Review by Choice Review
During the 78-rpm era, and especially during the three decades after 1910, it was the custom of record manufacturers to identify many of their performers with pseudonyms. Often it was smaller companies that did so, to create an artificial list of performers. Another reason was that established artists under exclusive contracts with one record label could not work for a rival label unless pseudonymously. Then, as major labels developed low-cost subsidiary lines, they often masked the names of their star performers. To exemplify the extent of this practice (so troublesome to collectors and researchers), the Peerless Quartet had at least 13 other names, the singer Vernon Dahlhart at least 56 noms du disque. Sutton's valuable compilation is the most extensive available: some 2,500 stage names with an index of the real names. Accuracy is excellent. However, the user of this fine work should note that it does lack many names that are noted in Encyclopedia of Recorded Sound in the United States (CH Nov'93), which has a list of some 700 names, quite a few not in Sutton. Recommended for music libraries, and for all libraries with collections in discography. Graduate; faculty. G. A. Marco; Rosary College
Copyright American Library Association, used with permission.
Review by Choice Review
