LINER NOTESADDITIONAL NOTES A discography for Willem Versfeld in chronological order based on matrix numbers sourced from Alan Kelly's research on the history of the Gramophone Company. Note that Kelly's research is sourced from the original ledgers at the EMI archives and some of the translations below contain racial epithets not found on the actual labels: Willem Versfeld, (comic), Cape Town, March 4, 1912 870ak Carolus vant Dijk (4093, X-2-42422) 871ak Laat los Katrina (Eliza! Let go) (4092, X-2-42420) 872ak De kat kom Weer (The cat came back) (4150, X-4-42293) 873ak Niks (Nothing) (4150, X-4-42292) 874ak Bier, bier, bier (Glorious beer) (4109, X-2-42580) 875ak Toe se de Magistraat (And the verdict was...) (4111, X-42582) Willem Versfeld, (comic), Cape Town, March 5, 1912 880½ak You stem is naby als ik Slaap (Thy voice is near, with patter) (4128, X-2-42822) 881ak Ik gaan met hom (I went with him) (4126, X-2-42818) 882ak De spooke in de Kirkhof (Goblins in the Churchyard) (4126, X-2-42819) 883ak Oom Jan sij eetpartij (Gilhooley's supper party) (4127, X-2-42820) 884ak Jach, Jach, Ja (Laughing song) (4109, X-2-42579) Willem Versfeld, (comic), Cape Town, March 12, 1912 899ak Een Vlukse Meid (4127, X-2-42821) Miss M. Loubser, Willem Versfeld, Cape Town, March 12, 1912 900ak Wil Mimie Vryers Krij (4111, X-44235) Willem Versfeld, (comic), Cape Town, March 12, 1912 901ak Blikbout Jan de Hotnot man (The dandy coloured coon) (4078, X-2-42362) 902ak Sy kost my twintig shillings (She cost me twenty shillings) (4078, X-2-42361) 903ak Meneer van der Westhuizen (4128, X-41136) 910ak Een shilling in mijn sak (A shilling in my purse) (4158, X-4-42294 911ak Wag een beetjie (4158, X-4-42295) Willem Versfeld, (comic), Cape Town, March 19, 1912 943½ak Jan trek jou Broek tog aan (4092, X-2-42419) 944ak Japie sing in die Gramophone (4110, X-41116) 945ak De motor bicycle (4108, X-41115) 946ak De Kanarie Man (4108, X-41114) Willem Versfeld, (comic), Cape Town, March 22, 1912 969ak Sakobong Songki (Old Kaffir comic song) (4110, X-2-42581) 970ak Jeup taralie trala trala (Flynn) (Yip I addy I aye) (4079, X-2-42363) 972ak De Voetbal Match (The football match) (4079, X-41096) 973ak De Kaapse Jubelsang (4093, X-2-42421) |
WILLEM VERSFELD
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TRACK LISTING
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ARTISTS
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NOTESThe UK based Gramophone Company Limited (home to labels like His Master's Voice and Zonophone) was one of the first companies to issue South African music and had sent a recording engineer George Walter Dillnutt there with a mobile unit in March and April of 1912. The unit recorded material in Johannesburg and Cape Town that was subsequently issued on 78 rpm shellac discs and marketed in South Africa as the 4000 series on the company's Zonophone Twin label. The company would continue making recordings in the 1920s and 30s at its head office in London. The label pictured above shows the 2nd design used in the 4000 series. Zonophone issued at least 26 tracks by Willem Versfeld and probably many more were recorded in Cape Town over a three week period in March 1912. The cuts include a blend of spoken word, humorous monologues, Afrikaans folk songs and other somewhat bawdy and also racist tunes. This disc must have been quite successful as it was reissued again in the mid to late 1920s. The image above shows the 3rd label design in the 4000 series. Many thanks to Chris Albertyn for allowing me to photograph his collection. Also I am indebted to Alan Kelly for his tireless research on the discography of the Gramophone Company. |
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