Nordskog Records
Encyclopedia
Nordskog Records was a small record label
based in California
in the early 1920s that produced some interesting historic recordings.
Nordskog Records was founded by Andrae (Arne Andreas) Nordskog (1885-1962) of Santa Monica, California
in 1922. The label's recording studio
and factory were located in Los Angeles, California
. The label succeeded in only issuing a total of 27 double-sided disc records, but not for lack of trying to issue more. Nordskog had no record pressing plant, and indeed there were none located in the western United States
at the time. Nordskog contracted with the Arto Records
company of Orange, New Jersey
to press their records. Wax masters were shipped across country by railroad; early on many masters melted on the trip across the desert. By some accounts, among the recordings lost were sessions by Jelly Roll Morton
and King Oliver. Among the records which survived to be pressed were the only recordings of Eva Tanguay
, early sides by Abe Lyman
's Orchestra, Henry Halstead
's Orchestra, and a number of recordings by Kid Ory
's band. The Ory sides were the first recorded jazz
by an African American
band from New Orleans. (Contrary to what has been said by some imprecise sources, jazz, African Americans, and New Orleans bands had all been recorded earlier, but Nordskog captured the first instance of those three elements in one place at the same time.) The Ory sides were also issued on the Sunshine Records (USA) label.
In 1923
Arto filed for bankruptcy. Nordskog sued for the return of some 80 not yet issued Nordskog masters, together with mothers and stampers (see: gramophone record
) then in Arto's possession, but failed to regain anything. This was too big a blow for Nordskog, and Nordskog Records went out of business.
The labels proclaim Nordskog records to be "The Golden-Voiced Records", but audio fidelity of Nordskog Records is below average for the time. Nonetheless, because of the historic importance and legendary rarity of the records they are much sought after by record collectors.
Record label
In the music industry, a record label is a brand and a trademark associated with the marketing of music recordings and music videos. Most commonly, a record label is the company that manages such brands and trademarks, coordinates the production, manufacture, distribution, marketing and promotion,...
based in California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
in the early 1920s that produced some interesting historic recordings.
Nordskog Records was founded by Andrae (Arne Andreas) Nordskog (1885-1962) of Santa Monica, California
Santa Monica, California
Santa Monica is a beachfront city in western Los Angeles County, California, US. Situated on Santa Monica Bay, it is surrounded on three sides by the city of Los Angeles — Pacific Palisades on the northwest, Brentwood on the north, West Los Angeles on the northeast, Mar Vista on the east, and...
in 1922. The label's recording studio
Recording studio
A recording studio is a facility for sound recording and mixing. Ideally both the recording and monitoring spaces are specially designed by an acoustician to achieve optimum acoustic properties...
and factory were located in Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern California...
. The label succeeded in only issuing a total of 27 double-sided disc records, but not for lack of trying to issue more. Nordskog had no record pressing plant, and indeed there were none located in the western United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
at the time. Nordskog contracted with the Arto Records
Arto Records
Arto Records was a short lived record label based in the United States of America, operating from 1920 to 1923.Arto Records was owned by the Arto Company of Orange, New Jersey which in turn was owned by the Standard Music Roll Company, a business which made player piano rolls. They went into the...
company of Orange, New Jersey
Orange, New Jersey
The City of Orange is a city and township in Essex County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the township population was 30,134...
to press their records. Wax masters were shipped across country by railroad; early on many masters melted on the trip across the desert. By some accounts, among the recordings lost were sessions by Jelly Roll Morton
Jelly Roll Morton
Ferdinand Joseph LaMothe , known professionally as Jelly Roll Morton, was an American ragtime and early jazz pianist, bandleader and composer....
and King Oliver. Among the records which survived to be pressed were the only recordings of Eva Tanguay
Eva Tanguay
Eva Tanguay was a Canadian-born singer and entertainer who billed herself as "the girl who made vaudeville famous".-Early life:...
, early sides by Abe Lyman
Abe Lyman
Abe Lyman was a popular bandleader from the 1920s to the 1940s. He made recordings, appeared in films and provided the music for numerous radio shows, including Your Hit Parade....
's Orchestra, Henry Halstead
Henry Halstead
Henry Halstead was a U.S. bandleader.Henry Halstead's Orchestra began in early 1922 and over the next 20 years Halstead's band engagements extended from coast to coast, including the Blossom Room at Hotel Roosevelt, New York City; the Beverly Wilshire Hotel in Beverly Hills, California; the St...
's Orchestra, and a number of recordings by Kid Ory
Kid Ory
Edward "Kid" Ory was a jazz trombonist and bandleader. He was born in Woodland Plantation near LaPlace, Louisiana.-Biography:...
's band. The Ory sides were the first recorded jazz
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
by an African American
African American
African Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have at least partial ancestry from any of the native populations of Sub-Saharan Africa and are the direct descendants of enslaved Africans within the boundaries of the present United States...
band from New Orleans. (Contrary to what has been said by some imprecise sources, jazz, African Americans, and New Orleans bands had all been recorded earlier, but Nordskog captured the first instance of those three elements in one place at the same time.) The Ory sides were also issued on the Sunshine Records (USA) label.
In 1923
1923 in music
-Events:*November 11 - Premiere of John Foulds's World Requiem at the Royal Albert Hall in London. It is repeated on that date each year until 1926....
Arto filed for bankruptcy. Nordskog sued for the return of some 80 not yet issued Nordskog masters, together with mothers and stampers (see: gramophone record
Gramophone record
A gramophone record, commonly known as a phonograph record , vinyl record , or colloquially, a record, is an analog sound storage medium consisting of a flat disc with an inscribed, modulated spiral groove...
) then in Arto's possession, but failed to regain anything. This was too big a blow for Nordskog, and Nordskog Records went out of business.
The labels proclaim Nordskog records to be "The Golden-Voiced Records", but audio fidelity of Nordskog Records is below average for the time. Nonetheless, because of the historic importance and legendary rarity of the records they are much sought after by record collectors.