Archeophone Records

05/11/2025

The shop is closed today through next Sunday, the 16th. Until then, here's something for you to gaze on. From 1903, it's two records of "Come Down, Ma Evenin' Star," made popular on stage by Lillian Russell. On the left is a ten-inch disc by Mina Hickman, and on the right is a seven-inch disc (with handwritten label!) by Henry Burr. Both appear on our upcoming 1903 Yearbook!

All the best, rich and meagan

(Courtesy Yoshi Kiguchi and Hiroaki Onishi / David Giovannoni)

30/10/2025

1924 SHEDS LIGHT ON . . . 1884 (and earlier)

This article popped up when were researching Wendell Hall's huge hit, "It Ain't Gonna Rain No Mo'," appearing on our upcoming Phonographic Yearbook, 1924: "Open Up Your Golden Gate." Besides confirming that the song's roots are deep in the tradition, "The Gas Drip Bard" (a.k.a. Michael J. Shay) gives us invaluable insight into the musical world of New York City in the late 1870s and early 1880s.

Of particular interest is his catalog of banjo players--many of whom you will recognize. But have you heard of the Black player, "George Cisco"? This is almost certainly Samuel Sisco (whose last name was regularly misspelled, and whose first was given as Sam, George, Joseph, etc.). We have reason to believe that Sisco was actually the first African American to make professional recordings, likely as early as 1889. More on that in due course . . .

Who has sources about the thriving Black community he references living in the 1880s near Washington Square Park?

(Brooklyn Times Union, Aug. 31, 1924, p. 10)

20/10/2025

Sound samples are now up for the upcoming Yearbook: 1903: "'Twas on the Good Ship Cuspidor." Use the link below to head over to our website, check them out, and report back. If you are someone who thinks that the year 1903 is too early for records to sound really great, you're in for a very pleasant surprise!

05/10/2025

Twenty years ago today--October 5, 2005--Archeophone Records released its 30th CD, "Lost Sounds: Blacks and the Birth of the Recording Industry, 1891-1922." It went on to garner us our first GRAMMY Award for Best Historical Album at the 49th Awards, held February 11, 2007.

Should we live long enough, we hope to put it back in print better than before: revised and totally remastered, expanded from two to at least four discs, physically enlarged, with a lot more photos, textual notes, and analysis. Yes, there have been many new awesome audio discoveries by Black artists from the dawn of recording. Salut!

03/10/2025

Here's an image we'll be printing in our new Yearbook, 1903: "'Twas on the Good Ship Cuspidor," but we wanted you to be able to zoom in and see the details. It's from "Collier's" of April 11, 1903. Our main fascination is with the prediction of what passenger flight would look like 100 years hence (remember the Wright Brothers' successful tests didn't come until mid-December 1903), but there's much else to digest here.

Artist W. R. Leigh (1866-1955) was best known as a painter of Western themes (lots of cowboys and horses), and this sketch could certainly use some of his trademark vibrant colors. Imagining the dirigible landing pad must have taken a mental stretch . . . and yet Leigh lived long enough to see modern airports.

Thoughts?

(Archeophone Records)

02/10/2025

Well, Meagan is out of town, so she extended the fall sale for a few days until she can get back and take it down. Do it while she's not looking! www.archeophone.com

23/09/2025

It's always nice when the sheet music features the artist from the record, along with her accompanist! Ted Shapiro would go on to play piano and arrange for Sophie Tucker for over forty years. The two are heard performing "The One I Love (Belongs to Somebody Else)" by Gus Kahn and Isham Jones on the upcoming Archeophone Yearbook: 1924: "Open Up Your Golden Gate."

20/09/2025

Our Fall Sale rolls on! Are you looking for some good long-form reading and hours of listening pleasure? Perhaps you have canceled your subscriptions to Disney, Paramount, and the Washington Post and find you have extra time on your hands. Dig in while the offers are hot. Why not start with our celebrated Jazz, Dance & Blues series, featuring the GRAMMY-winning "Centennial"?

Neglected masters in the fields of orchestral dance music, acoustic-era jazz, and early blues get their due in Archeophone’s Jazz, Dance & Blues series. These are artists and songs that occupy a liminal space between the old–the 19th century sounds of ragtime, classical vocals, and military band...

10/09/2025

Our annual fall sale is on! Prices good through the end of the month. Take a look around www.archeophone.com because you'll find some good deals. Thanks for your support!

05/09/2025

STEALTH YEARBOOK! Coming this fall (fingers crossed) is another Phonographic Yearbook: "1924: 'Open Up Your Golden Gate'" (ARCH 9027). It will be the 24th release in the series. Complete track list below.

We're aiming to have both 1903 and 1924 ready before Christmas--save you money on shipping, save the planet some emissions.

Let us know what you think. Encouragement is good food!

1. I Love You—Paul Whiteman and His Orchestra
2. California, Here I Come—Al Jolson with Isham Jones Orchestra (Ukulele by Bud DeSylva)
3. It Ain’t Gonna Rain No Mo’—Wendell Hall
4. June Night—Waring’s Pennsylvanians
5. Jealous—Marion Harris
6. What’ll I Do—Paul Whiteman and His Orchestra
7. Somebody Stole My Gal—Ted Weems and His Orchestra
8. Charley, My Boy—Eddie Cantor
9. Hard Hearted Hannah—Dolly Kay
10. Lazy—Blossom Seeley (with “The Georgians,” directed by Frank Guarente)
11. Rememb’ring—The Duncan Sisters (Phil Ohman, piano)
12. Charleston–Medley Fox Trot—Arthur Gibbs and His Gang
13. It Had to Be You—Isham Jones Orchestra
14. My Way’s Cloudy—Marian Anderson
15. Memory Lane—Waring’s Pennsylvanians (vocal by Tom Waring)
16. A Smile Will Go a Long, Long Way—Ted Weems and His Orchestra
17. Somebody Loves Me—Paul Whiteman and His Orchestra
18. The One I Love (Belongs to Somebody Else)—Sophie Tucker (Ted Shapiro, piano)
19. I Wonder What’s Become of Sally—Al Jolson with Carl Fenton’s Orchestra
20. Sittin’ in a Corner—Brox Sisters
21. Linger Awhile—Paul Whiteman and His Orchestra
22. Spain—Isham Jones Orchestra
23. Nobody’s Sweetheart—Margaret Young
24. Where the Lazy Daisies Grow—Frank Crumit (Phil Ohman, piano)
25. Sleep—Waring’s Pennsylvanians (vocals by Tom and Fred Waring)

03/09/2025

Now online is our presentation with Ricky Riccardi at Satchmo Summerfest, here on Facebook: just go to 1:11:30 in the link below!
https://www.facebook.com/share/v/164Nna8Ryc/?mibextid=wwXIfr

31/08/2025

So, maybe you have time this Labor Day weekend to do a little watching--maybe a movie? Or how about a long-form interview? Well, get your popcorn and soda and dig in, 'cos it's Rich sitting down with Matthew Bellisario of BellisarioSonic talking about the world of acoustic recording.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xTbpvDzqqVM

Huge thanks to Matthew for giving his time and energy to what we do here. Watch a lot, watch a little . . . either way, hope you enjoy the discussion!

Richard Martin is a music historian, audio restoration expert on the acoustic era of audio recordings (1888-1925), and co-owner of Archeophone Records. He ha...