R2OK!

iwarburton · Joined: 08 Dec 2006 Posts: 2133 Location: Northumberland

What is the earliest recorded track that you can recall hearing? That's in terms of recording date rather than necessarily the first time that you heard it.

Mine is a track of Enrico Caruso singing On with the Motley, recorded in 1902.

It was included in an EMI centenary collection issued in, I think, 1988. I don't have the album in my collection but borrowed it from the library shortly after its release.

Over to you.

Ian.

Minx · Posted: Thu Mar 26, 2009 9:43 am Post subject:

I was a little girl (yeah right Wink

) and my Dad was killing himself listening to Jerry Colonna singing Ebb Tide on a huge 78 rpm gramophone record.
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Minx

To err is human, to forgive - canine.

Helen May · Joined: 10 Dec 2006 Posts: 19382 Location: Cheshire

Hi Ian

Got me thinking now and struggling but will come back later!

It was probably a Frank Sinatra track as I have visions of the orange/brown cover of the album Song For Swinging Lovers at home.

H
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88 - 91 FM this is Radio 2 from the BBC!

I said it live on air in the studio with Jeremy Vine on 10/3/2005

John W · Joined: 07 Dec 2006 Posts: 3367 Location: Warwickshire, UK

Like Ian, I know I've heard some of those very early Caruso records on radio, but I'm sure one of the Beeb documentaries once played some ragtime banjo records from about 1899 and I remember they were by Vess Ossman.

My extensive 78 collection Smile

includes both Caruso and Ossman though the oldest I have are circa. 1906 - it is hard to hear the music so they are not frequent turntable spins, they have to be played on a gramophone to really hear anything.

I also have some classical piano played by Wilhelm Backhaus dating back to 1908 and the music can be heard quite well on those. I have special different size diamond styluses for playing 78s from 1908-1958.

My radio shows usually start around 1929 when the recording quality became really good.

John

becky sharp · Joined: 01 Dec 2008 Posts: 6851

Minx · Posted: Fri Mar 27, 2009 7:51 am Post subject:

T'riffic Becky. Thanks for the link. I see Velvet Glove is on there too!
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Minx

To err is human, to forgive - canine.

RockitRon · Joined: 07 Dec 2006 Posts: 7646

Reminds me of Stan Freberg. His spoof of The Banana Boat Song
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NEhvTyzIBcg&feature=related
was one of the first tracks I remember hearing on the radio; the very first vocal one was probably Perry Como's Catch A Falling Star.

However, John asked about the earliest recorded track. As a child of the 50s/60s, listening to Childrens Favourites on a Saturday morning, and not having specially researched back any further, the earliest would have to be Charles Penrose's Laughing Policeman. Recorded 1926 I believe
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Ron

davem · Joined: 13 Mar 2009 Posts: 115

I cant recall the first track i listened to the first i knew the words to was 'puff the magic dragon'mainly because my mom always used to sing along to it when it came on Laughing

Lord Evan Elpuss · Joined: 10 Dec 2006 Posts: 3417 Location: Cloud Cuckoo Land

Aahh the memories of Saturday & Sunday mornings with Stewpot's Junior Choice. I think it was Peter, Paul & Mary who did 'Puff The Magic Dragon'. Another gem was 'The Runaway Train', I can't remember who sang that. Then there's Terry Scott's 'My Brother'. Which comedian did 'Don't Jump Off The Roof Dad'? Ronnie Hilton's 'Windmill In Old Amsterdam' was another dead cert to be heard on Junior Choice.
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Lord Evan Elpuss, Your ideal job is a Lumberjack.

colby · Joined: 06 Feb 2009 Posts: 1216

John W · Joined: 07 Dec 2006 Posts: 3367 Location: Warwickshire, UK

iwarburton · Joined: 08 Dec 2006 Posts: 2133 Location: Northumberland

Some answers:

The Runaway Train--Michael Holliday

Don't Jump off the Roof, Dad--Tommy Cooper (the fact that the 'kids' choir all have broken voices still takes me by surprise)

Swinging on a Star--Big Dee Irwin and Little Eva.

Ian.

Helen May · Joined: 10 Dec 2006 Posts: 19382 Location: Cheshire

Gave this a bit more thought and I think it was 'GillygillyOssenfesser' or as I called it 'There's A Tiny House' by Max Bygraves on a 78 rpm of course.

H
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88 - 91 FM this is Radio 2 from the BBC!

I said it live on air in the studio with Jeremy Vine on 10/3/2005

iwarburton · Joined: 08 Dec 2006 Posts: 2133 Location: Northumberland

Brill! I've got this on a 50s compilation CD. Also there is another MB item, You're a Pink Toothbrush.

Whilst Mr Bygraves isn't quite my cup of tea, it's great that he's still going strong at 86 and I really do wish him well.

Ian.