Excerpts from 78rpm Records

Background Sound is

"Play that again on the Gramophone" by Florrie Forde, recorded July 1920

A Selection from Early UK Record labels

Below are some sound file excerpts of 78rpm records which were current in England before the First World War.

One of the Earliest Flat Disc Records

Listen to "Whist the Bogie Man" recorded about 1890. No artist is credited but it is probably the voice of Emile Berliner, inventor of the gramophone. This 5inch record was produced to be played back on a small handcranked gramophone. Since the quality of the recording was poor, the record carries on its back surface a printed copy of the words of the song.
File in mp3 format, 163k

The "First" British Disc Record

Listen to "Comin' through the Rye "
recorded by Syria Lamont in 1898 for the Gramophone Company (Berliner E3007).
This record is dated 2/8/1898, and until recently was thought to be the very first disc record recorded in England. There is now some dispute as to which title was the actual "first" record, but nevertheless this dates from the very infancy of sound recording in Europe.
File in mp3 format, 88k

British Berliner Record

Listen to "Just because she made dem goo goo eyes "
recorded by George Gaskin in August 1901 for the Gramophone Company (Berliner 2-2138).
On this record, there is a spoken introduction.
File in mp3 format, 100k

The Titanic

Listen to "Every man at his post"
recorded by Ernest Gray in 1912 for Winner
File in mp3 format, 100k

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bill78@btinternet.com