffman]

http://scriptorium.lib.duke.edu/eaa/cookbooks/CK0024/CK0024-02-72dpi.html

When transferring acetates to tape, you must use the best! ;)


http://www.epicurus.com/living/wesson.html

[Ed Bishop]

Originally posted by Steve Hoffman
http://scriptorium.lib.duke.edu/eaa/cookbooks/CK0024/CK0024-02-72dpi.html

When transferring lacquers to tape, you must use the best! ;)


http://www.epicurus.com/living/wesson.html

Is this oil still on the shelves today, and in the proper mix for use?:)

ED:cool:

[Togo]

...the Steve Hoffman Forum discussing the practical uses of Wesson oil....who would have thunk it?! :laugh:

[Michael]

Originally posted by Togo
...the Steve Hoffman Forum discussing the practical uses of Wesson oil....who would have thunk it?! :laugh:

A versatile bunch...Indeed!:)

[Michael]

Originally posted by Steve Hoffman
http://scriptorium.lib.duke.edu/eaa/cookbooks/CK0024/CK0024-02-72dpi.html

When transferring acetates to tape, you must use the best! ;)


http://www.epicurus.com/living/wesson.html

The wife said...Thanks Steve. :)

[MagicAlex]

Originally posted by Togo
...the Steve Hoffman Forum discussing the practical uses of Wesson oil....who would have thunk it?! :laugh:

Ever been to a Crisco Disco? :D

[Ed Bishop]

I don't know what to say....with a straight face, anyway...:laugh: And to think it began as such an innocent question...

ED:cool:

[Michael]

Originally posted by Ed Bishop
I don't know what to say....with a straight face, anyway...:laugh: And to think it began as such an innocent question...

ED:cool:

It is what you make it...:laugh: I'm keeping a straight face.:eek:

[Steve Hoffman]

Back to Billie Holiday, boys!

[Ed Bishop]

Originally posted by Steve Hoffman
Back to Billie Holiday, boys!

And that means, back to you....your thoughts about what you found and heard...

ED:cool:

[Steve Hoffman]

Back to reality, Billie's producer Milt Gabler really thought she was an amazing person. He broke down and cried when he told me of her last decade. I felt bad for him; he really couldn't do anything for her. (One has to want to be clean and off drugs).

[sgraham]

Steve,

Is this spraying with oil only for glass disks, or is it useful for other types? (I am thinking of those odd ones cut directly into aluminum in particular.) And what do you use to clean the record and stylus afterwards?

[Steve Hoffman]

Welp, we used Wesson Oil on the glass and acetate discs from the 1940's. Anything later was from a tape source, but the direct to aluminum discs I don't know. Those were not professional in the sense that studios recorded on to them, just radio air checks, etc. I've never tried it.

Liquid Joy works the best to remove the oil afterwords. No shed paper towels. Pat dry, not rub...

[sgraham]

Great tip, thanks.

[tone ded freb]

Who knew corn oil could sound so good? Found a copy on half.com. Just got it tonight. Another sonic gem! How these could ever go out of print I don't understand. The world is a mystery to me.

[lennonfan]

I also know someone who knew Billie well, here in Baltimore...his name was Harley and he had a string of sandwich shops and a Jazz show on the radio. He had pics of him with Billie in his shop and told me in very long conversations about her struggle with drugs. Her serious addiction lasted only about 15 years. It's still debated whether she was still using at the time she died. Funny, it wasn't the Heroin that killed her, it was the booze (she destroyed her liver). She went on and off drugs so many times during those years it would make your head spin. Booze was the replacement. He said he was with her during a few of her withdrawls and she would just talk all night long. It's so sad to wear your body out by the ripe old age of 44.

[RDK]

I can't wait now for some audiophile dealer to bottle Wesson oil and sell it as the latest "tweak" for $100/bottle! ;)

[reechie]

I can see Florence Henderson returning for the infomercials! :D