[Dixielandjazz] More distortional cogitation re Bessie.

[Fr M J (Mike) Logsdon]

Ok....

1)  The first medium I noticed the "Cake Walking" "gurgle" on was the 
cassette version of the Columbia remastering.  So, we can eliminate the 
final-CD-product angle (though admittedly a good one which I'd not 
initially thought of).

2)  The same distortion is present in both analog (Davies) and digital 
(Columbia) remastered versions, so Mr Crouch's assertion that we must, 
logically, be speaking only about the actual original recordings, is 
beyond question:  neither final CD nor remastering technique necessarily 
contribute to the type of distortion we've been talking about.

3)  Tonight, on later, but still quite early, electrical Bessies, I hear 
instances of the same "gurgle."  Now, considering Mr Davies' own 
standards, and the glowing reviews I've received all along of the Davies 
remastering as a whole, I find it hard to believe that IF the 
remastering, itself, had caused or contributed to the distortion, or 
even IF the final CD product had contributed, ... I find it hard to 
believe such a project would've ever made it into our collections. 
Basically, considering the quality conditions Mr Davies worked under to 
work his magic, he certainly heard what I'm hearing, and if he'd been 
the cause, it wouldn't have passed his muster.

4)  So, I'm down to the next level of my query:  EITHER such distortion 
was par for the course on such recordings of a voice like Bessie's, OR, 
it was a singing characteristic of her actual voice, ie, was what I'm 
occasionally hearing merely part of the inherent "harshness" or 
"growl-ness" of such a gutsy blues voice?  In other words, I'm down to 
the point of simply wondering if what I'm actually hearing IS 
distortion.....,
-- 
Etc,

Fr M J "Mike" Logsdon
North American Old Roman Catholic Church (Utrecht Succession)
www.naorc.org