Rare & sealed 1969 vinyl album for IBM computer corporation, PAEAN on Skye, ACT

$

145

A rare and sealed vinyl record album with “OUR LEADER” mailing sticker label over plastic seal on back:

PAEAN - AN ACT/INTER-ACT COMMUNICATION
unknown location, unknown date
unknown (p); "The Association of British Secretaries in America Ltd. (ABSA)" (vcl).

a. Introduction (Carl Menkel)
b. To Thomas J. Watson (Carl Menkel)
c. To C.A. Kirk (Tune: "Carry Me Back To Old Virginny") (Carl Menkel)
d. To J.L. Barton (Tune: "Oh! Susanna") (Carl Menkel)
e. To F.W. Nichol (Tune: "Home On The Range") (Carl Menkel)
f. Paean (Tune: "Sweet Molly Malone") (Carl Menkel)
g. Ever Onward (Carl Menkel)
h. Hail To The I.B.M. (Carl Menkel)
i. To Thomas J. Watson (Tune: "Auld Lang Syne") (Carl Menkel)
j. (The) I.B.M. Country Club Song (Tune: "Annie Lisle") (Carl Menkel)
k. Land Of Hope And Glory (Carl Menkel)

“Note: (1) ACT apparently stands for the "Advanced Computer Techniques Corporation" and INTER-ACT is listed as "a wholly owned educational subsidiary of ACT." (2) Thomas J. Watson (Jr.) was president of IBM from 1956 to 1971 (he died in 1993). F.W. Nichol, served as Vice President and General Manager, C.A. Kirk as Executive Vice President and J.L. Barton as Resident Manager, Endicott Plant probably around the same time. (3) Hard to say whether this mercifully brief sing-along album is a joke or serious (yes, the words seem to take it all very seriously). But it is apparently a late 1960s attempt to return "high company (IBM) spirit in industry." Absolutely none of the usual Skye traits are in evidence here.”

“Near the end of 1969, Skye Records was having some financial tightness, and turned to the tried-and-true practice of recording outside albums as "special products" to raise some revenue. The album that was recorded in this slot was a "special product" recorded for IBM called Paean: An Act/Inter-Act Communication, which was probably used in training seminars at the company to whip up company spirit. I.B.M. could pay well, but at what cost to Skye? The songs were literally paeans to IBM execs, sung to the tune of well-known folk songs by a group of singers that sounded like they belonged at a sing-along night at the local pizza parlor. Apparently, after hearing this, Skye execs reconsidered whether they wanted to put their reputation on the line by having so weird a record in their catalog. Instead of SK 16, they numbered it SKI-P1 (as in, "skip one number in the catalog") so it wouldn't be associated with them forever, and got busy working on a leasing deal with Buddah.”- Skye Records Album Discography
By Mike Callahan, Dave Edwards, and Patrice Eyries

Issues: a-k on Skye SKI P-1
Producer: Ralph Stout (A Skye Production)

Sharp and clean condition. Sealed album. Near fine/Fine

Please email me with any questions. Item will be shipped flat.