2018 News
[catlist name=news tags=”2018″ excerpt=yes excerpt=full date=yes dateformat=”F dS, Y” date_tag=p date_class=em title_tag=h4 title_class=news-title excerpt_strip=no template=div]
4 Banjo Songs EP coming May 4
This May, you can hear what only a handful of people have ever heard: the oldest recordings of banjo songs in existence, played by an African American veteran of the minstrel stage, Charles A. Asbury. 4 Banjo Songs, 1891-1897 presents four of the rarest wax cylinders in a beautiful vinyl package. It is a seven-inch 45-rpm disc in a gatefold sleeve, with lyrics and a 16-page booklet of biographical and musical notes by Grammy-nominated authors Richard Martin and Ted Olson. 4 Banjo Songs will be released May 4th, and pre-ordering will begin in April.
See the selections >
A Grammy Nod for Edouard-Léon Scott de Martinville, Inventor of Sound Recording: A Bicentennial Tribute
Edouard-Léon Scott de Martinville, Inventor of Sound Recording: A Bicentennial Tribute has received a Grammy nomination in the category of Best Album Notes. Congratulations to our colleague David Giovannoni, who so beautifully told the story of the first person to record the human voice.
Edouard-Léon Scott de Martinville, Inventor of Sound Recording: A Bicentennial Tribute Now Available
Edouard-Léon Scott de Martinville invented sound recording twenty years before Thomas Edison re-invented it. But his phonautograph is only one of his many accomplishments. Our upcoming release, Edouard-Léon Scott de Martinville, Inventor of Sound Recording: A Bicentennial Tribute, tells his story in depth. This extensively illustrated 48-page softcover book presents new research on Scott and his role as the father of sound recording. Included is a 33-1/3 flexi disc with phonautograms not only by Scott, but also by famous inventors who were inspired by him and his invention: Alexander Graham Bell, Thomas Edison and Emile Berliner. A link to stream or download the audio is included as well.
1909: “Talk of Your Scand’lous Times” Now Available
The next volume in our Phonographic Yearbook Series, 1909: “Talk of Your Scand’lous Times,” is now available and shipping immediately. You can hear samples, see the full tracklist, and order at 1909‘s catalogue page.
All Phonographic Yearbooks on Sale through March 31
All in-stock volumes of our Phonographic Yearbook are on sale through March 31. We’ve got sixteen years available—take a look at the full list and catch up on years that you’ve missed. Orders that include 1909: “Talk of Your Scand’lous Times” will ship as one package when 1909 is released.
1909 Yearbook coming in March
The next volume in our Phonographic Yearbook Series, 1909: “Talk of Your Scand’lous Times,” is coming late March. We’ve got the cover art, final playlist, and sound samples online now, so take a few minutes to check them out.
2017 News
[catlist name=news tags=”2017″ excerpt=yes excerpt=full date=yes dateformat=”F dS, Y” date_tag=p date_class=em title_tag=h4 title_class=news-title excerpt_strip=no template=div]
Select releases on sale for Black History Month
Celebrate Black History Month by discovering the sounds and stories of some of the great early African-Americans to record. For all of February, you can save on our single-artist releases featuring Wilbur Sweatman, Mary Stafford and Edith Wilson, the Fisk University Jubilee Quartet, and two volumes of the great Bert Williams (Vol. 2. & Vol. 3).
2 Grammy Nominations for Waxing the Gospel
Waxing the Gospel has been nominated for two Grammy Awards: Best Historical Album and Best Album Notes. Congratulations to all members of the production team and to the many generous collectors who shared their rare records. To celebrate the nominations, we’ve put Waxing the Gospel on sale for $49.95 until mid-January.