Audio
Macedonia Sperry Records
Sperry Boge was born as Spiro Bogojević on 15 of April 1907 in Leunovo (municipality Mavrovo and Rostuse, Macedonia). He emigrated to the USA and arrived in New York on 28 Sept 1923. He moved to Detroit and settled as a cabinetmaker on 10625 Shoemaker Ave, Detroit 13. He died there in December 1975. Further biographical data is unknown.
In the early fifties he started Sperry Records Inc. He issued a lot of 78 rpm shellac records between 1951 and 1953. At the end of the fifties he issued three long play records. All the records were custom pressed by RCA.
On the label of the 78 rpm records is mentioned "in cooperation with Radio Skopje" and in the catalogue "tape recorded in Macedonia". The RCA code on the label confirms that the source came from tape. The curious fact is that magnetic (tape) recording by Radio Skopje started in 1956. So, who taped the music remains a mistery.
The 78 rpm recordings on our site are from the collection of Larry Weiner (USA), who owns a big collection (especially 78 rpm) records. Larry also did the digitization. The recordings were originally published on the site www.folklorediscography.org from Tom Deering, who died in February 2019. This site is no longer accessible since June 2019. Larry has given us permission to put them no our site. For the site of Folklorediscography he wrote the following statement in December 2016:
I've been intending to digitize and remaster the 78 rpm Sperry records for a long long time, and I've finally completed it (though in fact I don't think projects like this ever are "complete"). Back in 2001 I'd started on the 12 inch 78 rpm records, and then got sidetracked doing other records (mostly old Bulgarian stuff). Over the years I've been able to locate fairly pristine copies of all the 78 rpm records that (I think) Sperry produced. I've broken them down into 3 groups.
- Sperry 10 Inch Red Label - pressed by RCA in 1951 [#1519 - #1532]
- Sperry 10 Inch Blue Label - pressed by RCA in 1953 [#531, #532, & #6101 - #6159 (except as noted below)]
- Sperry 12 Inch Blue Label - pressed by RCA in 1953 [#6109, #6119, #6126, #6127, #6129, #6131, #6132, #6133, #6135, #6137, #6153, #6161]
I've figured out the year the records were produced because of the Matrix numbers stamped into the records (and also appearing on the label).
This Sperry collection is really quite interesting from many perspectives. I particularly like the Chalgija tunes - and these are the only recordings I've heard made by Olga Sichan (who has a wonderful voice). On listening to the records, they presented some remastering challenges because the recordings were originally on 1/4 in magnetic tape. Some of the "glitches" that are on the records are actually the kind of thing you hear on tapes when there are recording (or playback) problems. I've been able to work my way around some of the problems, but others were seemingly unfixable.
Sperry records did not use catalogue numbers but used the matrix numbers as generated in the RCA production process. Therefore there is no consecutive numbering and both sides of the record have a different number. These are shown before the tack name. Spelling corrected where needed.
For convenient listening we have bundled the 78 rpm rcordings in three audio streams which you can find at the end of this page.
You will find the music of the three 12 inch records here.
