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THE RISE & FALL OF PARAMOUNT RECORDS VOLUME 2

THE RISE & FALL OF PARAMOUNT RECORDS VOLUME 2

On Nov 18th, Jack White's Third Man Records, in partnership with John Fahey's Revenant Records, will unlock the second and final chapter chronicling the curious tale of America's most important record label with 'The Rise and Fall of Paramount Records, Volume 2 (1928-1932).’

A stunning omnibus of words, music, art and design, 'Volume 2' picks up where the "spectacular" (New York Times) and "unprecedented" (Rolling Stone) 'Volume 1' left off. It documents the label’s final 5 year period between 1928-32, a stunning second act in which Paramount birthed the entire genre of Mississippi Delta blues and issued some of the most coveted recordings in the history of the medium: Skip James, Charley Patton, Son House, Tommy Johnson, Geeshie Wiley, The Mississippi Sheiks, Willie Brown, King Solomon Hill, and hundreds of others.

‘Volume 2’ contains six LPs, a sculpted metal USB drive with 800 songs and 90+ original hand-drawn ads from the Chicago Defender, a large-format hardcover book telling the label's story via new writing and original images, and an illustrated Field Guide with biographies and recording information for each artist represented in the set. It is all housed in a streamline case of polished aluminum modeled after a portable phonograph in 1930s American “Machine Age” Art Deco style.

Like ‘Volume 1’, the collection was co-produced by leading Paramount authority Alex van der Tuuk.

Paramount Records’ open-door recording policy led it to the very bedrock of America’s untamed blues, jazz, gospel and folk sounds. In the process the label provided the earliest and most representative snapshot of America's sonic landscape.

‘Volume 2’ offers a magnificent conclusion to this story of how a Wisconsin chair company, despite producing records on the cheap, changed how America thought of itself by allowing this young country to hear what it really sounded like, in all its stripes, for the very first time.

'Rise and Fall of Paramount Records, Volume 2 (1928-1932)’ contains:

  • 800 newly-remastered digital tracks, representing 175 artists
  • 90+ fully-restored original 1920s-30s Paramount ads from Chicago Defender
  • 6 x 180g LPs pressed on alabaster-white label-less vinyl, each side with its own hand-etched numeral and holographic image
  • 250 pg. large-format clothbound hardcover book featuring original Paramount art and the label's curious tale
  • 400 pg. encyclopedia-style softcover field guide containing artist bios & portraits and full Paramount discography
  • Polished aluminum and stainless steel cabinet, evoking 1930s high art deco stylings and America's own Machine Age modernism
  • First-of-its-kind music and image player app containing all tracks and ads, housed on sculpted metal USB drive

Comments

bluerowan

Sounds incredible so far…can’t wait for more details and pictures.

Tim Simmons

Will there be a video for Vol. 2 like the announcement video for Vol. 1?

ROJA

I can’t wait for this one. Vol 1 was amazing, it took me back to some memories from grandma. Please allow us to have the same number to match our Vol 1, and think about the tall Jack I watched it steam and I still have some notes I took that time

Cathryn

The first set was so beautiful. I can’t wait to see the second set. It would be great if Jack could fit in another talk about this like he did the first one but with his busy touring schedule I am sure that is next to impossible. Looking forward to this!

RKanas0522

What would be nice is if you can tell Third Man what number you have for Vol 1 and they could send you the same number for Vol 2!

Sugar

Incredible! Can’t wait to hear it. Volume 1 was such a treat for the eyes and ears. Guess it’s no suprise that TMR et al could Top Yourself!

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