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Author
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Topic: Waltah Clark - A Beachboy Party
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Derrick Mau
Member From: Honolulu, Hawaii, USA
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posted 18 March 2006 10:02 AM
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 I've recently seen the original vinyl of this album released in 1963. When reading the back of the vinyl cover, I was surprised to hear that Waltah originally had tape recorded this back in 1949. He goes on to say that the tape had somehow got damaged, and it wasn't until 1963 till someone had found a way to save the audio recording. Joe Custino is the steel player for this album and does a fine job however, it's sad that Waltah never mentions his name on the credits as Joe's playing certainly added a lot to the music. This album has recently been re-issued onto CD by Cord International as most of you already know. |
Bill Leff
Member From: Santa Cruz, CA, USA
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posted 18 March 2006 01:11 PM
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I love the version of Waikiki on that album! 
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Jeff Au Hoy
Member From: Honolulu, Hawai'i
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posted 18 March 2006 01:26 PM
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Me too... Kalakaua Aylett had a sweet voice. And how about his cutaway Super 400! I have a hard time believing the recording is from 1949, because the steel playing (chord voicings, vamps etc) seems a bit "advanced" for that year... I think Joe Custino's vibrato back then was much much wider as well. |
Warren Slavin
Member From: Southampton, PA, 18966. USA
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posted 18 March 2006 03:40 PM
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Hi Derrick,I have the Cord CD and love it -- it reflects the Beach Boy era of the 30's thru the 50's. I never saw the vinyl copy of '63 and often wondered who the steel player was, now I know. Thanks for the info. Warren |
Derrick Mau
Member From: Honolulu, Hawaii, USA
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posted 18 March 2006 04:56 PM
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Jeff,Now that you mention it, I'm kinda wondering if Joe's steel was mixed in later in 63', and that the original recording never had any steel guitar to begin with. Do you think this kind of studio mixing onto separate tracks was possible back in 1963? The emcee that is talking throughout the recording never mentions anything about a steel player, or Joe's name, but introduces everyone else.
I'll have to take another listen to the CD. |
Jeff Au Hoy
Member From: Honolulu, Hawai'i
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posted 18 March 2006 06:00 PM
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I think Joe must have been there live because he brings in a lot of the songs. I don't know of any multi-track Hawaiian recordings until the 1970's. I think the technology was still in its infancy even with MoTown in the early 1960's. |
Jeff Strouse
Member From: Jacksonville, Florida, USA
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posted 18 March 2006 10:08 PM
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This is one of my favorite CDs. A must have. |
Don Kona Woods
Member From: Vancouver, Washington, USA
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posted 18 March 2006 10:37 PM
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One of my favorite musical trips on Saturday mornings. My wife and I have put on this album often, and dream we are on the beach at Waikiki with the Beachboys.As I said before on this album Joe Custino's chord voicings and vamps sound similar to Jules Ah See. My opinion is that Joe was influenced by Jules because Custino's playing in the 40's was a lot of single string. Derrick, howsa bout naming the men on the album picture? Some I recognize, others I do not. Aloha,
Don |
Mitch Drumm
Member From: santa rosa, ca
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posted 18 March 2006 10:48 PM
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I'm with Jeff. Nothing about that recording sounds like 1949 to me. Chick Daniels' voice and the overall fidelity sound more like a 1960s date.The best thing about it is the informality and hearing Harry Robello running off at the mouth. Don: That's Harry and Chick in the back row, middle and right. My kingdom for Chick's OCC shirt. Over 50 years ago, I had a pair of swim trunks with that logo, but they are long gone. Kalakaua Aylett is to die for on Ahulili! One of my top 5 favorite Hawaiian vocals of all time. I don't have it in front of me, but I thought Splash Lyons played steel on this LP??[This message was edited by Mitch Drumm on 18 March 2006 at 10:53 PM.] |
Derrick Mau
Member From: Honolulu, Hawaii, USA
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posted 19 March 2006 10:39 AM
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Don,Front row sitting from left to right: Splash Lyons, Abraham Kala, and Panama 2nd row left to right: Squeeze Kamana, Ox, Waltah Clarke, Jimmy Hakuole, and Duke Kahanamoku Last row left to right: Kalakaua, Harry Robello, and Chick Daniels. I talked to Harold Hakuole at the Halekulani. That's his uncle, Jimmy here in the photo. Harold also comfirmed to me that it was Joe Custino on the steel. I'm not surprised at the sound fidelity. Listen to some of the old jazz albums from the Blue Note label. |
Jeff Au Hoy
Member From: Honolulu, Hawai'i
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posted 19 March 2006 05:59 PM
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But they had Rudy Van Gelder and I doubt there was any equal in the islands at that time. I've never heard any 1940's recording on any label that clear. Oh and I dont think RVG started with Blue Note until the early 1950's (?).[This message was edited by Jeff Au Hoy on 19 March 2006 at 06:03 PM.] |
Don Kona Woods
Member From: Vancouver, Washington, USA
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posted 19 March 2006 06:11 PM
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quote:
I've never heard any 1940's recording on any label that clear.
