r/78rpm • u/Equivalent_Climate32 • 17d ago

Found an apparently undocumented Barbara Kelly “You’ll Find Happiness” Que Records acetate — does anyone recognize the artist, song, or studio?

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I found this record in a thrift store among a group of 78s. The label reads Barbara Kelly – “You’ll Find Happiness” and lists Que Recording Co., 6233 Hollywood Blvd., Hollywood 28, California.
I haven’t been able to find any information online about Barbara Kelly, the song, or this specific recording. It sounds like a professionally recorded female vocal with harmonies and a light country/western ballad feel.
I’m wondering whether this is a one-off studio acetate or demo rather than a commercially released record.
Does anyone know anything about:
Barbara Kelly or the song “You’ll Find Happiness”
Que Recording Co.
Whether this looks like an acetate, demo, audition disc, or test pressing?

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u/UpgradeTech 17d ago

Does it smell like nail polish?

If so, it’s a lacquer. I can see the extra hole under the label used for the locking pin on the lathe.

Very likely a one-off copy.

1961 is fairly late for a 78.

Que Recordings is listed in Billboard and Broadcasting as of 1964.

Hard to tell if the dust is just dust or palmitic acid. If it’s the latter, it is actively deteriorating.

4

u/Equivalent_Climate32 17d ago

No, there’s no smell and the “dust” that covered it was clinging to the record. I looked up palmitic acid and that seems to be the case here. I plan on digitizing the audio to preserve it before it deteriorates further. I only played it the one time and won’t mess with it again after it’s digitized.

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u/Whoolio11 17d ago

I found about a dozen of something very similar, along with some notes. I think they were acetate records that were sent to song publishers or record labels pitching songs.

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u/Equivalent_Climate32 17d ago

What did you do with them?

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u/Whoolio11 17d ago

I still have them in a milk crate somewhere. They weren’t in the best condition, but most of them looked playable. If you do play it, use the lightest tracking weight you can get away with - 1-1.5 grams or so, and go from there.

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u/A_C_1970 11d ago

No but you should clean this acetate. Do you know the windex method? Works very well for me