"Just Before The Battle, Mother" By Jim Doherty Edison Diamond Disc Record 1922

It is April 7, 2015, and the American Civil War Sesquicentennial continues.  As a matter of fact, we are two days removed from the 150th anniversary of Robert E. Lee's surrender at Appomattox Court House.  Today, I have for you a recording of the George Frederick Root-penned "Just Before The Battle, Mother" ... a number quite popular during the War. The song was recorded by Jim Doherty in 1922, and the Diamond Disc record was pressed on the Edison label in 1923 (Catalog number: 51109-R and Matrix number: 8486-B-4-1).  I am going to play the record on an Edison Disc Phonograph Model C-150 that was manufactured some time between 1915 and 1919.



You will note the red star on the label.  The Edison company placed red stars on records that they believed were not going to be strong sellers so the vendors knew in advance and thus could not return the records when they remained unsold.



Now in honor of the Civil War's Sesquicentennial ... "Just Before The Battle, Mother":

The url for the above video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oYE9PcUXXbQ

Additional information about the record can be found at these links:
http://searchworks.stanford.edu/view/6633911
http://www.authentichistory.com/1860-1865/2-sounds/1-music/19220609_Just_Before_The_Battle_Mother-Jim_Doherty.html