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Wurly Gig: How the "Voice" of the Orpheum Reached its Vinyl Destination

WKNO | By Christopher Blank
Published December 21, 2023 at 5:25 PM CST
In Mid-July, the Orpheum Theatre became a soundstage for its historic Mighty Wurlitzer organ, installed in 1928.
1 of 13  — WURLITZER PHOTOS/Wurlitzer Session 1.jpg
In Mid-July, the Orpheum Theatre became a soundstage for its historic Mighty Wurlitzer organ, installed in 1928.
Christopher Blank/WKNO
The Mighty Wurlitzer organ was designed to replicate a small orchestra that might accompany a silent film or a Vaudeville show. Two chambers, located just above the box seats near the proscenium, contain not just organ pipes but instruments such as drums, marimbas, bells,
2 of 13  — WURLITZER PHOTOS/Wurlitzer Close up.jpg
The Mighty Wurlitzer organ was designed to replicate a small orchestra that might accompany a silent film or a Vaudeville show. Two chambers, located just above the box seats near the proscenium, contain not just organ pipes but instruments such as drums, marimbas, bells, and even a Model T car horn.
Christopher Blank/WKNO
Recording engineer Matt Ross-Spang, right, raises vintage microphones on poles in front of the organ chambers. Five microphones in total will capture not just the sound of the instrument, but the resonance of the Orpheum itself.
3 of 13  — WURLITZER PHOTOS/Wurlitzer Session 2.jpg
Recording engineer Matt Ross-Spang, right, raises vintage microphones on poles in front of the organ chambers. Five microphones in total will capture not just the sound of the instrument, but the resonance of the Orpheum itself.
Christopher Blank/WKNO
Vintage recording gear is part of engineer Matt Ross-Spang's tool box for this session. The album's concept harkens back to the heyday of Wurlitzer recordings.
4 of 13  — WURLITZER PHOTOS/Wurlitzer Session 6.jpg
Vintage recording gear is part of engineer Matt Ross-Spang's tool box for this session. The album's concept harkens back to the heyday of Wurlitzer recordings.
Christopher Blank/WKNO
Organist Tony Thomas built his Wurlitzer arrangements from sheet music containing just the melody for songs such as "All I Want for Christmas Is You."
5 of 13  — WURLITZER PHOTOS/Wurlitzer Session 4.jpg
Organist Tony Thomas built his Wurlitzer arrangements from sheet music containing just the melody for songs such as "All I Want for Christmas Is You."
Christopher Blank/WKNO
Organist Tony Thomas and engineer Matt Ross-Spang review a take. 11 songs were recorded over four days, with the goal of doing as little editing as possible to evoke a true "live" performance.
6 of 13  — WURLITZER PHOTOS/Wurlitzer Session 3.jpg
Organist Tony Thomas and engineer Matt Ross-Spang review a take. 11 songs were recorded over four days, with the goal of doing as little editing as possible to evoke a true "live" performance.
Despite its recent renovation, the Wurlitzer is a finicky instrument. During the session, once of its cymbals came crashing to the floor. Organist Tony Thomas attempted to repair it, but it would be out of commission for the rest of the session.
7 of 13  — WURLITZER PHOTOS/Wurlitzer Session 5.jpg
Despite its recent renovation, the Wurlitzer is a finicky instrument. During the session, once of its cymbals came crashing to the floor. Organist Tony Thomas attempted to repair it, but it would be out of commission for the rest of the session.
Christopher Blank/WKNO
Jeff Powell with Take Out Vinyl is one of about 100 people worldwide with a record lathe, the machine that transfers music onto the lacquer blank that begins the vinyl production process. No new lathe has been built since the 1980s, despite the growing popularity of vinyl.
8 of 13  — WURLITZER PHOTOS/Jeff Powell.jpg
Jeff Powell with Take Out Vinyl is one of about 100 people worldwide with a record lathe, the machine that transfers music onto the lacquer blank that begins the vinyl production process. No new lathe has been built since the 1980s, despite the growing popularity of vinyl.
Christopher Blank/WKNO
When Powell begins "cutting" the record, the cutterhead (located behind the yellow triangle) carves a continuous groove into the lacquer blank. Once started, the process must be continuously monitored for frequencies that could potentially overtax — and destroy — the fragile cutterhead, which costs $10,000 to rebuild. Because of demand, Powell is cutting scores of records each month.
9 of 13  — WURLITZER PHOTOS/Jeff Powell Lathe.jpg
When Powell begins "cutting" the record, the cutterhead (located behind the yellow triangle) carves a continuous groove into the lacquer blank. Once started, the process must be continuously monitored for frequencies that could potentially overtax — and destroy — the fragile cutterhead, which costs $10,000 to rebuild. Because of demand, Powell is cutting scores of records each month.
Christopher Blank/WKNO
Brandon Seavers, co-founder and CEO of Memphis Record Pressing, shows an automatic record press. A puck made of PVC is fed into the machine where it is "stamped" into the thin vinyl disc using heat and pressure. It then trims off the edges and the disc is set aside to cool.
10 of 13  — WURLITZER PHOTOS/MRP 1.jpg
Brandon Seavers, co-founder and CEO of Memphis Record Pressing, shows an automatic record press. A puck made of PVC is fed into the machine where it is "stamped" into the thin vinyl disc using heat and pressure. It then trims off the edges and the disc is set aside to cool.
Christopher Blank/WKNO
Brandon Seavers shows one of Memphis Record Pressing's more boutique offerings — a hand-made record that incorporates an infusion of multi-colored vinyl pellets.
11 of 13  — WURLITZER PHOTOS/MRP 2.jpg
Brandon Seavers shows one of Memphis Record Pressing's more boutique offerings — a hand-made record that incorporates an infusion of multi-colored vinyl pellets.
Christopher Blank/WKNO
Organist Tony Thomas shows off the fruit of his labor, "A Very Mighty Christmas," the first record ever made of the Orpheum Theatre's Mighty Wurlitzer organ.
12 of 13  — WURLITZER PHOTOS/MRP 3.jpg
Organist Tony Thomas shows off the fruit of his labor, "A Very Mighty Christmas," the first record ever made of the Orpheum Theatre's Mighty Wurlitzer organ.
Christopher Blank/WKNO
Orpheum Public Relations Director Kristin Bennett, who spearheaded the effort to produce the record, and organist Tony Thomas hold the final product at a record release party at the Memphis Listening Lab on Dec. 6, 2023.
13 of 13  — WURLITZER PHOTOS/Kristin and Tony.jpg
Orpheum Public Relations Director Kristin Bennett, who spearheaded the effort to produce the record, and organist Tony Thomas hold the final product at a record release party at the Memphis Listening Lab on Dec. 6, 2023.
Christopher Blank/WKNO

In this WKNO special project, a look inside the gilded walls of the Orpheum Theatre as a group of music fans decide that the time has come to record the Mighty Wurlitzer organ for posterity.

And one more thing: the album simply MUST be released on vinyl.

How hard is it to produce a record? What does it cost? Can it be finished in time for Christmas?

Sink your ears into a story that brings the history of Wurlitzers and vinyl records together for a generation that is now rediscovering both.

News
Christopher Blank
Reporting from the gates of Graceland to the balcony of the Lorraine Motel, Christopher has covered Memphis news, arts, culture and politics for more than 20 years in print and on the radio. He is currently WKNO's News Director and Senior Producer at the University of Memphis' Institute for Public Service Reporting. Join his conversations about the Memphis arts scene on the WKNO Culture Desk Facebook page.
See stories by Christopher Blank