Friday, November 28, 2025

Two Of The Same Nut

I've got two versions of The Nutcracker here for you in the middle of the night. I recorded them at different times, cleaned them up and cut them into pieces at different times, scanned and edited the sleeves at different times, and only realized this was two releases of the same recording from different sides of the pond much later. I seem to recall they may be edited a bit differently and maybe the speed of one is a little off from the other, but they're certainly the same. I think was finally clued me in was that both records name the same female performer even though the listed groups are different. I love to find little coincidences like this, you can't plan for it, but you have to be ready when it happens.  The first one I'll give you is Denise Bryer And The Famous Theatre Company With The Hollywood Studio Orchestra-The Nutcracker Suite (United Artists/Tale Spinners For Children UAC 11011, Mono). This one was released in the US as part of the extensive Tale Spinners For Children series by United Artists.

1. The Nutcracker, Side 1
2. The Nutcracker, Side 2

MEGA

And this second version, released in the UK, is London Theatre Company Featuring Denise Bryer-The Nutcracker (Beano Records Limited (England) BE.12/015, Mono, 1965). I suspect this is the original and was licensed to the US company a year or so later. I updated the listings at Discogs to tie these two records together, and I saw there were other Beano record titles that were duplicated in the Tale Spinners series. I wonder if they're also reissues? I don't have the Beano issues of any others, so I can't say for sure.

1. Nutcracker, Part 1
2. Nutcracker, Part 2

MEGA

4 comments:

  1. I like how the orchestra was magically transported from London to Hollywood for the two recordings.

    "Beano" is a great name for a record company. There is (or used to be) a pill by the same time that you would take when you had gas.

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    Replies
    1. Exactly what I thought of, but ot does sound kind of British, doesn't it?

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  2. Check out the cover of the "John Mayall and the Bluesbreakers with Eric Clapton" album. Clapton is reading a publication called "The Beano". How British can you get?

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