78 rpm shellac Sperry Records 10 inch Red Label 1951
Čalgija Orkestar Radio Skopje
E1-KB-1522, Ljubeli si dvajca mladi
Blagojka Badnjikova, Mali Orkestar Radio Skopje
Čalgija Orkestar Radio Skopje
E1-KB-1524, Začukale dajrinjata
Mirvet Belovska, Mali Orkestar Radio Skopje
Čalgija Orkestar Radio Skopje
E1-KB-1523, Crna se čuma zadade
Mirvet Belovska, Čalgija Orkestar Radio Skopje
Mirvet Belovska, Mali Orkestar Radio Skopje
E1-KB-1528, Makedonsko Narodno Oro
Unknown Zurla Trio
Blagojka Badnjikova, Mali Orkestar Radio Skopje
E1-KB-1527, Makedonsko Oro
Unknown Zurla Trio
Unknown Zurla Trio
E1-KB-1533, Petlite peat
Lenče Markovska, Čalgija Orkestar Radio Skopje
Unknown Zurla Trio (first part)
Mali Orkestar Radio Skopje (second part)
E1-KB-1534, Cvekje cuteše
Lenče Markovska, Čalgija Orkestar Radio Skopje
Mirvet Belovska, Mali Orkestar Radio Skopje
78 rpm shellac Sperry Records 10 inch Blue Label 1953
Elena Mukaetova, Mali Orkestar Radio Skopje
E3-KC-6141 Kako što e taja čaša
Nikola Badev, Dragica Nikolova, Mali Orkestar Radio Skopje
Elena Mukaetova, Mali Orkestar Radio Skopje
E3-KB-6146 Digni si Maro Marče očite
Nada Makelarska, Grozdanka Danilova, Mali Orkestar Radio Skopje
Elena Mukaetova, Mali Orkestar Radio Skopje
E3-KB-6103b Oro
Mali Orkestar Radio Skopje
E4-KB-532 Aj merak imam
Boris Angelovski, Mali Orkestar Radio Skopje
Mali Orkestar Radio Skopje
E3-KB-6124 Po drum odam majče
Mirvet Belovska, Čalgija Orkestar Radio Skopje
Elena Mukaetova, Mali Orkestar Radio Skopje
E3-KB-6113 Neli si pusto svršenica
Alexandar Sarievski, Mali Orkestar Radio Skopje
Tanec
E3-KB-6106b Oro
Čalgija Orkestar Radio Skopje
E3-KB-6140 Ženil se Petre vojvoda
Grupata Biljana, Mali Orkestar Radio Skopje
Tanec
E3-KB-6136 Prokleto da e, prikleto
Grupata Biljana, Mali Orkestar Radio Skopje
Tanec
E3-KB-6163 Dafina bolna legnala
duetot Sarievski Petruševski, Mali Orkestar Radio Skopje
Mali Orkestar Radio Skopje od Nikola Galevski
E3-KB-6120 Zorata se zazori
Mirvet Belovska, Čalgija Orkestar Radio Skopje
Mali Orkestar Radio Skopje od Nikola Galevski
E3-KB-6139 Čerešna se od koren korneše
Grupata Biljana, Mali Orkestar Radio Skopje
Grupata Biljana, Narodniot Radio Orch Skopje
E3-KB-6117 Biljana platno beleše (Part 2)
Grupata Biljana, Narodniot Radio Orch Skopje
Grupata Biljana, Narodniot Radio Orch Skopje
E3-KB-6158 Kaži Angjo mori
Vera Filipova, Mali Orkestar Radio Skopje
Boris Angelovski, Mali Orkestar Radio Skopje
E3-KB-6134 Prištevka
Čalgija Orkestar Radio Skopje
Olga Sičan, Čalgija Orkestar Radio Skopje
E4-KB-531 Ogin go gori Brezovo
Alexandar Sarievski, Mali Orkestar Radio Skopje
Olga Sičan, Čalgija Orkestar Radio Skopje
E3-KB-6144 Uči me mila mamo, karaj me
Nada Makelarska, Grozdanka Danilova, Mali Orkestar Radio Skopje
Vaska Ilieva so gajda
E3-KB-6125b Oro Adana
Čalgija Orkestar Radio Skopje
E3-KB-6164 Zete, mili zete
Grupata Biljana, Narodniot Radio Orkestar Skopje
Elena Mukaetova, Narodniot Radio Orkestar Skopje
E3-KB-6138 Po pole odat argati
Grupata Biljana, Mali Orkestar Radio Skopje
Vera Filipova, Dragica Nikolova, Mali Orkestar Radio Skopje
