DON MESSER 25th Anniversary Album

Saturday, February 18, 2012

Probably the most widely distributed recordings by Don Messer are the twelve tunes he recorded for Rodeo in 1958. It has never been clear to me why Don, who recorded practically exclusively for the Compo Company's Apex label (later adopted into the MCA line) his entire career made a "25th Anniversary Album" for George Taylor's Rodeo Records. What I do know is that these tracks have been released in every format including 78 (pictured below), LP, 8-track, cassette, and finally to CD from which mp3 rips have circulated the internet.
The original LP release was Rodeo RLP 38 but like most Rodeo titles it was later re-issued on the label's Banff line as "Canada's Don Messer and His Islanders" (Banff RBS 1266, c. 1965). Unfortunately a (fake) stereo version of the Banff issue was also offered (Banff SBS 5266) and this edition accounts for most of the circulating copies. Subsequent adaptations of the album to other formats have continued to use the the "stereo" versions, which have also found their way onto many Canadian fiddle compilations. I can usually tolerate fake stereo more than most and put up with a little echo, but in my opinion what was done to these classic recordings is right up there with Capitol's dreadful "duophonic" monstrosities. I am pleased, therefore, to present here what I believe are the first digital versions sourced from the rare original mono LP. Enjoy!

Includes jacket/label scans

Tracks:

1. Anniversary Schottische
2. Poor Girls Waltz
3. Plaza Polka
4. Westphalia Waltz
5. Lamplighter Hornpipe
6. Buckwheat Batter
7. Hannigans Hornpipe
8. Interlake Waltz
9. Riley's Favourite Reel
10. Pilot Mound Waltz
11. Grant Lambs Breakdown
12. The Girl I Left Behind

*download here*