Early Recordings

A collection of early historical recordings.

Warning: These historical recordings may contain offensive or inappropriate language. As the Library of Congress states, “These selections are presented as part of the record of the past. They are historical documents which reflect the attitudes, perspectives, and beliefs of different times.” The author does not endorse any of the offensive content that may be found on the recordings.

Recordings about groups:

Title: “Bake dat Chicken Pie”
Performers: Collins and Harlan
Label/Catalogue #: Victor 17221
Year Recorded: 1907
Language: English with an African American accent
Source: Library of Congress: National Jukebox

Listen
Title: “Christmas Morning at Clancey's"
Performers: Steve Porter
Label/Catalogue #: Victor 16936
Year Recorded: 1908
Language: English with an Irish accent
Source: Library of Congress: National Jukebox

Listen
Title: “Uncle Josh in an Automobile"
Performers: Cal Stewart
Label/Catalogue #: Victor 2541
Year Recorded: ca. 1903
Language: English with a rube accent, English
Source: Library of Congress: National Jukebox

Listen
Title: “Goldberg's Automobile Troubles"
Performers: Dave Martin
Label/Catalogue #: Edison Diamond Disc 51179
Year Recorded: ca. 1916
Language: English with a Yiddish accent
Source: Cylinder Preservation and Digitization Project

Listen
Title: “My Mariuccia Take a Steamboat"
Performers: Billy Murray
Label/Catalogue #: Edison cylinder 9430
Year Recorded: 1906
Language: English with an Italian accent
Source: Cylinder Preservation and Digitization Project

Listen
Title: “Bisness in America"
Performers: Alex Silverstein
Label/Catalogue #: Columbia E1007
Year Recorded: 1912
Language: Yiddish, minor English
Source: Judaica Sound Archives, Florida Atlantic University Libraries

Listen
Title: “Nofrio Allu Storo e' Cinque e Dieci"
Performers: Giovanni de Rosalia and Company
Label/Catalogue #: Victor 73263
Year Recorded: 1921
Language: Italian (Sicilian), Italglish and English
Source: Library of Congress: National Jukebox

Listen
Title: “Det Nye Piano”
Performers: Ethel Olson
Label/Catalogue #: Victor 72657
Year Recorded: 1920
Language: English with a Norwegian accent
Source: Library of Congress: National Jukebox

Listen
Title: “Olle ve Kvarna om Base Ball"
Performers: Charles G. Widdén
Label/Catalogue #: Victor 77149
Year Recorded: 1923
Language: Swedish, minor English
Source: Library of Congress: National Jukebox

Listen
Title: “Der Janitor”
Performers: Carl Frischer
Label/Catalogue #: Emerson 19048
Year Recorded: ca. 1921
Language: German, English
Source: Library of Congress: National Jukebox

Listen