Transacord: Sounds of Steam - Mark Jones

Description

Note that further information about the book and exclusive free CD can be found on the Transacord: Sound of Steam website - you can also buy the book from this website.

Transacord: Sounds of Steam (and other Transports of Delight) has been written with the full cooperation of Transacord and the National Railway Museum's Image and Sound Collections department, which is home to the (as yet uncatalogued) Peter Handford Collection. The first 500 copies come complete with a strictly limited edition free CD, which includes two tracks not previously issued on CD.

This is the third volume in the occasional 'Great British Record Labels' series and comes hot off The Record Press to celebrate one of Britain's most idiosyncratic and best-loved record labels. Transacord started to release railway recordings in 1955 and, after teaming up with Harley Usill's Decca subsidiary, Argo, started to chalk up sales of 30,000 to 40,000 records per year in its heyday. Enthusiasts quickly recognised the exceptional quality of both the recordings and of Peter Handford’s skilful editing, which, along with comprehensive and often near poetic sleeve notes, became something of a Transacord trademark.

Peter Handford, the visionary behind Transacord, had a dual career as a sound recordist in the British film industry and was at the forefront when it came to location recording – indeed, he won an Oscar for the soundtrack to Out of Africa – and the techniques he learned as part of his trade ensured that every Transacord record included more than just ‘railway noises’. He brought both an artist's ear and the enthusiast's knowledge to Transacord's recordings. He was also extremely critical of his own recordings, which ensured that only the best ever made it as far as the pressing plant.

Each record presented a compelling series of soundscapes, in which steam locomotives were the undisputed stars (and occasional prima–donnas), often backed by a full supporting cast of birds, dogs and church bells (if in the country) or the clanking of signal levers and station announcements (if in the yard or station). It is this minute attention to detail and to atmosphere – honed through years of pioneering sound work in the film industry – that ensures that Transacord records provide the listener with such a transport of delight.

What's on the free CD?

The first 500 copies of Transacord: Sounds of Steam includes a free CD compilation of Transacord recordings, including material never before issued on CD. The CD comes in a facsimile 1950s Transacord sleeve.

HURRY - OVER 200 COPIES ALREADY SOLD. LESS THAN 300 COPIES WITH THE FREE CD LEFT!

The track listing is as follows:

• Band 1. At York Station
• Band 2. On the Hereford - Abergavenny line at Llanvihangel Summit on a November night in 1960
• Band 3. On the Settle - Carlisle line at Ribblehead Station on a November night in 1961
• Band 4. At Exeter St.Davids Station, beside the S.R. line in 1958
• Band 5. At Templecombe Station, on the S. R. West of England main line and the S. & D. line
• Band 6. At Dent Station signal box on the Settle & Carlisle line
• Band 7. On a train between Evercreech and Shepton Mallet
• Band 8. In the mountains of Slovenia at Lupoglav Station on a stormy night in November 1970
• Band 9. Steam traction engines, at Appleford, in June, 1959

The first 4 tracks present one track each of the Big Four companies; track 5 includes locomotives from three out of the Big Four companies; track 6 includes railwaymen talking and sounds from inside a signal box; track 7 presents a BR Standard Class locomotive in trouble on the Somerset & Dorset (so killing two birds with one stone!); track 8 presents a non-UK steam recording; track 9 presents a non-railway steam recording.

All are stereo except for tracks 1, 4 and 7. Tracks 7 and 9 have been lovingly transcribed from original vinyl records. All tracks are © Transacord Ltd. 2011.

At a glance

Transacord: Sounds of Steam follows the structure of the earlier and acclaimed discographies in the Great British Record Labels series. This is the first book to look at a relatively small label and so becomes the first in the Light Engine sub-series.

In the book you will find:

• A history of Transacord, including a brief look at Peter Handford's career as a film sound recordist.
• A complete discography of all UK Transacord-branded records and CDs on Transacord, Argo and ASV.
• Full track details for all records plus release dates and original pricing details for many releases.
• Full colour illustrations of all bar four stupidly rare record sleeves.
• Even the black and white Argo-era EP sleeves show their age spotting in real colour!
• Examples of the original, independent company's label designs between 1954 and 1961.
• Descriptions of logo and label variations over the years to help you spot original copies.
• Illustrations of various inserts, catalogues and promotional materials.
• Information on CDs and digital downloads.
• A selected listing of Transacord recordings released on other labels.
• Documentation of most (if not all) Transacord-branded cassette releases.

What the reviews are saying:

No trade reviews yet - hardly surprising because review copies have only recently gone out. On the other hand, satisfied customers are saying some very nice things:

"...your book and CD are superb - particularly as I have many of the records...and most of the CDs also, so the information is invaluable."

"...delighted"

"Thank you very much for the Transacord Sounds of Steam discography...I have been buying and listening to Peter Handford's recordings since 1967, and so your book has arrived as a most welcome companion."