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Trusound

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One of the earliest flexible picture discs, Trusound date from the early 1930s and are extremely rare today, and even when they turn up, they are often unplayable.  The recordings are a mixture of continental masters and those recorded by Trusound themselves.

You will see in the listing below, that, though at first glance it may appear that there are either a lot of different Trusound records, or many series, it is just one catalogue series, starting at 1 and running to about 51, but with T- prefixes for the first few and then A- and B- prefixes for the rest but also with a leading number, i.e. A-6, A-10, A-12 and then B-5.
Trusound Limited was formed in June 1930 with rights to the names TRUSOUND, PLASTON and CELLUTONE. This company used the Plaston name for certain advertising records such as the John Dewar Whisky record which has "Happy Days Are Here Again" by Arthur Lally's Band on one side. Later, they would sell the T-series records as shown below. During this period, one of the major shareholders was Nicholson's Advertising Ltd.

The company  went into receivership in July 1932 and a new company emerged the same month: Trusound Pictorial Records Ltd. Their registered office was 410 St John Street, London EC 1. In April 1933, they took over the old Parlophone studios which was in a former church at 72a Carlton Hill, St. John's Wood, London, NW8 (along with Parlophone's assistant manager, Mr. Francis) and their factory "was on the Slough estate, like so many esoteric record companies" (I am quoting from Barry Pliskin's research). I take this to mean there was an industrial estate in or near Slough where Trusound and other companies like Durium manufactured records.
The A and B- series issues were produced from the early summer of 1933 until spring 1934, priced at 1/6. The company went bankrupt in June 1934 with a large outstanding debt. Many of the later Trusound masters were issued on De Wolfe's HUDSON records, usually labelled as "Hudson Trusound", and some also appear on later Edison Bell Winner (gold labelled) records.

The first Trusound picture discs were made in Austria and the recordings were continental, mainly from German Artiphon records. These Trusounds had T- series catalogue numbers starting at T-1 and runniing up to T-11. From the popular tunes issued, I would guess these date from late 1931.

Then there was a gap of nearly two years before the re-emergence of Trusound picture discs. Within a month or two of starting up, the company was releasing UK-recorded and manufactured Trusound picture records, at 1/6 each. A report at the time explained that due to the huge pressure required to make the outer celluloid adhere to the inner picture, the entire record could disintigrate in the press and no doubt this added to the cost and reduce the number of records which could be made. The UK-manufactured discs had A-series catalogue numbers. The later B-series records, from the solitary one I've seen an image of, appear to be solid black celluloid, rather like the later Filmophones and flexible Empire records.

It is believed that the musical director was George "Scott" Wood and that he is the director of the dance records labelled as by "Chris Denver & his Dance Orchestra". At this time, Wood had just been appointed musical director for popular music at EMI, so he was obviously a very busy man! Domenico Capaldi (mis-named Cocapaldi in the supplements) was a member of the well-known Capaldi family of musicians; Domenico had collaborated with Scott Wood on a piano-accordeon tutor for the Peter Maurice publishing company. 

As a point of interest, Trusound share a patent (and an office address of 29a, Charing Cross Road) with Goodson Records and it is of note that both companies were producing advertising (as well as flexible) records, so there may have been other links between the two companies.

Much of the original listing on this page is from research published many years ago by Barry Pliskin. Please e-mail me if you have any additions or corrections to this page.
Thanks to Kees Donker for providing some of the record images used here.
Thanks to the following people who have contributed extra information or images: Hector Hill, Charles Hippisley-Cox, Jonathan Holmes (images), Richard Prout, Neil of The Radio Museum at Watchet, Philipp Scheuber, Steve Walker

Page last updated on: December 15, 2024

The A-series and T- series are flexible picture discs, the picture covering the whole area of the disc, enclosed by the playing surface which is a clear celluloid plastic; the B-series appear to be solid black celluloid.

