2017 News

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 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.

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 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.

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.

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).