Manuel Romain sings “When We Listened To The Chiming Of The Old Church Bell”
The music for “When We Listened to The Chiming of The Old Church Bell” was written by J. Fred Helf.
The words are by Robert F Roden.
Edison Gold Moulded Record 9802
Issued in 1908
Manuel Romain was born on October 1,1872, in Cambridge, Massachusetts, according to a book by Edward Le Roy Rice titled Monarchs of Minstrelsy (Kenny Publishing Company, 1911).
Jim Walsh noted that one source identified Romain's birthplace as Boston while other sources suggest Gibraltar or Spain.
Romain spent much of his youth in the Boston area. He worked in a jewelry store for a time, then pursued a singing career.
The April 1916 issue of Edison Phonograph Monthly states that he confined himself to church and concert work until 1893. It also states, "Then he went into the minstrel field, appearing with Primrose and West, W. S. Cleveland, Primrose and Dockstader, W.H. West and Lew Dockstader's Minstrels--covering in all fifteen seasons. In 1906 he made his vaudeville debut and scored a tremendous 'hit' with some of his original compositions."
Rice reports, "In 1907 Mr. Romain entered the vaudeville field with an elaborate production entitled 'Down in Music Row,' and met with flattering success. Two years later he produced 'Before and After the Ball,' which, if possible, achieved even greater success..."
He was a composer as well as a performer. Songs written by the tenor include "I Would If I Could But I Can't," published in 1903, and, with lyricists Leighton and Leighton, "The Message of the Old Church Bell." The latter was published in 1905 by the Helf & Hager Company, owned by J. Fred Helf and Fred W. Hager. In his first few years as a record artist he cut many ballads written by Helf as well as other songs published by Helf's company.
Romain was more closely associated with Edison than any other company during his recording career. He made his debut with the two-minute cylinder "When the Blue Birds Nest Again, Sweet Nellie Gray" (9628), issued in September 1907.
The July 1907 issue of Edison Phonograph Monthly announcing its release identifies Romain as "a member of Dockstader's minstrels."
That first cylinder was followed in October by "Meet Me Sweet Kathleen in Honeysuckle Time" (9664).
His first four-minute cylinders were "Roses Bring Dreams of You" and "Belle Brandon," made available on October 1, 1908, when Edison's new four-minute Amberol cylinders were introduced to the market.
In late 1909 the first of several Victor discs was issued: "When We Listened to the Chiming of the Old Church Bell" (16363), backed by Walter Van Brunt's "When I Dream in the Gloaming of You." Romain recorded it on August 20, 1909, along with three other songs.
Following these releases, Romain signed an exclusive Edison contract.
"When You Were Sweet Sixteen," issued in January 1910, was the first cylinder to appear under this new arrangement.
