For a short history of the recording of Scottish music, read “Beltona Records and their role in recording Scottish music.” It includes such gems as:
‘During more than 110 years of existence the British recording industry has recorded thousands of artists performing in a bewildering range of styles and genres. Driven by the profit motive, it actively sought to cater for every market that could be identified; if they could press and sell 200 copies (or fewer) of a record for a profit they would certainly feel it worthwhile to do so. The hope was that customers, having seen a record they would like in a catalogue or supplement, would then buy a gramophone on which to play it, which would in turn, hopefully lead to the sales of more records.
Now that’s a business plan!
‘Tom Walker, born in Dundee in 1888, had worked for Murdoch’s since 1914 in the capacity of salesman for the whole of Scotland and so had a thorough knowledge of the Scottish musical scene. It seems highly probable that he was the man who persuaded the Murdoch family to change their marketing strategy from trying to be all things to all people to being a brand that appealed primarily to Scots. In the space of a couple of years (1927-29) the percentage of Scottish repertoire shifted from 23% to 75% and that of native artists from 44% to 92%. In itself this was significant but what was just as important was a move to a more vernacular style.
And a marketing strategy.
‘An important session took place in July 1929 when the bothy ballad singer Willie Kemp made his first records. Beltona was the first record company to record this genre and remained so until the post war period. Willie and his cousin George Morris were to remain popular for many years; indeed some of their material was re-issued on LP. Their versions of The Muckin’ o’ Geordie’s Byre, The Barnyards of Delgaty, Drumgeldie and many other songs probably helped to keep the tradition alive and perhaps provided the inspiration for many ‘folk’ artists.
Willie Kemp… remember him?
~ End Article and Begin Conversation ~
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