Cat No Matrix No. Title Artist on Label Record images
T-1 78 A Dream Of Christmas (Ketelbey) Ernest Leggett's Orchestra
T-1 3116 Christmas Melodies (Forbes) Ernest Leggett's Orchestra
T-2 80 The Capricious Music Box (Fresco) The Regent Orchestra
T-2 81 The Rose Beetle Goes A-Wooing (Armandola) The Regent Orchestra
T-3 12276-3 When You Were The Blossom Of Buttercup Lane Con Conway (= Cavan O'Connor)
T-3 12278 For You Con Conway (= Cavan O'Connor)
T-4 206-2 My Girl From Dreamland Leonard Neame (= Maurice Elwin ?)  
T-4 12285 When It's Springtime In Old Ireland Shaun O'Mally (= Cavan O'Connor ?)  
T-5 12272 Pardon Me Pretty Baby Jack Martin's Majestic Band [German recordings from Artiphon]
  (= Eddy Wallis & his Band)
T-5 12279 Mama Inez Jack Martin's Majestic Band [German recordings from Artiphon]
  (= Eddy Wallis & his Band)
T-6 12270 Many Happy Returns Of The Day Jack Martin's Majestic Band [German recordings from Artiphon]  
T-6 12280 Hawaiian Stars Are Gleaming Jack Martin's Majestic Band [German recordings from Artiphon]
T-7 12271 I've Painted a Picture Jack Martin's Majestic Band [German recordings from Artiphon]  
T-7 12282 My Heart Is Where The Mohawk Flows Tonight Jack Martin's Majestic Band [German recordings from Artiphon]  
T-8 12274 Wrap Your Troubles In Dreams Eddy Wallis's Band [German recordings from Artiphon]
T-8 12287x There's Something In Your Eyes Eddy Wallis's Band [German recordings from Artiphon]
T-9   This Is The Day Of Days Eddy Wallis's Band [German recordings from Artiphon]  
T-9 12275 What A Fool I've Been Eddy Wallis's Band [German recordings from Artiphon]  
T-10 12283 Just A Blue-Eyed Blonde Eddy Wallis's Band [German recordings from Artiphon]
T-10 12284 Making Faces At The Man In The Moon Eddy Wallis's Band [German recordings from Artiphon]
T-11 12277 Cupid's Army Eddy Wallis's Band [German recordings from Artiphon]
(vocalist: Cavan O'Connor)
T-11 12286 The Changing Of The Guard (actually plays "Blaze Away") Eddy Wallis's Band [German recordings from Artiphon]
(vocalist: Cavan O'Connor)
A-611 504-2 Spanish Sweetheart  Dominico Capaldi & his Accordion Band (vocal chorus by Sam Browne)
A-611 505-3 Flor De Cuba Dominico Capaldi & his Accordion Band
A-612 506-2 Play Of The Butterflies (Heykens) Scott Wood and his Novelty Imps
A-612 507-2 Fairy Tale (Heykens) Scott Wood and his Novelty Imps
A-613 528-2 Selection from the Paramount film "A Bedtime Story" (intro: Home Made Heaven; In The Park In Paree; Monsieur Baby; Look What I've Got) George Scott Wood (piano)  
A-613 529-2 Selection from the Warner Bros, film "Forty-Second Street" (intro: Forty-Second Street; Shuffle Off To Buffalo; Young And Healthy; You're Getting To Be A Habit With Me) George Scott Wood (piano)  
  NOTE: Although A-613 is listed in the supplements at the time as being as shown above, in reality it was mis-labelled A-617 on all known copies (see below)  
A-614 534-1 Then The Moon Came Out Chris Denver & his Dance Orchestra
A-614   When My Little Pomeranian Met Your Little Pekinese Chris Denver & his Dance Orchestra
A-615 533-1-2 My Wishing Song (waltz) Chris Denver & his Dance Orchestra
A-615 535-1 I Lay Me Down To Sleep Chris Denver & his Dance Orchestra
A-616 520-2 Jog Along Chris Denver & his Dance Orchestra
A-616 521-1 They've Taken Away My Sally (waltz) Chris Denver & his Dance Orchestra
A-617 (1) 528-2 Selection from the Paramount film "A Bedtime Story" (intro: Home Made Heaven; In The Park In Paree; Monsieur Baby; Look What I've Got) George Scott Wood (piano)
A-617 (1) 529-2 Selection from the Warner Bros, film "Forty-Second Street" (intro: Forty-Second Street; Shuffle Off To Buffalo; Young And Healthy; You're Getting To Be A Habit With Me) George Scott Wood (piano)
A-617 (2) 536-2-3 Come Along To The Old Spotted Cow Charlie Collins (comedian, with dance band accmp) (= Harry Fay)
A-617 (2) 537-1 Heaven Will Protect An Honest Girl Charlie Collins (comedian, with dance band accmp) (= Harry Fay)
A-618 508-3 Song Of The Tramp Tom Kinniburgh (bass, acc by Victor Olof Sextet)
A-618 509-3 Scot In Exile Tom Kinniburgh (bass, acc by Victor Olof Sextet)
A-619 512-2 Selections from "Madame Butterfly" (Puccini) Charles Kreshover and his New Chamber Orchestra
A-619 514-2 Gems from "H.M.S. Pinafore" (Sullivan) Charles Kreshover and his New Chamber Orchestra
A-1020 548-2 Senorita Mine Dominico Capaldi & his Accordion Band
A-1020 569-1 Marvellous Dominico Capaldi & his Accordion Band
A-1021   Her First Dance Scott Wood & his Novelty Imps  
A-1021   Moths Around The Candle Flame Scott Wood & his Novelty Imps  
