The Shellac Stack

I have been slowly savoring each show starting with the first ones, now I see Byran stopped making new one in 2023. I hope he is just on a short break, and will make more of these shows. I tell all young music students to listen and learn. It's a real history lesson!

I mostly listen to film related podcasts. Imagine my surprise when The Shellac Stack came up as a recommendation. How did they know I love old music and collect 78 RPM records? Bryan Wright is the genial host of this well organized show. With over 200 episodes he has created a simple and consistent format. He pulls vintage 78 records from his collection and plays them. He also engages in a brief discussion giving all the pertinent information: the song, artist, composer, record label, date of recording and even the matrix number and any other interesting information. Most episodes clock in at just under an hour. The records generally span fifty years, 1900 well into the 1950s. The podcasts sound like a radio show, which is where he started, but better; there are no commercials or news breaks. Actually, I wouldn’t mind it a bit if he discussed the music more. A couple of episodes broke format when he was joined by his friend, JiHoon Suk. They shared records and knowledge and it was most interesting. Many of the recordings are VERY obscure. Some of the songs and artists I haven’t even heard of. If you’re hoping to discover the music that time forgot, this is the podcast for you! I would like to mention that our host is, in fact, Dr. Bryan Wright, a professor at the University of Pittsburgh and a musicologist, pianist and composer. He has several CDs to his credit and they are on his own label, Rivermont Records. I own some of them and they are most outstanding and I highly recommend them. And I also highly recommend The Shellac Stack.

I dare you to not to grin listening to this delightful, constantly surprising podcast showcasing rare 78 rpm recordings. Host Bryan White makes you feel as if you’re sitting with an old friend; his musical erudition is vast, but always presented with a dollop of humor. Long may the Shellac Stack keep spinning.

This podcast is what the title suggests - a program featuring shellac 78 rpm records from the first half of the 20th century. The content is delightfully varied, with informative commentary and great way to learn about music and musicians from that era. The sound quality from these old records is surprisingly good, with minimal surface noise without sounding dull. I always look forward to each episode - I have been enjoying these since the beginning!