1912 Titanic memorial recordings on rare Beta 78

$

135

1912 TITANIC MEMORIAL SONGS ON THE AUSTRALIA ONLY 78rpm 10" BETA RECORD LABEL

Beta Record 144 [a rare pressing manufactured for the Australian market (note the Kangaroo!) by Edison Bell from the same masters as Winner 2144

Be British / Stand by your post

By Ernest Gray [credited as E. Gray on this issue]

The songs on this record were published in 1912 as a response to the sinking of the Titanic.

"Stand To Your Post" by Bennett Scott

"Be British" by Lawrence Wright

Both "Stand to your post" and "Be British" were published within weeks of the sinking and both feature rousing lyrics encouraging listeners to support the relief funds set up to help the victims' families.

The disc is in good condition with some visible wear and superficial marks due to normal age and handling but no serious defects.

See these links for information on the TITANIC and this record

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RMS_Titanic

http://www.encyclopedia-titanica.org/item/3325/

The words to "Be British" are as follows:

Be British

Introduction (instrumental)

First Verse (vocal, supported by trumpet soloist).

What a glorious thing it is to know,

that the breed is just the same

as it was when the Anglo-Saxon race,

first gained immortal fame.

What a glorious thing it is to know

when dangers hour was nigh;

when the mighty liner sank to her rest,

our men knew how to die.

Descriptive Passage (Spoken to the tune "Horbury" - Nearer My God to Thee - played by strings.

In rode the feeling of courage, of duty to be done and men behaved like men should do, all heroes every one. Millionaire and poor man's son, when she was sinking fast, worked like Britons side by side all faithful to the last and though they found a cold, cold grave beneath the icy seas. Up on high these words were heard, Nearer My God to Thee. With men like these we still can boast and as of old can sing O death, where is thy victory, O grave, where is thy sting.

Chorus

Be British was the cry as the ship went down

Every man was steady at his post

Captain and crew when they knew the worst

Saving the women and children first <>Be British is the cry to everyone

And though fate has proved unkind.

Show that you are willing, with a penny or a shilling for those they left behind.

Finale (identical to the introduction).

The words to "Stand by your post" are as follows:

"Dedicated to the memory of the greatest shipping disaster in the history of the world, the loss of the world leviathan the Titanic, of forty five thousand tons, forty six thousand horse power, by collision with an iceberg in the mid-Atlantic when on her maiden voyage on the fourteenth of April nineteen hundred and twelve and the deaths of the one thousand six hundred and thirty five passengers and crew who perished in the icy seas."

Also in proud remembrance of the heroes who sacrificed their lives for others in obedience with the instincts of their race.

And the grand old Captain's exhortation 'Be British!'

Hats off please!

Two Verses with Chorus (vocal, supported by band)

When the mighty ship Titanic parted from Southampton Bay

There were tears and fond goodbyes too as she proudly steamed away

But soon alas disaster came and filled all hearts with woe

Although in sorrow now we weep, we yet are proud to know.

Every man at his post as the big ship went down,

To save precious lives 'ere we find them

They died like heroes true

Now something we must do For the wives and little ones they left behind them

In the darkness of the night there came a crash, a crash of doom

And the gallant crew soon realized the sea must be their tomb

The order came to lower the boats and one thing had to be

The women and the children first, for that's the way at sea.

A unique addition to any collection of Titanic memorabilia. This Australia only Beta Record issue is contemporary with the Titantic disaster and a much rarer issue than the British Winner -- It's the only copy I've seen in over 30 years!

See my other auctions for further vintage records!

ALL 78s LISTED IN MY AUCTIONS ARE GRADED FROM E+ to V+. AN E+ CONDITION RECORD IS IN VERY CLEAN CONDITION AND HAS ONLY VERY MINOR WEAR IF ANY. A V+ CONDITION RECORD HAS SIGNIFICANT WEAR AND/OR SUPERFICIAL MARKS, BUT NO SERIOUS DEFECTS UNLESS SPECIFICALLY MENTIONED AND WILL PLAY WELL APART FROM SOME BACKGROUND SURFACE NOISE. MOST RECORDS I LIST ARE GRADED IN THE RANGE E+, E, E-, V+. I VERY RARELY LIST RECORDS IN LESS THAN V+ CONDITION AND ONLY IF IT ‘S AN EXOTIC RECORDING THAT IS COLLECTABLE IN ANY PLAYABLE CONDITION.

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