NBC Thesaurus Radio Transcriptions

There is frequent confusion around the terms “Orthacoustic” and “Thesaurus.” “Orthacoustic” was RCA-Victor’s trademarked name for its recording process and sound quality—a brand name for a physical recording process. “Thesaurus” was a name that National Broadcasting Company (NBC) gave to a series of transcription releases launched in 1935 that provided radio stations with a wide range of musical styles from which they could select programs. RCA-Victor owned the National Broadcast Company, better known as NBC.

The Sons of the Pioneers recorded more than 200 songs for NBC in 1941 using RCA’s Orthacoustic process. Many of these were released under the name Symphonies of the Sage. Many of those same songs were later released as part of Thesaurus transcriptions, along with songs from the same sessions that were not included in Symphonies of the Sage. The Thesaurus recordings also included songs previously recorded by the Pioneers in other sessions, such as the Teleways transcriptions, 1947–48.

“ORTHACOUSTIC - Derived from two Greek words. Ortho, meaning Upright, Erect, or Clear, and Acoustic, relating to sound. Thus they were combined to form ORTHACOUSTIC. ORTHACOUSTIC refers to RCA-Victor’s sound recording technology. Orthacoustic would translate to “Clear Sound” but that doesn't have quite the marketing ring.

THESAURUS - A collection of words of like (synonymous) meaning interpreted in this case to mean a collection of like music (Jazz, Big Bands, Vocal Performances, etc) to form a library of material which in many cases was not released commercially.

"Orthacoustic" is the RCA trademark for its recording sound process & quality. It is the brand name for the physical recording process. "Thesaurus" is the NBC Radio service trademark for its library of transcribed music and programming. Under that banner would come "Symphonies of the Sage", "Broadway Melodies", "Sunday Serenades" or any other program package name. So "Old Forgotten Trails", though not made as part of the "Symphonies of the Sage", package would still be on a Thesaurus presentation later on, produced on an Orthacoustically recorded and pressed disc.”

THESAURUS was not the only programming category issued by RCA-Victor. Many smaller size libraries of special interest were released to radio stations such as Symphonies of the Sage by the Sons of the Pioneers. These were issued on Orthacoustic discs with the Symphonies of the Sage set title on the label. The THESAURUS were issued on Orthacoustic discs with the Thesaurus set title on the label. Simply put when referring to ORTHACOUSTIC, one is referring to the technical sound quality of the product and when one refers to THESAURUS one is speaking of the the programming content on the disc.”
(Larry Hopper)

“Thesaurus and Orthacoustic were both owned by NBC. Most, if not all, of the Orthacoustics the Pioneers recorded in 1940 were later put in the Thesaurus series. Added to the Thesaurus series were songs from the Pioneers Teleways radio programs from the 1947 period. I don’t think any of the Dr Peppers were used. This is based on the fact that the Pioneers owned the Orthacoustics and the Teleways. They did not own the Dr Peppers.”
(Laurence Zwisohn)

In the words of Ken Griffis,

"One of the more fortunate developments in the recording career of the Pioneers was their inclusion in the Thesaurus transcription service program. This series, started in early-1935 by the National Broadcasting Company, featured name bands, singing groups, and individuals before its termination many years later. Thanks to this series, and others like it, great sounds are retained that might otherwise have been lost.

"The name Thesaurus is an apt description of many of the rare sounds contained on thousands of these sixteen-inch, lateral cut, 331/3 rpm plastic discs. Recorded by RCA, who owned NBC, these discs, with several tunes per side, were leased to subscribing radio stations. A catalog of all available discs was distributed to stations across the country allowing them to order particular programs of interest.

It is interesting to note that while the Pioneers would appear on one side of a disc, another individual or group would appear on the other. Only a few new songs were recorded by the Pioneers for this series, most were recordings from the Orthacoustic Symphonies of the Sage series. It would appear several tunes from the Dr. Pepper show may also have been included. When artists were recording transcriptions of this early era any noticeable errors had to be avoided. Each side contained five or six selections and the entire side had to be recorded satisfactorily since it was not possible to re-cut a song. If four songs were recorded perfectly and an error made on the fifth, the entire side had to be discarded and re-recorded.

