Historical, Spoken Word, Specialty

Balkan Records is a division of Esoteric Sound that produces Folk Music and various esoteric recordings. We specialize in music of the ethnic American Slavs, and Eastern European Bluegrass, but have a smattering of others too.  Our main body of work is re-releasing records from the old Balkan Records Company of Chicago. All of our recordings are of the highest quality and where necessary, employ sophisticated digital editing and noise reduction systems, such as CEDAR.

We are also interested in any old recordings of this type that you may have.  As masters for most vintage ethnic recordings are non-existent, we welcome vintage records for use in these project.  TO SEE OUR COMPLETE CATALOGUE, CLICK HERE.

USA SHIPPING: $3.25  FIRST DISC + $1.00 EACH ADDITIONAL DISC

 IL RES. ADD 8.25%

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The following is a sample of recordings from our catalog: 

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CD, VITA-TONE VT CD1014 - $15.00

THE HINDENBURG DISASTER 

Live 1937 Radio Broadcast. This is the first time ever release of the live radio coverage at its correct pitch.  Newly restored with digital technology from original source material. Includes bonus track of interview with the restorers.

CD,VITA-TONE CD-1040 - $15.00

OPENING OF THE TOMB OF TUTANKHAMEN

A 1978 interview with James Henry Breasted, Jr., who at age 14, was present at the opening of Tut’s tomb. The only recorded interview of an attendee at this historic event. Hear the inside story. Bonus is old-time radio broadcast of A Visitor From Egypt.                           Click here for more info

CD,VITA-TONE  CD-1041 - $15.00

SOUNDS OF THE THIRD REICH-THE RISE AND COLLAPSE OF NAZI GERMANY

It covers the rise and fall of the Third Reich and includes the voices of Hitler, Churchill, Roosevelt, Goering, Ribbentrop, Stalin, Mussolini, Petain and Himmler. Also heard are wartime radio announcements and music. Originally issued as a 2-record LP set.

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CD,VITA-TONE VT CD-1015 - $15.00

HITLER’S INFERNO - Marching Songs Of Nazi Germany 1932- 1945

From rare Magnetofon recordings off the German radio. M usic of the SS and SA marching bands. These recordings were basically smuggled out of Germany. Offensive lyrics.   Click here for contents.

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CD,BAL CD1009 - $15.00


WWII POLISH - ORIENTED RADIO 

Gen. Sikorski(in Polish), Winston S. Churchill, Polish Ambassador to US, "Poland vs Hitler" propaganda shows, Folk Music, more. From Polish Museum archives.

MP3-CDROM, VITA-TONE MP3.WF1 - $29.95

RADIO FREE AMERICA - 32 HOURS LONG

Right-wing broadcaster, Warren Freiberg was there before Rush Limbaugh and the rest.  He managed to get thrown off the Oprah Winfrey show.  2 CD-ROM set.  Covers the years 1971 to 1990.  NOT A CD. THIS RECORDING PLAYS ON MOST DVD PLAYERS THAT PLAY MP3, OR YOUR COMPUTER.

DVD,AF RECORDS AFDVD1045 - $19.00

THE ROAD TO LIVING STEREO

A DVD with old video presentations originally intended for trade shows and hifi shows.  NTSC format only.   Highlighted is record production and manufacturing from the 78 rpm record to stereo LP records. From camp to nostalgia, it's till a good primer to that technology.

 
CD, VITA-TONE CCD1049 - $15.00

SOUNDS OF LIBERTY - Patriotic Songs from The Civil War, WWI and WWII

Patriotic songs from the Civil War, WWI and WWII promoting the war efforts. These are once popular songs from those eras that are now all but forgotten. 25 tracks from rare commercial releases as well as radio broadcasts in digitally restored sound. None ever released before on CD.

MP3-CDROM, VITA-TONE.3DEMO - $29.95

VITA-TONE MP3 TEST CDROM

A test disc for all MP3 players.  This CDROM tests channel identification, frequency response, and distortion at various bit rates using laboratory test equipment.  It also tests playback quality at various bit rates using listening tests.  THIS IS AN MP3 FORMAT RECORDING AND DOES NOT PLAY ON CONVENTIONAL CD PLAYERS.

AUDIO DVD, VITA-TONE VTDVD-1056 - $29.95

FACES IN THE WINDOW - 10.3 HOURS LONG

Late night TV and radio show from 1952/53 featuring Ken Nordine reading 22 horror stories.  Sound portion only, plays only on DVD player.  Sound digitally restored with CEDAR process.     Click here for contents.

 
CD, VITA-TONE VT CD1035 - $15.00

WEHRMACHT - SONGS OF THE GERMAN ARMY 1933 - 45

16 selections of historical music from rare Magnetofon recordings off the German radio.  Music of various German armed forces’ marching bands. These recordings were basically smuggled out of Germany in the 1960a.  Offensive lyrics.  Click here for contents.

 

CD, VITA-TONE VT CD1036 - $15.00

WHEELS a - ROLLING - MUSIC PAGEANT FROM 1948 CHICAGO RAILROAD FAIR

Music from outdoor pageant featuring railroad engines, horses, cars with singers and musicians from Chicago.  All 12 scenes along with the Prologue and Epilogue are presented in CEDAR digitally restored sound.   Made on location at the fair, on Chicago’s lakefront.

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MP3-CDROM, BALMP3 DEMO - $29.95 

READ REVIEW IN The Audiophile Voice - CLICK HERE
THE DAWN OF STEREO - AN MP3 DEMO                          SEE CONTENTS - CLICK HERE

A nostalgic audio Odyssey from mono to stereo in audiophile sound.  Drawn from audio demo recordings and experimental stereo recordings from the 30's through the 50's.  THIS RECORDING PLAYS ON MANY DVD PLAYERS THAT PLAY MP3, OR ON YOUR COMPUTER.

DVD, VIDEO RARITIES VRDVD-1057 - $29.95                3 DVD SET

THE REAGAN REVOLUTION - 1980 AND 1984

A 3 DVD set with 9+ hours of nostalgia of when someone dared oppose the establishment and beat them bloody. Watch Ronald Reagan trounce Jimmy Carter and Walter Mondale in debates.  Witness the identical Democrat points then as the same presented now.  Watch the Republican points now ignored, and now replaced with "me too."  Watch the election returns prove all the Liberal agenda driven pollsters, and Democrat & RINO opposition to be totally wrong as Reagan accumulates huge margins over the Liberals.  Includes debates and election returns roll-in, and with the local returns being mostly from Illinois.

HIGH DEFINITION AUDIO DVD, WAVEFORMS WFVDVD-1065 - $29.95  2 DVD SET

SWINGING ON BROADWAY 1960 - THE BAND OF DICK LONG - LIVE RECORDING

A little know swing band featuring Chicago's top professionals in between gigs.  If Buddy Rich, Count Basie, Woody Herman, or Stan Kenton appeal to you, this is sort of an amalgam.  Some members of this band actually played with those bands.   The musicians and vocalist, the lovely René, made for an exciting evening at the Cafe Laurel on Chicago's Broadway Avenue. This over 3 hour recording was made using the latest 1960 audiophile recording gear.  Included are ten formal bonus audition tracks from 1962. This is a high definition 24 Bit, 96 kHz audiophile disc that plays in a DVD player not a CD player.   Fitting visuals and photos from the performance are presented for your optional viewing. 

   


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