E3-KB-6147 Od Bitola pojdov
Mirvet Belovska, Čalgija Orkestar Radio Skopje
Vera Filipova, Dragica Nikolova, Mali Orkestar Radio Skopje
E3-KB-6145 Po pole odat argati
Nada Makelarska, Grozdanka Danilova, Mali Orkestar Radio Skopje
Tanec
E3-KB-6154 Kondisal Ajradin paša
Alexandar Sarievski, Mali Orkestar Radio Skopje
Grupata Biljana, Mali Orkestar Radio Skopje
E3-KB-6160 Djurdja pere na rekata
Boris Angelovski, Mali Orkestar Radio Skopje
Čalgija Orkestar Radio Skopje
E3-KB-6162 Ne zadevaj me, mori Vendo
Grupata Biljana, Narodniot Radio Orkestar Skopje
Čalgija Orkestar Radio Skopje
E3-KB-6159 Slegov dolu vo izbata
Boris Angelovski, Mali Orkestar Radio Skopje
78 rpm shellac Sperry Records 12 inch Blue Label 1953
Vaska Ilieva so dve kavali
E3-KC-6132a Lenče bre dušo
Boris Angelovski, Mali Orkestar Radio Skopje
E3-KC-6132b Oro
Mali Orkestar Radio Skopje Macedonia
Mirvet Belovska, Čalgija Orkestar Radio Skopje
E3-KC-6135 Što mi je milo em drago
Grupata Biljana, Mali Orkestar Radio Skopje
Tanec
E3-KC-6161 Kiradjiče jabandjiče
Vera Filipova, Mali Orkestar Radio Skopje
Tanec
E3-KC-6131 Što teško odiš
Marika Georgieva, Mali Orkestar Radio Skopje
Muška Grupa Od Makedonskiot Naroden Ansambl
E3-KC-6133 Oj ti dedo Gero
Nikola Badev, Čalgija Orkestar Radio Skopje
Grupata Biljana, Mali Orkestar Radio Skopje
E3-KC-6153 Mi tovaril Dončo
Mirvet Belovska, Mali Orkestar Radio Skopje
The tracks on LP 39, LP 60 side A and on side B the tracks 2, 3, 4, 6, 8, seem to be recorded by Radio Skopje. The tracks on LP 59 and LP 60 side B 1, 5, 7, 9 sound if they are recorded in a much smaller room, but sound better then the radio recordings. We think a number of records which Sperry Records issued on 78 rpm in 1951 - 1953 are of a better sound quality then some of the 1958 - 1960 radio recordings.
Sperry Records 39, issued in 1958.
01 NE SE FAKJAJ DONE, DONKE
DRAGICA NIKOLOVA, NIKOLA BADEV, MALI ORKESTAR RADIO SKOPJE
02 JOVANO, JOVANKE
MIXED GROUP OF SINGERS, MALI ORKESTAR RADIO SKOPJE
03 BOLEN LEŽI MLAD STOJAN
VASKA ILIEVA, NIKOLA BADEV, MALI ORKESTAR RADIO SKOPJE
04 MAGDO MORI, MAGDALENO
VASKA ILIEVA, DRAGICA NIKOLOVA, MALI ORKESTAR RADIO SKOPJE
05 ŠTO MI E MILO KOMŠIČE DA IMAM
VASKA ILIEVA, NIKOLA BADEV, MALI ORKESTAR RADIO SKOPJE
06 MOME ODI NA VODA
NIKOLA BADEV, BLAGOJ PETROV-KARAGJULE, MALI ORKESTAR RADIO SKOPJE
07 KRENI GLAVA KUZMANE
UNKNOWN PERFORMERS
08 ORO
STEVO TEODOSIEVSKI ACCORDION, TODOR STEFANOVSKI GUITAR
09 ORO
UNKNOWN PERFORMER
B
01 MARIČE LE, LIČNO DEVOJČCE
VASKA ILIEVA, NIKOLA BADEV, MALI ORKESTAR RADIO SKOPJE
02 TRI GODINI KATE BOLEN LEŽAV
UNKNOWN PERFORMERS
03 BOG DA BIE, TINO MORE
DRAGICA NIKOLOVA, NIKOLA BADEV, MALI ORKESTAR RADIO SKOPJE
04 NE MI GO LAŽI GJORGJI MARETO
VASKA ILIEVA, NIKOLA BADEV, MALI ORKESTAR RADIO SKOPJE
05 ZASPALA JANA, JANIKA
DRAGICA NIKOLOVA, ALEXANDAR SARIEVSKI, MALI ORKESTAR RADIO SKOPJE
06 AJDE PUKNA PUSKA
NIKOLA BADEV, MALI ORKESTAR RADIO SKOPJE
07 ERGEN ODEV MAJKO
NIKOLA BADEV, PETROVSKI, MALI ORKESTAR RADIO SKOPJE
Sperry Records 59, issued in 1959.