It says on my album 1963. Remember it was also recorded at the Outrigger Canoe Club down beyond the Natatorium. They certainly would have needed more up to date recording equipment to produce the quality of sound that is on the recording. By the way Panama looks like Paul Kim. Aloha,
Don[This message was edited by Don Kona Woods on 19 March 2006 at 06:11 PM.] [This message was edited by Don Kona Woods on 19 March 2006 at 11:04 PM.] |
Derrick Mau
Member From: Honolulu, Hawaii, USA
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posted 20 March 2006 01:47 PM
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I think some of you are getting confused here. It was taped in 1949 but it wasn't duped to vinyl until 1963 using 60's audio technology. Here's the linear notes on the back of that original 1963 cover by Waltah Clarke.  Don, I know you have the re-issue CD because you mentioned it in a previous thread. On the bottom rear of the CD it says: "This audio recording has been meticulously restored and re-mastered from the finest available source". I have the original 1963 vinyl and the re-issued CD by Cord International so I did a comparison. The CD is notably clearer and louder in volume but the original vinyl sounds darn good too for that time. There is no mention of what type of recorder Waltah used but I don't think he used some cheap device. The bottom of my original 1963 vinyl says:
Produced by Chick Floyd and Kimo Wilder McVay. Anyone who has lived in Hawaii knows that the McVay's have been in the recording business for a looong time. |
Derrick Mau
Member From: Honolulu, Hawaii, USA
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posted 20 March 2006 02:01 PM
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Here's some interesting info about Waltah Clarke and one of his clothing designs.
http://starbulletin.com/2002/05/12/news/story11.html
http://www.thehanashirtco.com/?p=view_product&product_id=410 Looks like some of the beachboy gang is drinking those old Primo beer. Can't help noting how long Duke Kahanamoku's arms are in the photo too. |
Jeff Au Hoy
Member From: Honolulu, Hawai'i
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posted 20 March 2006 04:33 PM
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I wonder how much "Waltah" made from the recording.I wonder how much the Waikiki beachboys made from the recording. |
Derrick Mau
Member From: Honolulu, Hawaii, USA
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posted 20 March 2006 05:21 PM
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The beer that you see in the foreground was probably what they got. |
Gerald Ross
Member From: Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
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posted 20 March 2006 05:25 PM
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Musicians making money? Is this something new? You can make money playing music?Nobody tells me anything.  ------------------
Gerald Ross
'Northwest Ann Arbor, Michigan's King Of The Hawaiian Steel Guitar' 
CEO, CIO, CFO - UkeTone Records
Gerald's Fingerstyle Guitar Website
Board of Directors Hawaiian Steel Guitar Association |
basilh
Member From: United Kingdom
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posted 20 March 2006 05:47 PM
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Oh Yes you can Ger.. see this. :-
some recent royalty details from various countries ------------------
quote:
Steel players do it without fretting
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Don Kona Woods
Member From: Vancouver, Washington, USA
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posted 20 March 2006 10:43 PM
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quote:
I wonder how much "Waltah" made from the recording.
I wonder how much "Waltah" made from all of those shirts he sold? Musta been plenty, cause they sure were expensive. Aloha,
Don |
Gerald Ross
Member From: Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
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posted 21 March 2006 05:34 AM
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So what's the deal Baz? If you show me yours I have to show you mine?  ------------------
Gerald Ross
'Northwest Ann Arbor, Michigan's King Of The Hawaiian Steel Guitar'
CEO, CIO, CFO - UkeTone Records
Gerald's Fingerstyle Guitar Website
Board of Directors Hawaiian Steel Guitar Association [This message was edited by Gerald Ross on 21 March 2006 at 05:35 AM.]
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basilh
Member From: United Kingdom
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posted 21 March 2006 07:47 AM
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NAh, Mine's only a 'Little one' by some standards and anyway all I can show you is quite old and wrinkled by now !! The Statements I mean !! |
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