AL JOLSON AT EASE

OCTOBER 27, 1946

Talk about rare, you very well may never have the opportunity to bid on one of these sets again. They were produced in very limited quantity, the exact number is in dispute.  But at the very least 114 sets were produced and sold for $42.00 in 1946!  This is what Dave Jay says about the set in Jolsonography on pages 104 and 105:

JOLSONOGRAPHY

DAVE  JAY

1969

AL JOLSON RECORDS - SPECIAL RELEASES

Pressed for Private Sale and Distribution; Not offered To The Public Through Regular Channel:

The following album (plain brown cover; gold lettering) is of AI Jolson's complete eighty-minute ad-lib guest appearance on Barry Gray's all-night  disc-jockey radio show,

New York, N.Y., Saturday, October 27, 1946. Under auspices of Gray (who took the orders) and Sig Schy (whoever he was and whatever he did), copies were pressed to order by World Radio, a radio 'transcription subsidiary of Decca, sold and paid for in advance at $42 per. An 8"x10"photo of Al Jolson, Barry Gray etc., taken at ten minutes and fifteen seconds before five AM during the broadcast (not the photo formerly in Lindy's window, likewise from broadcast), was scotch-taped to the inside rear album-cover. To the inside-­front album-cover was glued the following mimeographed explanation:

"On October 27, 1946, Al Jolson paid an impromptu visit to the Barry Gray Show at

WOR, Mutual. The program that followed created such a furor, that it soon became quite evident, that radio history had been made. In response to an overwhelming demand by the listening audience for copies of recordings of the show, it was decided to put out a limited number of albums. The original records of the show were acquired by Sig Schy through whose efforts this collectors item has been made possible. Photos courtesy of Sam Vandervirt. Mr. Schy wishes to express his thanks to the many people who assisted him. This is album No._____" Though reputedly only one hundred copies were pressed - each numbered individually - the one purchased from Gene Fornshell by myself is stamped ".#114". All matrix numbers scratched in wax followed by “D33L" (album's catalogue number'?). Green seal; black lettering. Twelve-inch; 78 rpm. Eight discs; sixteen sides; drop-coupling sequence. Like Decca "Reviewers Copy" pressings, discs are on seemingly black vinilyte which shows red when held up to light. During the Jolson guest segment, Gray played no records and read no commercials. Album is mostly Al talking, being interviewed on his career in general and “The Jolson Story" in particular, plus singing the following selections. Those sung in full are accompanied by Harry Akst at the piano. Those marked with an asterick (*) sung a capella, only a line or so from each, to illustrate or punctuate Jolson's narrative.            .

This is what "Al Jolson A Bio-Discography" says about the "Al Jolson At Ease" set:

Larry F. Kiner and Philip R. Evans

Al Jolson A Bio-Discography

1992, Page 400

The complete 80-minute Al Jolson portion of this program was released in the limited edition album of eight 12"-78 rpm discs. Songs only were issued as noted on other releases. Only three (3) sets of this album set have been confirmed to exist.

The entire Barry Gray Show with Al Jolson was intended to be released on two 12" LP’s. Tests exist but the LP was never commercially issued. Sides 1 and 3 are matrices 5211 and 5213. Sides 2 and 4 are matrices 5212 and 5214.

This is set # 11 and it is not in mint condition, the album cover is soiled and worn and the end panel has been taped with clear packing tape.  All 8, 12" , 78 discs are in E to E- condition, they show scuffs in a couple areas but I played the set last evening and all 16 sides play through without issue.  All disc labels have some marks, the label on disc 1 part one has a minor tear and the reverse disc 1 part 9 also has some damage.  It appears that this disc one was labeled twice in manufacturing because under the tears referenced above is another label.  The panel referencing that this is set #11 is intact on the inside cover.  The original 8x10 photograph that is supposed to be taped in the rear cover is missing.  I have included a a laser print of the photograph, it's the correct photo but not the 1946 vintage print.

As I mentioned earlier, you may never have an opportunity to bid on this set again they are extreemly rare and scarce.

Successful bidder pays $20.00 shipping...Great Bidding!