01 MIRJANO MOME
02 SI ZALUBIV EDNO MOME
03 MOMA RUMA
04 ZEDOV ŽENA MNOGU MLADA
05 TRGNA MI STOJNA
06 POPADNA SLANA PO POLE / BOG DA BIE TINO MORE / MORE PAZAM TE PAZAM
07 KAMENIČKI FRLAT MAMO
08 MORI SVAKJE
B
01 SLAVEJ PEE NA TRENDAFIL
02 DOJDI LIBE DO VEČER
03 LILJANO MOME UBAVO
04 VASILKA STOI NA PORTI
05 DEVOJČENCE KE TI KUPAM FUSTAN
06 JA IZLEZI STARA MAJKO
07 LIBE, AKO DOJDEŠ
08 BOLEN LEŽI MLAD STOJAN
VASKA ILIEVA, BLAGA VIDEC. BLAGOJ PETROV-KARAGJULE: VOCAL
KOCE PETROVSKI: ACCORDEON
Sperry Records 60, issued in 1960.
01 OI TI MOME LUDO LI SI
VASKA ILIEVA, NIKOLA BADEV
02 POSTUPANO ORO
UNKNOWN PERFORMER (PECE ATANASOVSKI?)
03 SNOŠTI SI MORI MAMO OTIDOV
NIKOLA BADEV, DRAGICA NIKOLOVA
04 MI GO ZATVORILE MLADIOT JORDANČO
NIKOLA BADEV, DRAGICA NIKOLOVA
05 ZAJKO KOKORAJKO
TODOR BOŠKOV
06 NE ODI DJEMO
MIRVET BELOVSKA, ČALGITE RADIO SKOPJE
07 LIDUDU, LIDUDU
UNKNOWN PERFORMERS
08 IVANO, IVANKE
NADA MAKELARSKA
B
01 SNOŠTI POMINAV, ZAMINAV
VASKA ILIEVA, BLAGOJ PETROV-KARAGJULE
02 OGREALA MESEČINA
UNKNOWN PERFORMERS
03 PODIGNI SI BRE NEVESTE DULAČETO
ALEKSANDAR SARIEVSKI
04 ORAL DEDO
NIKOLA BADEV
05 ZEDOV ŽENA MRZELIVA
VASKA ILIEVA, BLAGOJ PETROV-KARAGJULE
06 TRI GODINI SE LJUBEVME
ALEXANDAR SARIEVSKI
07 NA KOGO E CRNA ŽENATA
VASKA ILIEVA
08 MORE MAKSIM IMA LOŠA ŽENA
VASKA ILIEVA
09 OF LELE SNOŠTI, NE SUM VEČERALA
BLAGA VIDEC, BLAGOJ PETROV-KARAGJULE
The time in the second column gives the start of that track. It roughly indicates the start time and may vary by a minute or so.
