Records and Record Players Through the Years
Hello friends, Samm Bennett here. Born in 1957, I grew up with vinyl records: 7-inch 45s and LPs, mostly, and a few other odd formats. Records shaped the way I thought about music, and the graphic images that went along with them (big LP jackets, inner sleeves, the labels themselves) were key elements in transmitting the whole idea of music making. And the first commercial releases of my own were in the form of vinyl records. I'm nostalgic about it all, for sure. I'm compiling this gallery (an ongoing process) of anything and everything that catches my eye and interest as regards records, the culture they inhabited, and the culture they created. From the very beginnings, up to, pwerhaps, the present day. Hope you won't mind the non-chronological order these images are presented in, and can simply enjoy the ride. Perhaps you'll find bits and pieces of your own personal remembrances amongst the offerings.
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NOTE: This and all the other galleries here at my website feature images or historical items I find worthy of interest in one way or another, and I hope you will find something(s) here that interest you as well. I spend a great deal of time collecting and compiling these materials, which you are free to enjoy at your leisure. Should you want to support me in these efforts, and/or my musical efforts which you'll find plenty of here at the website, I do hope you'll consider making a donation (however small!) via PayPal to help sustain these activities. The PayPalMe link is HERE. Thanks!
I guess it's obvious that "Bridge Over Troubled Waters" is spinning on the gramophone...
"Sir, once you listen to some of this *Krautrock*, I think youll see why it is imperative that we invade Germany immediately."
Can't say as I'm a big Neil Sedaka fan, but I really like the design of this old RCA sleeve
Don't get sand in your grooves, ladies!
Here's an extremely rare copy of Geeshie Wiley's "Last Kind Word Blues". I've long adored this gorgeous song.
Here's my interpretation, from a live show with the Ghost Steppers in 2010 - Last Kind Words
Here's my interpretation, from a live show with the Ghost Steppers in 2010 - Last Kind Words
This, ladies and gentlemen, is the very first 45rpm record ever released. Eddy Arnold's rendition of Texarkana Baby, released March 31, 1949. Gotta say, this tune really coulda used a little editing. I mean, there's some pretty weak and groan-worthy lines in this little ditty, mixed in with, well, some decent ones. A little too much repetition of certain lines, too, in my opinion. You kinda wish the VERY FIRST song to be released as a 7" single woulda been a little better! Shoulda been a Hank Williams number, say, "I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry", which was released in the year 1949, and is one of the landmark examples of great American songwriting.!
Multi colored vinyl
Filing system!
Everyone's a critic!
Now that's what I call a *long playing* record.
Looks like she's got some sort of remote there. Heck yeah, why get outta bed if you don't have to?
The Original Dixieland Jass Band made this, their first recording, in 1917. They were quite well known in their day, and there are several promo photos of them at my Early Jazz and Jug Bands Photo Gallery here at Polarity. Hear the tune here.
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I always loved that yellow SUN label with the rooster, the rising sun, the musical notes dancing all around the edge, and the
"MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE" proudly displayed. Hear Johnny Cash's Get Rhythm here. |
Most fabulous record jacket EVER.
Singer Peggy Lee sold a lotta records!
Hmm, a banjo, eh? These must've been "folkies". Had the Kingston Trio going, no doubt, while they enjoyed their orange sugar water.
At the factory.
Record cases (Disk-Go), Charter Industries, with the twist-off top and the spindle in the middle. 1966 via
Rumanian red record
As a kid I used to pore over the record club ads like this one.
Portable!
Fabulous design from this 60s-era Columbia Records advertisement!
A German parrot seller trains his birds to talk by rote through listening to records, ca. 1935. Practical use of the medium! via
Hey! Listening to records ain't just for parrots! via
Listening to... I Wanna Be Your Dog? via
Yet more birds! Chicken Gramophone! EXTRALOUD! via
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Lots more old gramophone needle tins and packages later...
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Double your fun!
And what's he listening to? Atomic Dog, perhaps? via
"Techniques such as playing recordings backwards, superimposing them, excerpting and rearranging bits of them, altering playback speeds, and so forth were more widespread in early phonography than is generally thought. " via
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Now, this lovely young lady here may well have been listening to music from some of the same old Japanese labels as the ones shown just below...
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The two handsome red 78 labels just above (from 1920s) Japan are from a great site where you can hear these and many more pre-1930 Japanese releases. Be sure to check out this page.
I have a special place in my heart for this old Japanese record label, since my closest train station, one I use all the time, is Uguisudani (translates as "Nightingale Valley"). Note the charming misspelling of "superlative".
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Great song title! Edison Records "Diamond Disc" label, early 1920s. Edison Disc Records always ran at 80 rpm. Hmm...
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So, they used to make phonograph needles out of bamboo! Who knew? Read all about it at Scientific American.
Get yer records! Only 63 cents each! via
Just watch the bumps!
Above and below: records case. Inner lid when opened reveals stars of the day, Perry Como, Glenn Miller and others
Back when toys came with a record!
Something for everyone! via
The original Loudness Wars? via
Famed orchestra conductor Arthur Fiedler demonstrates the
new RCA Victor 45 rpm player and record in February 1949. |
Kid just ain't diggin' this rekkid. Get him some James Brown!
Marlon Brando blissing out. Wonder what he was listening to?
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What's Spock spinning? "In The Year 2525", of course.
There was a case to be made for 7" records. A green one.
That's just a great, great sign, isn't it? A fabulous neon-laced sculpture. I remember this facade from childhood in Birmingham, Alabama, though I'm not sure if I ever went into the store. But I certainly remember Joe Rumore, who was a local radio disc jockey in addition to being a record store owner. I used to hear his radio shows, and he'd always be plugging his store, "Rumore's Record Rack". The alliteration was catchy as hell.
And on the subject of record racks, well, this was a record rack...
These four German schallplatten images via
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Back to Japan: an old ad for Victor Records via
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Refreshments and music!
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Above: a BOLD fashion statement! Hip Pocket Records were another short-lived vinyl format, which you can learn all about at Dead Media. Below: more Hip Pocket advertisements: portable, low-priced and groovy! via and via
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Here are two more innovative designs from Japan.
I want a HOME RECORDO!
Now, here's a curious item: an Iranian pressing of Hey Jude, by the Beatles. Somewhat oddly, they've chosen a picture of Ringo to grace the cover. And one wonders, was B.T.S. some sort of abbreviation for Beatles? Maybe they got around some Iranian copyright laws or licensing fees by not writing "Beatles" on the cover? Note also, in the two photos below this one, that the record contained two more tracks: another Beatles tune (Revolution, which, as it happens, the country of Iran would experience firsthand in just a few short years after this song was released there) and (again oddly) the old standby from Archie Bell and the Drells, Tighten Up. I suppose it was the* nighttime* version, though...
Sweet portable radio/record player. More interesting models on display at Gizmodo's "12 Mildly Ridiculous Portable Record Players"
Old children's 78rpm record player, quite charming.
Toy gramophone via
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Handsome design on this Crosley portable!
Why, yes, yes I do want one of these, as a matter of fact.
Here's an ideal tool for the adventurous media artist, years ahead of its time!
Two turntables and no microphone
Maybe I'd have had a more impressive track record if I'd put this on my turntable way back when...