Indian Talking Machine

by Robert Millis

Sublime Frequencies is proud to present INDIAN TALKING MACHINE: 78rpm and Gramophone Collecting on the Sub-Continent. Created and produced by Robert Millis, this 244 page full color hardcover book includes 2 CDs (46 tracks all previously unissued) and over 300 photos of 78rpm record collections, collectors and ephemera, detailed track notes, and essay. LIMITED EDITION ONE-TIME PRESSING OF 1000 COPIES.

True "record porn" (that is, shellac 78rpm record porn): photographs of shelves groaning under the weight of unimaginable titles, beautiful label and sleeve designs from long gone eras, wind up talking machines, crammed antique shops, forgotten artists, and more that somehow survived (often barely survived) the difficult "archival" issues of India--dust, heat, floods, rebellion, partition and war. Indian Talking Machine is the result of nearly a year in India photographing record collections, interviewing collectors, and visiting archives and record markets.

One of the earliest non-Western outposts of the "recording industry", the first recordings were made in India in 1902. This makes perfect sense as Indian music is as beautiful as it is complex, as subtle as it is profound and as divine as it is simple. Accompanying the over 300 photographs are two CDs of music from shellac discs spanning the years 1903 to 1949 collected in India and compiled by the author; virtuoso instrumental recordings, jaw dropping vocal renditions, folk music, comedy recordings, even animal impressions, none of which have ever been issued in digital form. The 78rpm records were transferred by Jonathan Ward (Excavated Shellac) and mastered by Grammy award winning engineer Michael Graves (Analog Africa, Dust-to-Digital, Hank Williams Garden Spot Recordings, and more).

Indian Talking Machine is a personal take on the vast worlds of Indian music and the intricacies of collecting sound.

Genres: Music

244 pages, Hardcover

Published December 11, 2015

Reviews

[Tom · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautiful collection of photographs devoted to buyers and sellers of 78s, which were made between 1905 and 1970, but mainly the discs themselves. Included with the book are two CDs that offer a small range of the diverse Indian musical traditions, instruments, and vocalists (most songs here are from the '20s and '30s). I suppose crate diggers might especially enjoy seeing how their counterparts on the other side of the planet engage in the obsession of record collecting.

[Samuel Goff · Rating 5 out of 5]

Having obsessive tendencies and a love of music myself, old 78 collectors have always fascinated me. Last year I read the highly recommended "Do Not Sell At Any Price" by Amanda Petrusich a book that attempts to detail the people that go to great lengths to find that ultra rare 78 in the corner of someone's attic. "Indian Talking Machine" by Robert Millis shows us that this obsessive record collecting is not just relegated to here in the United States but is prevalent in India as well. Millis and the always excellent Sublime Frequencies present what is mostly a photographic excursion into the homes and storage places of these old 78's. The photographs, fascinating and with a tendency to the extreme close up are artistic and fascinating. The release is part photography book as well as a 2 cd set detailing some of the music from the 78's themselves. These 2 cd's have quickly become some of my favorite music ever and has become a must listen with me. The only real text is the wonderful history behind this music detailing with every track. The only slight drawback is I wish there was some text to provide stories about the various collectors, to provide some type of context. This was the first book I believe that Sublime Frequencies put out and it's still my favorite. I hope SF continues with these books, you just can't go wrong with them.