Jazz Music 78 Record Melancholy Mood Harry James Frank Sinatra's 1st LISTEN

$

1,200

For your consideration is a rare vintage 10 inch 78 rpm by Harry James and His Orchestra entitled Melancholy Mood b/w From the Bottom Of My Heart. This was the first commercially released record to feature Frank Sinatra. Sinatra began singing as a teenager on radio in the mid 1930s. After achieving some modest success on New Jersey radio, by 1938 Sinatra had not achieved the success he was striving for. Stuck at a local roadhouse called "The Rustic Cabin" as a "singing waiter" for 15 dollars a week, Sinatra would do anything to sing and be noticed by anyone who would give him his big break. Meanwhile, virtuoso trumpeter Harry James had left Benny Goodman's band and with his blessings and some funding, started his own big band. Whilst touring in New Jersey during June 1939, James heard Sinatra performing on the local radio whilst he was still working at the Rustic Cabin and he paid Sinatra a visit the next night. Asking for the talented singer who was working at the establishment, James was told that the inn had no singer, but a waiter that could "sing a little." Once Frank caught wind of James' presence, he began to sing Night and Day. James would later recount that "I felt the hairs on the back of my neck rising. I knew he was destined to be a great singer." Sinatra was offered a contract right away, under the terms that Sinatra would be with the group for 2 years. Things did not go as planned, however. James' band was met with lukewarm reception and only one commercial recording was released featuring Frank Sinatra on Brunswick. Melancholy Mood b/w From the Bottom Of My Heart was a decided commercial failure, selling an estimated 8500 copies only. It was the last Brunswick released to feature the Harry James band and one of the last records in the Brunswick catalogue before the company was absorbed by the parent label CBS Columbia. Frank only ended up staying on for 6 months. Harry James, not even being able to pay Sinatra's 75 dollar salary, graciously allowed Sinatra to join Tommy Dorsey's band in early 1940. James himself would go onto to great success once adding a string section to his band in 1941. Today Melancholy Mood is an extremely rare collector's item and is seen as the holy grail for Sinatra collectors. Plays great. Hear below!

All of our old shellac and vinyl 78 records are packed with utmost care and precaution so as to ensure they arrive to you in the same condition in which they were shipped out. I have extensive experience shipping 78s. For an in depth explanation of my shipping methods, see the bottom of this page. All items will be shipped within 3 days of purchase. All good faith offers thoroughly considered.

Further, for your purchasing consideration, a video link has been provided below to provide the option to listen to a short segment of one side of this disc. Please keep in mind that rather economical equipment was used and 78s only received a light cleaning. For the highest fidelity reproduction results, a correct sized, well maintained stylus should always be used and antique records should also always receive a deep cleaning with a stiff bristled brush and a non-alcohol based soap. I do not provide grading beyond what is required by eBay. If the photographs and sound sample prove insufficient, do not hesitate to reach out with a question, as well as any other type of inquiry related to an item. 

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