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Albion
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Albion records were produced by the German company, Beka from 1912. Some of the early ones are "John Bull" records, over-pasted with a plain blue Albion (see second scan). The others were an attractive (and very British-looking) dark blue and yellow design. Some of them say "Manufactured in England" on the label, others don't,  so I suspect some may have been made in Germany, though it's odd that the labels don't mention the fact.

The discs were sold on a "tally man" system, where the customer signed an agreement to buy a number of records (say, 50) over a period of a year, for which a free gramophone was supplied. The records probably cost 2/6 each.

The catalogue numbers started at 1001 and ran until about 1449 (the highest found so far).

 

This is a first attempt at a listing. Please e-mail me if you can help me fill in the gaps.                                  Last updated: November 12th 2008

Most of the information here is from Frank Andrews, who has researched many early labels extensively, and whose research may be read in most issues of the CLPGS magazine "For The Record".

In addition, I'd like to thank the following for adding to the listing: Norman Field, Greg Butler, Pat Malham
Where I have conflicting information about an item, I will show two issues of the same number and a note about the source.

Cat No Matrix Title Labelled Artists Actual Artists
1001 41522
41532		 That Mysterious Rag
Alexander's Ragtime Band (I. Berlin)		 Albion Military Band Empire Military Band (from Beka 526)
1002        
1003 41536
41606		 The Eternal Waltz (L. Fall)
The Pink Lady, waltz (I. Caryll)		 Albion Military Band Empire Military Band (from Beka 554)
 
1003 41550
41551		 The Turkey Trot
The Bogie Walk		 Albion Military Band Empire Military Band (source ?)
1004 41552
41597		 Dill Pickles (C.L. Johnson)
The Rum-Tum-Tiddle Red Pepper Rag (H. Jones)		 Albion Military Band Empire Military Band (from Beka 555)
 
1005        
1006        
1007 41041
41042		 The Quaker Girl - selection
The Quaker Girl - waltz		 Albion Orchestra Beka London Orchestra (dir. Julian Jones) (from Beka 408)
1008        
1009        
1010        
1011 40316
40922		 Dinah's Wedding
Excelsior (M. Balfe)		 John Pidoux (banjo)
Donovan & Chattaway (cornet & trombone)		 n/a (from Beka 354)
1012 41240
41241		 An Operatic Rag
An American Rag		 Mr. Frosini (Accordeon solo) n/a (John Bull paste-over label)
1013        
1014 40460
40462		 Thora (F.E. Weatherby & S. Adams)
Come Into The Garden, Maud (Tennyson & Balfe)		 Phillipe Ritte (tenor) n/a (from Beka 116)
1015 40805
40814		 The Anchor's Weighed (S.J. Arnold)
The Death Of Nelson (S.J. Arnold)		 Phillipe Ritte (tenor) n/a (from Beka 117)
1016        
1017        
1018 41354
41355		 There's Always A Corner By The Fire For You ( Penso)
Do You Remember The Last Waltz? (B. Scott)		 Stanley Kirkby (baritone) n/a (from Beka 394)
1019 277
293		 Washington Post (march) (J.P. Sousa)
The Jefferson Guards March (A. Williams)		 Grenadier Guards Band n/a (from Beka 76)
1020 41480
41483		 Piccaninny Mine, Good Night (H. Trotere)
My Juliet (Hill)		 Stanley Kirkby (baritone) and Olly Oakley (Banjo) n/a (from Beka 538)
1021 41571
41573		 Yesterday You Called Me Sweetheart (David, Penso)
Silver Star (Johnson)		 Archie Anderson (baritone)
Stanley Kirkby (baritone) with bell effects		 (from Beka 548)
1022        
1023 41410
41412		 You're The One
Let's All Go Mad		 Billy Williams n/a (from Beka 504)
1024 41406
41407		 Sally O'Malley
Mrs. B.		 Billy Williams n/a (from Beka 505)
1025 41409
41408		 Why Can't We Have The Sea In London?
I Don't Care		 Billy Williams n/a (from Beka 506)
1026 41059
41061		 Ginger, You're Barmy (F. Murray)
I'm Henery The Eighth (F. Murray & R.P. Weston)		 Harry Champion n/a (from Beka 400)
1027        
1028 41312
41397		 Ain't It 'Ot? (F. Carter)
Oh, Timothy, Let's Have A Look At It		 Bert Weston (from Beka 496)
1029        
1030        
1031        
1032        
1033        
1034        
1035 40640
40641		 Poet And Peasant - overture parts 1 & 2 (Suppe) Albion London Orchestra Beka London Orchestra (dir: Julian Jones) (from Beka 252)
1036        
1037        
1038 40996
40997		 The Bohemian Girl - selection parts 1 & 2 (M. Balfe) Albion London Orchestra Beka London Orchestra (dir: Julian Jones) (from Beka 355)
1039        
1040 40598
40599		 William Tell - andante (Rossini)
William Tell - allegro (Rossini)		 Albion Orchestra Beka London Orchestra (dir: Julian Jones) (from Beka 387)
1041        
1042        
1043        
1044        
1045        
1046        
1047        
1048        
1049        
1050        
1051        
1052        
1053        
1054 41627
41632		 Nearer My God, To Thee (S. Adams, J.B. Dykes)
Eternal Father, Strong To Save (Whiting & Dykes)		 Albion Orchestra with vocal effects (from Beka 562)
1055        
1056        
1057        
1058