In addition, there's a pretty extensive YouTube channel of this
material: http://www.youtube.com/user/PartyRecords#p/u/1/pGSzdPrIwxM
On Tue, Oct 20, 2009 at 11:55 PM, Jack Theakston
<[log in to unmask]> wrote:
> I've no idea who Bill and Betty were, but these records were quite common and popular before the 1960s. They were essentially "under the table" records that were considered smut at the time, so you had to know someone or some place that would sell them.
>
> The Arkansas bit, by the way, is an old burlesque routine and was undoubtedly recorded many times by this underground form of entertainment. My guess is that Bill and Betty were a burlesque/party/convention circuit couple that did these jokes regularly.
>
> J. Theakston
>
>
>
>
> ________________________________
> From: Marie O'Connell <[log in to unmask]>
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Sent: Tue, October 20, 2009 8:08:34 PM
> Subject: [ARSCLIST] Subversive recordings
>
> I recently preserved two sound mirror paper analogue tapes that were
> accessioned into our collection a short while ago. The main audio of
> historical interest has been recorded over in parts and this is where I need
> your help.
>
> There is a series of about six 78rpm recordings that have been put on to
> these tapes. This is obvious due to the distinctive clicks and pops and
> surface noise combined with this old paper tape stock. One recording
> features Bill and Betty who are soon to be married.........it goes on from
> there! They have American accents and I would place the date at being
> around the early 1950's, but that is hard to pinpoint as there is no
> documentation at all. I would describe this as an example of early
> pornography.
>
> Another example is about changing the name of Arkansas. It features a male
> voice with an American accent. The language used is colourful and would
> probably still not be able to be played over the airwaves today.
>
> And yet another recording features a male and female, with American accents
> (they do sound like Bill and Betty!) and it is full of innuendos and very
> suggestive lines. Some of the language in the remainder of the examples
> includes words which would not be suitable for public broadcast.
>
> Would any of you have any ideas about these recordings, where and how they
> were made (eg. blackmarket, back alley studio), where they were sold, etc.
> It is not that difficult to figure out who would buy them! Is anyone
> familiar with 78 recordings such as these?
>
> Cheers
> Marie
>
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