Due to wartime restrictions no commercial recordings were made by the group after 1943. Certainly, the many Pioneer fans greatly appreciated the music made available to them through the Symphonies of the Sage and the Thesaurus transcriptions."
(pp. 35-36, Hear My Song, 1994)

1790 Side A MS-064054 (same as Orthacoustic #4 Side B)

A. The Cherokee Strip

B. Bound for the Rio Grande (Bob Nolan)

C. Trail Herdin’ Cowboy (Bob Nolan)

D. Trail Dreamin’ (Bob Nolan)

E. Pioneer Mother of Mine

F. South in My Soul

1804 Side B MS-064076 (same as Orthacoustic #7 Side A)

H. Blue Prairie (Bob Nolan)

J. Hold That Critter Down (Bob Nolan)

K. Golden Wedding Waltz

L. Indian Scout

M. Starlightin’ Time in Texas (Bob Nolan)

N. Memories in Blue

1811 Side A MS—064468 (same as Orthacoustic “Supplement #5)

A. The Gypsy’s Warning

B. Wonder Valley

C. Where is My Wandering Boy Tonight?

D. The Little Rosewood Casket

E. Soldier’s Joy

1885 Side A MS-059461 ( same as Orthacoustic #3 Side B)

A. Curly Joe from Idaho

B. Ridin’ Down the Canyon

C. There’s a Rainbow Over the Range

D. Roundup Time is Over (Bob Nolan)

E. Campfires of Heaven (Bob Nolan)

F. Dance of the Dogies

1898 Side B MS-059426 (same as Orthacoustic #2 Side A)

H. Don Juan

J. Ridin’ Home (Bob Nolan)

K. Cielito Lindo (Carlos Fernandez)

L. Cool Water (Bob Nolan)

M. Lone Buckaroo (Bob Nolan)

N. Springtime on the Range

1926 Side A MS-059251-2 (same as Orthacoustic #1 Side B)

A. Sagebrush Symphony

B. Cottage in the Clouds (Bob Nolan/Lloyd Perryman)

C. Swingin’ the Bow

D. Get Along, Pinto Pony

E. The West is in My Soul (Bob Nolan)

F. A Cowboy Has to Sing (Bob Nolan)

NB: A lot of the next are on 25 Favorite Cowboy Songs LPM 1130 which Griffis says were radio transcriptions recorded in 1943 and released in 1955. He includes them in his Thesaurus list which Wally says was recorded in 1942.

Pioneers: Bob Nolan, vocal
Tim Spencer, vocal
Ken Carson, vocal
Lloyd Perryman, vocal and guitar
Hugh Farr, violin
Karl Farr, guitar
Shug Fisher, bass