A-1022 547-2 Becky, Play Your Violin Chris Denver & his Dance Orchestra  
A-1022 567-2 Mary Rose (waltz) Chris Denver & his Dance Orchestra  
A-1023 546-1 I'm Gettin' Sentimental Over You Chris Denver & his Dance Orchestra
A-1023 566-3 I've Found The Right Girl Chris Denver & his Dance Orchestra
A-1024 540-3 Viennese Memories of Lehar, part 1 The Victor Olof Sextet
A-1024 570-2 Viennese Memories of Lehar, part 2 The Victor Olof Sextet
A-1025 543-1 Come Out Vienna Paul Maurice (acc by Victor Olof Sextet)
A-1025 571-1 Dance Pretty Lady The Victor Olof Sextet
A-1026 564-3 I Put Another Label On The Bag Leonard Henry (comedian, with dance band accmp)  
A-1026 565-3 What Makes A Shellfish Selfish ? Leonard Henry (comedian, with dance band accmp)  
A-1027 554-2 Don't Blame Me Betty Bolton (with instrumental accmp)
A-1027 555-3 You've Got Everything Betty Bolton (with instrumental accmp)
A-1028 556-3 Learn To Croon Peggy Cochrane & her Troubadours
A-1028 557-3 I'll Take An Option On You Peggy Cochrane & her Troubadours
A-1029 560-3 I've Gotta Get Up And Go To Work Chris Denver & his Dance Orchestra
A-1029 561-2 There's A Little Bit Of You In Every Love Song Chris Denver & his Dance Orchestra
A-1030 558-3 Mademoiselle (waltz) Chris Denver & his Dance Orchestra
A-1030 559-1 Headin' For A Weddin' Chris Denver & his Dance Orchestra
A-1031 562-3 When You Said "So Long" Did You Mean "Goodbye"? (Box, Cox) The Odonians (at Odoni's Restaurant, London SW1)
A-1031 563-2 If I Could Paint Your Picture On The Moon (Box, Cox) The Odonians (at Odoni's Restaurant, London SW1)
A-1132 580-2 The House In The Wood, part 1 Harcourt Williams
A-1132 581-1 The House In The Wood, part 2 Harcourt Williams
A-1133 578-2 On A Christmas Tree George Scott-Wood & his Novelty Imps
A-1133 579-2 Who's Afraid Of The Big Bad Wolf? George Scott-Wood & his Novelty Imps  
A-1134 582-2 Get Hot Foot Dave Frost and his Anglais Band
A-1134 584-2 Thanks Dave Frost and his Anglais Band
A-1135 583-3 Weep No More My Baby Dave Frost and his Anglais Band
A-1135 585-2 Hold Your Man (waltz) Dave Frost and his Anglais Band
A-1136   Pardon, Madame Dominico Capaldi & his Accordion Band
A-1136   He Was A Handsome Young Soldier Dominico Capaldi & his Accordion Band
A-1137 572-2 Fifty Years Of Song, part 1 Victor Olof Sextet  
A-1137 573-2 Fifty Years Of Song, part 2 Victor Olof Sextet  
A-1238 601-3 Babes In The Wood, scene 1: The Village Green Robert Tredinnick (with music by George Scott Wood)
A-1238 602-2 Babes In The Wood, scene 2: The Baron's House Robert Tredinnick (with music by George Scott Wood)
A-1239 603-3 Babes In The Wood, scene 3: The Wood Robert Tredinnick (with music by George Scott Wood)  
A-1239 604-2 Babes In The Wood, scene 4: Robin Hood's Palace Robert Tredinnick (with music by George Scott Wood)  
A-1240 593-3 Dolly's Birthday George Scott Wood & his Novelty Imps
A-1240 594-3 Bells At Eventide George Scott Wood & his Novelty Imps  
A-1241 599-3 Faint Harmony The Odonians (at Odoni's Restaurant, London SW1)  
A-1241 600-3 Good Morning, Glory The Odonians (at Odoni's Restaurant, London SW1)  
A-1242 597-2 Unless (waltz) The Odonians (at Odoni's Restaurant, London SW1)  
A-1242 598-2 You Or No-One The Odonians (at Odoni's Restaurant, London SW1)  
A-1243   Here We Come Gathering Nuts And May / Oranges and Lemons Auntie Betty & her Tinkle Tones  
A-1243   Old King Cole / Sing a Song Of Sixpence Auntie Betty & her Tinkle Tones  
BX-344   God Save The King British Legion Military Band  
BX-344   Light Cavalry Overture British Legion Military Band  
BX-345   Three Blind Mice British Legion Military Band  
BX-346   "Desert Song" Selection British Legion Military Band  
BX-346   "The Maid Of The Mountains" Selection British Legion Military Band  
  NOTE: The three records above are described in an advert as "Special issues for the Cinema Trade on unbreakable black discs (white Label)".
I've never seen any of these, so images would be very gratefully received!		  
B-547 626-2 Let's Fall In Love Howard Godfrey & his Orchestra
B-547 627-1 Tired Of It All Howard Godfrey & his Orchestra
B-548 628-3 I'll Follow My Secret Heart (waltz) Howard Godfrey & his Orchestra  
B-548 629-2 Rhythm Of The Raindrops Howard Godfrey & his Orchestra  
B-549        
B-549        
B-550   La Java de l'Apache The Cuveliers  
B-550   You Ought To Be In Pictures The Cuveliers  
B-551 617-1 Nobody's Sweetheart Glenda Chappelle and her Rhythm Orchestra
B-551 618-1 Dixie Lee Glenda Chappelle and her Rhythm Orchestra