Sperry 78 rpm records, part 1
01 00:00 Ramno Oro, Čalgija Orkestar Radio Skopje
02 04:09 Ljubeli si dvajca mladi, Blagojka Badnjikova, Mali Orkestar Radio Skopje
03 07:42 Ibraim Odža, Čalgija Orkestar Radio Skopje
04 11:24 Začukale dajrinjata, Mirvet Belovska, Mali Orkestar Radio Skopje
05 14:49 Aliovo Oro, Čalgija Orkestar Radio Skopje
06 18:41 Crna se čuma zadade, Mirvet Belovska, Čalgija Orkestar Radio Skopje
07 22:54 Mnogo mi go falat, babo mori, Mirvet Belovska, Mali Orkestar Radio Skopje
08 26:39 Makedonsko Narodno Oro, Unknown Zurla Trio
09 29:05 Šeta mi gora razvila, Blagojka Badnjikova, Mali Orkestar Radio Skopje
10 32:59 Makedonsko Oro, Unknown Zurla Trio
11 35:24 Makedonsko Narodno Oro, Unknown Zurla Trio
12 38:41 Petlite peat, Lenče Markovska, Čalgija Orkestar Radio Skopje
13 42:38 Makedonski Narodni Ora, Unknown Zurla Trio (first part), Mali Orkestar Radio Skopje (second part)
14 46:30 Cvekje cuteše, Lenče Markovska, Čalgija Orkestar Radio Skopje
15 49:55 Georgi Sugarev, Mirvet Belovska, Mali Orkestar Radio Skopje
16 58:10 Bisero kjerko, Elena Mukaetova, Mali Orkestar Radio Skopje
17 61:02 Kako što e taja čaša, Nikola Badev, Dragica Nikolova, Mali Orkestar Radio Skopje
18 64:36 Čelnik Pejo, Elena Mukaetova, Mali Orkestar Radio Skopje
19 68:46 Digni si Maro Marče očite, Nada Makelarska, Grozdanka Dailova, Mali Orkestar Radio Skopje
20 71:56 Aj smo šetale, Elena Mukaetova, Mali Orkestar Radio Skopje
21 74:16 Oro, Mali Orkestar Radio Skopje
22 75:53 Aj merak imam, Boris Angelovski, Mali Orkestar Radio Skopje
23 80:06 7 - 11 Oro, Mali Orkestar Radio Skopje
24 82:44 Po drum odam majče, Mirvet Belovska, Čalgija Orkestar Radio Skopje
25 85:44 Dodek je moma pri majka, Elena Mukaetova, Mali Orkestar Radio Skopje
26 88:58 Neli si pusto svršenica, Alexandar Sarievski, Mali Orkestar Radio Skopje
Sperry 78 rpm records, part 2
01 00:00 Brej Gjurčin Stojne ubavo, Tanec
02 01:58 Oro, Čalgija Orkestar Radio Skopje
03 04:01 Ženil se Petre vojvoda, Grupata Biljana, Mali Orkestar Radio Skopje
04 07:19 Prsten mi padna male, Tanec
05 10:47 Prokleto da e, prikleto, Grupata Biljana, Mali Orkestar Radio Skopje
06 13:04 Ne odi Dzemo / Devojče, Devojče, Tanec
07 16:39 Dafina bolna legnala, duetot Sarievski Petruševski, Mali Orkestar Radio Skopje
08 19:59 Oro, Mali Orkestar Radio Skopje od Nikola Galevski
09 22:45 Zorata se zazori, Mirvet Belovska, Čalgija Orkestar Radio Skopje
10 25:47 Oro, Mali Orkestar Radio Skopje od Nikola Galevski
11 28:45 Čerešna se od koren korneše, Grupata Biljana, Mali Orkestar Radio Skopje
12 32:08 Biljana platno beleše (Part 1), Grupata Biljana, Narodniot Radio Orch Skopje
13 35:27 Biljana platno beleše (Part 2), Grupata Biljana, Narodniot Radio Orch Skopje
