A topic about library music on reel to reel tape

[WSBG Returns Yet Again!]

I'm just starting this topic, because not many people talk about library music on reel to reel tape. I'm just kinda wondering if anyone else knows about this stuff, outside of me. I know about some things, like the fact that tapes with that kind of music were usually pressed at 15 ips (inches per second), and occasionally 7 ips. They also of course contain, of course, to quote my Emil Ascher library music sampler, professional quality transfers of library music tracks. I also know that for some tracks from 78s, they were originally recorded in stereo, but were pressed on of course, mono 10 inch vinyl.

[likedeeler]

Reel-to-reel tapes were not uncommon as a medium for commercial music in the 1950s and '60s. It seems only logical that music libraries used them as well. Tapes offered better sound quality than even vinyl records, and they could also be in stereo at a time when that wasn't yet an option for records (until about the late 1950s I think). It would be interesting to know how good they still are. Have you ever listened to one?

By the way, tapes continue being a (tiny) thing. There are music labels specialising in reel-to-reel even today. They sell brand-new direct copies from actual master recordings, which essentially provides you with your own master tape for domestic consumption. Sound quality is -- I'm told and believe -- unsurpassed and likely unsurpassable except by getting hold of a master recording itself.

Something for the discerning listener. Standard retail price for one album is 300-500 euros.

[KPM Lover]

On this subject I know about the existence of the company Ross-Gaffney, Inc. which produced many of these libraries on reel to reel tape. They also made sound effects libraries with this format and did video editing. The company was founded in 1956 by James Gaffney. In 1999, the company was bought by Sound Ideas, which re-released some of it's songs on the albums Classic Comedy Music Volume 1 and 2, and Classic Drama Music Volume 1 and 2. These libraries had, by the credits of the films Laurel & Hardy’s Laughing 20’s and The Further Perils of Laurel and Hardy which are productions that used some songs of the company, some composers like Skeets Alquist (a pseudonym of composer Richard Wolf), Lawrence Kogen and John Carl Parker. Unfortunately, when Sound Ideas re-released the songs from the library, they credited them all as being composed by Albert Marlowe, who is a pseudonym of Brain Nimens.

These are the links contaning some songs from Ross-Gaffney, Inc.:
https://www.stockmusic.com/album/5475031
https://www.stockmusic.com/album/5475032
https://www.stockmusic.com/album/5475033
https://www.stockmusic.com/album/5475034

Note: In the second link, skip the songs that have as instrumentation amusement park organs, because these tracks came originally from Valentino.

[WSBG Returns Yet Again!]

Have you ever listened to one?

I do own a library music reel tape that plays at 15 ips, but unfortunately, I have no clue what library the tape is from. I can't digitize it either because I don't have a digital recorder. I have listened to it though, and I can tell you what are the stats about it. This tape has a cue announcer letting you know what number the track is, similar to Capitol Hi-Q. The track number has a two letter code at the beginning before the number, the letter code being SH. To my knowledge, no library has that code that I know of. The tape dates from the mid-50s (1955?), and there were a few libraries that had tapes, like Impress, Chappell and Synchro-Fox, but it doesn't look like the tracks on here match anything that I know of. It's not a Capitol Hi-Q tape, because it came on a basic Scotch reel tape and reel box, with no mention of Capitol on it. The tape looks like it must've came from some obscure library.

[Upgrade]

I mentioned a while back I had a handful of CBS EZ cue tapes at 7.5 ips, branded boxes etc. Obnoxious cue tones and all.

Capitol Hi-Q had official boxes, but generic tape reels at 15 ips.

KPM record sleeves mention tapes, but haven’t come across a picture of an official one.

These were quarter inch tape. Higher speeds and thicker width theoretically translates into higher quality.

Someone mentioned visiting an archive and finding the (poorly labeled and stored) master tapes.

[Retronic]

KPM had a couple of original reels on display (Afro Rock + one other I think) at the premier of the Library Music Film & KPM gig.  I have a photo of them somewhere.  I've seen a stash of Southern reels up for auction and a few other bits and bobs.  I have a recording of 'My Thing' on Peer from a guy who was selling the two reels and indeed, flawless sound as none of that nasty dust or grooves for it to get into!

[likedeeler]

... The tape looks like it must've came from some obscure library.

Interesting!

Depending on the accent of the announcer it may be worthwhile to ask public libraries. If American, for example, the Library of Congress might be able to find out where your tape comes from.