1953 Side A G7-MM-2861

A. Press Along to the Big Corral (Romaine Lowdermilk/Brooks Copeland/Jack Widener)

B. So Long to the Red River Valley

C. Home on the Range (Dr. Brewster Higley/Dan Kelley)

D. Texas Stomp

E. Pajarillo Barrenqueno

F. Come and Get It (Glenn/Tim Spencer)

1953 Side B G7-MM-2861

H. Cowboy’s Dream

J. The Last Round-up

K. Sweet Betsy From Pike (John A. Stone)

L. Farr Away Stomp

M.Yellow Rose of Texas

N. Bunkhouse Bugle Boy

1965 Side A G7-MM-4672

A. Shine On, Harvest Moon (Nora Bayes/Jack Norworth)

B. Song of the Rover (Bob Nolan)

C. Hills of Old Wyoming

D. E-Flat Rag

E. When The Bloom Is On The Sage (Fred Howard/Nat Vincent)

F. La Cucaracha

1965 Side B G7-MM-4673

H. Roundup in the Sky (Bob Nolan)

J. 1849 Years

K. Carry Me Back to Old Virginny (James A. Bland)

L. Corn Flower

M. It’s a Lie (Bob Nolan)

N. Silver Bell

1981 Side A G7-MM-9550

A. Barnyard Jubilee (Bob Nolan)

B. My Saddle Pals and I

C. Chatro Milpas

D. Where the Rio Rolls Along (Tim Spencer)

E. Listen To The Mocking Bird (Alice Hawthorne/Dick Milburn)

F. Moonlight on the Prairie (Bob Nolan)

1981 Side B G7-MM-9551

H. Rainbow’s End (Bob Nolan)

J. My Adobe Hacienda (Louise Massey/Lee Penny)

K. Old Forgotten Trails (Bob Nolan)

L. Westward Ho

M. Cowboy Camp Meetin’ Cowboy Camp Meetin' (Tim Spencer)

N. The Lonesome Cowboy Blues

2052 Side A J7-MM-2114

A. Sweet Genevieve

B. Busy Doin’ Nothin’

C. Girl of My Dreams (Sunny Clapp)

D. La Paloma (Sebastián Iradier)

E. Some Folks (Stephen Foster)

F. Song of the San Joaquin

2052 Side B

H. Molly Malone

J. Side by Side

K. Dark Eyes

L. That’s What I Like About the South

M. Marchéta (A Love Song of Old Mexico) by Victor Schertzinger

N. Highways are Happy Ways

2081 Side A K7-MM-6319

A. La Borachita

B. Streets of Laredo (The Cowboy’s Lament)

C. Carry Me Back to the Lone Prairie

D. Slow Movin’ Cattle

E. Along the Santa Fe Trail

F. Everlasting Hills of Oklahoma

2081 Side B K7-MM-6320

H. The Old Wrangler Blues

J. When it's Springtime in the Rockies (Mary Hale Woolsey/Robert Sauer/Milt Taggart)

K. Throw another Log on the Fire

L. The Texas Plains

M. Song of the Bandit (Bob Nolan)

N. Wagons Westward Ho

O. Stars of the West (Tim Spencer)

2010 Side A H7-MM-4060

Nobody Knows the Trouble I’ve Seen

Lazy Days

Falling Leaf

P. S. at Six Months

Amapola

New Moon Over Nevada

2010 Side B H7-MM-4061

H. Tom Big Bee River

J. Dear Evelina

K. Hey, Hey (It’s a Great Day?) (Ned Washington-w, Phil Ohman-m) Pioneers

L. G. I. Blues

M. Little David, Play on Your Harp (traditional)

N. Down in Dixie

NB: The following Thesaurus recordings are not listed in Griffis’ book (Wally Smilth):
LPT 372

Instrumental

Hills of Old Wyomin’

River, Stay ‘way From My Door

Cowboys and Indians

But Where are You?

Chant of the Wanderer (Bob Nolan)

Instrumental

Red River Valley

Carry Me Back to the Lone Prairie

Echoes from the Hills (Bob Nolan)

The Cowboy's Dream (D.J. O'Malley)

La Borachita

Last Roundup

Instrumental

LPT 1611

Seein’ Nellie Home

Wind (Bob Nolan)

Move Along, Lazy Cattle (Bob Nolan)

Instrumental

I Follow the Stream (Bob Nolan)

Several versions of Farr opening show.

LPT 1623

Year of Jubil-o (Henry C. Work)

Dear Old Girl

Shade of the Old Apple Tree

Little Annie Rooney

Followin’ the Sun (Bob Nolan)

Song of the Pioneers

La Borachita

Streets of Laredo (The Cowboy’s Lament)

Carry Me Back to the Lone Prairie

Slow Movin’ Cattle (Tim Spencer)

Along the Santa Fe Trail

Everlasting Hills of Oklahoma

Wally also says: These songs on tape 18 (his tape) are not listed in Griffis’ book:

Janglin’ for Old Santa Fe

Deacon Jones

Annie Laurie (William Douglas/Lady John Scott)

In the Gloaming

Let Me Keep My Memories

Sleep, Kentucky Babe

Year of Jubil-o (Henry C. Work)

Dear Old Girl

Shade of the Old Apple Tree

Little Annie Rooney (Michael Nolan)

Keep a-Movin’

Song of the Pioneers

Followin’ the Sun (Bob Nolan)