14 39:22 Bog da bije mojta majka, Grupata Biljana, Narodniot Radio Orch Skopje
15 42:31 Kaži Angjo mori, Vera Filipova, Mali Orkestar Radio Skopje
16 46:39 Bojot započna vo Kruševo, Boris Angelovski, Mali Orkestar Radio Skopje
17 49:43 Prištevka, Čalgija Orkestar Radio Skopje
18 52:24 Narača Mitra porača, Olga Sičan, Čalgija Orkestar Radio Skopje
19 56:36 Ogin go gori Brezovo, Alexandar Sarievski, Mali Orkestar Radio Skopje
20 60:31 Ajde dali znaeš, Olga Sičan, Čalgija Orkestar Radio Skopje
21 64:53 Uči me mila mamo, karaj me, Nada Makelarska, Grozdanka Danilova, Mali Orkestar Radio Skopje
22 69:00 Što imala k'smet Stamena, Vaska Ilieva so gajda
23 71:04 Oro Adana, Čalgija Orkestar Radio Skopje
24 73:11 Zete, mili zete, Grupata Biljana, Narodniot Radio Orkestar Skopje
25 75:39 Nejkjum, nejkjum, Elena Mukaetova, Narodniot Radio Orkestar Skopje
26 78:58 Po pole odat argati, Grupata Biljana, Mali Orkestar Radio Skopje
27 81:21 Imam momče kako lešnik, Vera Filipova, Dragica Nikolova, Mali Orkestar Radio Skopje
28 85:07 Od Bitola pojdov, Mirvet Belovska, Čalgija Orkestar Radio Skopje
Sperry 78 rpm records, part 3
01 00:00 Da mi kupiš Derviš Bajram, Vera Filipova, Dragica Nikolova, Mali Orkestar Radio Skopje
02 02:25 Po pole odat argati, Nada Makelarska, Grozdanka Danilova, Mali Orkestar Radio Skopje
03 04:54 Nevesto crven trendafil, Tanec
04 08:34 Kondisal Ajradin paša, Alexandar Sarievski, Mali Orkestar Radio Skopje
05 12:13 Majka na Marika dumaše, Grupata Biljana, Mali Orkestar Radio Skopje
06 14:59 Djurdja pere na rekata, Boris Angelovski, Mali Orkestar Radio Skopje
07 17:50 Ramno Veleško Oro, Čalgija Orkestar Radio Skopje
08 20:59 Ne zadevaj me, mori Vendo, Grupata Biljana, Narodniot Radio Orkestar Skopje
09 24:42 Starosvadbinsko Oro, Čalgija Orkestar Radio Skopje
10 28:09 Slegov dolu vo izbata, Boris Angelovski, Mali Orkestar Radio Skopje
11 30:58 Air da ne storiš majko, Vaska Ilieva so dve kavali
12 35:56 Lenče bre dušo, Boris Angelovski, Mali Orkestar Radio Skopje
13 38:06 Oro, Mali Orkestar Radio Skopje Macedonia
14 40:32 Mi se sorbale 12 drugara, Mirvet Belovska, Čalgija Orkestar Radio Skopje
15 45:17 Što mi je milo em drago, Grupata Biljana, Mali Orkestar Radio Skopje
16 50:02 Or neveste Stojanice, Tanec
17 54:48 Kiradjiče jabandjiče, Vera Filipova, Mali Orkestar Radio Skopje
18 59:30 Sadilo mome i Tropnalo Oro, Tanec
19 64:22 Što teško odiš, Marika Georgieva, Mali Orkestar Radio Skopje
20 69:30 Promeni se, Sute, Muška Grupa Od Makedonskiot Naroden Ansambl
21 74:41 Oj ti dedo Gero, Nikola Badev, Čalgija Orkestar Radio Skopje
22 80:30 Karanfilo Filo, Grupata Biljana, Mali Orkestar Radio Skopje
23 85:24 Mi tovaril Dončo, Mirvet Belovska, Mali Orkestar Radio Skopje