Vocal Tracks Quotes

“The phonograph industry made clear distinctions between its high- and low-culture products, distinctions that were physically inscribed on records: from 1903 Victor's operatic recordings bore a "Red Seal," in contrast to the "Black Seal" of popular records.”
― Jacob Smith, Vocal Tracks: Performance and Sound Media

“The Big Executive explains, "He doesn't like your script ... he doesn't think you're funny." "Hank realized that he was in a realm where madness was the norm. Artistic judgment was entrusted to an arrangement of wires and buttons and tubes, and men born human were accepting robotism as the best means to progress. His frustration was total when he suddenly heard the executive ascribing human emotions to the laugh machine. `You hurt him when you called him a pushover. He hasn't laughed at anything since'" (ig6r, 86).”
― Jacob Smith, Vocal Tracks: Performance and Sound Media