DESCRIPTION:
TRACK: "Only a Thin Veil Between Us"
COMPOSER: C. Payson Longley (1887)
PERFORMER: Gene Kenneth Lord, Amelia Taylor
ALBUM: "Only a Thin Veil Between Us/Beautiful Beckoning Hands"
LABEL: Remington, early 1920s (Lateral Cut, 78 RPM)

This is the earliest recorded spiritualist hymn that I've been able to find (early 1920s), and perhaps the earliest ever made. C. Payson Longley and his wife, Mary T. (Shelhamer) Longley, were influentially active in the spiritualist movement at the turn of the century--Mary with her published writings on the spirit world and Payson with his popular hymn books. Often attributed to spirit-authors, Mary would sometimes supply lyrics for Payson's songs. Hymns like "Only a Thin Veil Between Us" were frequently used by spiritualist families across America as a prelude to séances and ceremonial spirit communications. Before a séance began, spiritualist hymns provided an easy tool for social communion, while generating a shared mood of positivity and beauty, often lyrically reveling in a heavenly imagination.

"Only a Thin Veil Between Us" was composed in 1887 by C. Payson Longley and sung by baritone Gene Kenneth Lord, who for a period was hired as a kind of vocal mascot for the Spiritualist movement. These recordings were organized by Mrs. K. A. Springer, who served as secretary for the Pennsylvania Spiritualist Association. The Remington label was a branch of the Gennet and Starr Piano Company labels, which provided lateral cut 78 rpm records for independent record production.

Thanks to Devon Flaherty for digitization.