More results...

Filter by Categories
Photo Galleries
Audio Interviews
The Frontera Collection
Close
Menu

Record Company Catalogs and Publications of International and Regional Music

The Chris Strachwitz Collection

As an avid record collector, Chris Strachwitz also collected many vintage record company catalogs and publications of regional and ethnic music. Albanian, Scandinavia, Old Familiar Tunes, Mexican, Jewish, Greek, Turkish, and more. Not only do these catalogs list recordings, but some have information and photos of musicians and lyrics to songs. Below is a selection from these relics of a bygone era.

Click on image to open and view contents (not all publications have their contents scanned)
updated with additional catalogs 5-18-2020

Columbia Records Scandinavian – Swedish – Danish – Norwegian – Icelandic Catalog.

32 page catalog with photos and information about the musicians. Dated: October 1918.

Orthophonic Records Greek, Turkish and Albanian Records.

With photos of the musicans and song lyrics. 50 pages. Dated: February 1939

Victor Records in Hebrew and Yiddish

Monthly catalogs with photos and descriptions of musicians, and song lyrics.

Victor Records in Hebrew and Yiddish 1923
Victor Records in Hebrew and Yiddish 1924
Victor Records in Hebrew and Yiddish 1925
Victor Records in Hebrew and Yiddish 1926

Cancioneros

Song lyric magazine produced by various companies. Featuring song lyrics, photos of musicians, record lists and advertisements. Open and read over 30 cancioneros on our Cancioneros page.

cancioneros-feature_

Dr. Harry Oster’s Folk-Lyric Records.

In 1959 folklorist Dr. Oster started  Folk-Lyric Records which released 26 LPs.

Victor Blues and Hot Dance Tunes

Columbia Records – Old Familiar Tunes

Old Time Music from the United states with information and photos of the musicians. 36 Pages. Dated August 1939 (but this is probably a more recent reprint)

RCA Victor Greek Turkish and Albanian Records

“These fine records bring right into your own home the authentic music of these lands, recorded by native artists and in traditional style.” – from the introduction. 34 pages

Discos Iberia

32 pages. Date: Early 1950s

Discos Columbia

Discos Columbia
Columbia Foreign Records - 1931
Columbia Brasil - 1931

RCA Victor Bluebird

June 1940
April 1941. Happy Fats and the Rayne-Bo Ramblers and the Drum Quartett features on cover.

RCA Victor

RCA Victor Polish Records
RCA Victor Hebrew and Jewish Records
RCA Victor Finnish, Norwegian, Swedish and Scandinavian Records

Victor

1930
1914
1939

Vocalion

Discos Mexicanos Vocalion
Catalog supplement. Hermanas Padilla featured on cover. 1940

Dear friends,

On Giving Tuesday, we announced the capital campaign to purchase our building at 10341 San Pablo Ave in El Cerrito — home to the Arhoolie Foundation (and before that Arhoolie Records), Les Blank Films, and Down Home Music Store since 1976. We’ve been heartened by the community’s response to our fundraising announcement. To all who have donated so far: thank you. We couldn’t do this without you.

Now, while there is a contract in place to buy the building in partnership with Les Blank Films, we need to raise $1.2 million — our half of the purchase price — by April 15. Donations to the campaign can be made via the link below, by check, or by bank transfer. (To make a bank transfer, please email us at info@arhoolie.org).

In the new year, we look forward to collaborating with Les Blank Films and Down Home Music to bring more public programming to our community. We plan to revive Les Blank and Chris Strachwitz’s tradition of in-store film screenings and will host more informal, free performances and gatherings in the store as part of our outreach work. We believe this collaboration will result in a vibrant community gathering place dedicated to music, film, and deep roots culture.

If you’re interested in donating and would like to discuss our plans for the building, please don’t hesitate to email director Adam Machado at adam@arhoolie.org.

Thank you for your support as we begin this exciting new chapter!

Donate