I'M WILD ABOUT HORNS ON AUTOMOBILES Edison Diamond Disc Phonograph Record 52508 (Wonderful!)

Here is a REAL favorite Edison Diamond Disc record from my collection. This is the delightful and very difficult to find late electrically recorded Edison record, "I'm Wild About Horns On Automobiles (That Go Ta-Ta-Ta-Ta)" by Jack Dalton and The 7 Blue Babies. Jack Dalton is, of course, Jack Kaufman who recorded under both names for Edison. Gosh, I searched for so many years before finding this example in near pristine condition. This record definitely did not sell very well probably because of two reasons. Edison records were relatively very expensive and the record buying public in 1928 was becoming more interested in radio entertainment which was free. The second reason is that this record was likely not popular with the ladies of the late 1920's who would consider it rubbish. The ladies back then, as today, would still have a good deal of impact on what comes into the home, right guys? Anyway, I hope that you enjoy this delightful recording and, as always, I thank you for stopping in for a visit.

[@The1920sDandy]

What a wonderful sound from an Edison ! It could nearly compete with an orthophonic gramophone I think !

[@agesagomusic08]

i believe the flipside of this disc is "Id Like To Bumpity Bump (on a bumpy road with you)..I have the original TEST PRESSING of that side :)

[@markhall1287]

found it on youtube as bumpity bump - Jack Dalton

[@hebneh]

That's an awfully long intro on the record without anything to listen to, after the needle's been put down. I don't know how many autos in real life had horns that played this little 4-note tune, but it was a cliche that was used repeatedly in cartoons and comedy sketches for decades afterwards, usually to denote a busy city street.

[@stiltoncheesewright]

Thanks for sharing this... the record sounds like so clear and strong ! The selection is interesting... almost sounds like a vaudeville routine from 10 years earlier...

[@Lucius1958]

I'd seen this song quoted in an R. Crumb cartoon many years ago - and I'm delighted yo hear the original!

[@MusicBoxBoy]

@The1920sDandy Thanks for the nice comments. I agree with you that this particular Edison sounds really nice and clear. Edison had nearly perfected the vertically cut recording process and surface materials he used were superb at this time.

[@mspysu79]

That DD sounds great, too bad they took so long to go electrical. I wonder what gear they used to record this.

[@KennyBentley7]

Never kiss a girl in a Ford with the motor running. That's funny! Love the high-tech equipment there, too. When it is left on for a while, it shuts itself off automatically so you don't have to worry about forgetting to. :) Enjoyed the tune and the nice classic sound.

[@MusicBoxBoy]

@chagall56 You will be very fortunate if you can find this record as it rarely surfaces. The other Edison Diamond DIsc you mention will be slightly easier to find but, in general, the later Edison Discs such as this one are quite scarce. And if you can find a copy the next issue to confront is condition. While some Edison Diamond Discs have survived pretty well many were subjected to harsh conditions and treatment. Good luck!

[@henkgloudemans8886]

What an amazing record !!!!!!!

[@ChrisMaxfieldActs]

3:49 It would not be a 1920s tune without a casual, silly ethnic joke, where the Jewish driver's horn goes "oy, oy!"

[@Mishy2sons]

I heard this song on American Routes in a recording by Fred Hall and His Sugar Babies, recorded in 1928. I didn't see that version on KZbin, but this is just as cute.

[@radiophonotvnut9024]

Just think of living back then; Everything was New!

[@AL-Fritz]

I bought three Edison Records at a antique store in early 2015. The guy that i bought them form said he never seen a record that thick before. Even thought I don't have a edison phonograph to play it on I just use my record player instead but I got to turn it up loud enough to here it but that's fine. I may be 17 and I don't mind listening to music form the early 20th century. This is a great song by the way Thanks for sharing :)

[@amazing7633]

As you probably know by now the Edison DD records use a vertical modulation instead of the horizontal of the Berliner system, standard for Victor, Columbia and others. You can either acquire an Edison machine, or you can rewire a stereo pickup for vertical as shown here: forum.talkingmachine.info/viewtopic.php?f=7&t=7302

[@mgconlan]

It's my understanding that the Edison electrical recordings were lateral-cut instead of vertical-cut (at least so Roland Gelatt claimed in his history "The Fabulous Phonograph") and therefore would be fully compatible with a normal 78 rpm turntable.

[@markostermayer3614]

Mark Conlan not for one like this. Those have black labels with lightning bolts and state that they’re normal. Those were incredibly late, 29 ish.

[@Robbi496]

I love this! Especially the dialogue! I have this record w/o the speaking by Harry resor on Columbia

[@danielmkubacki]

I'M WILD ABOUT HORNS ON AUTOMOBILES THAT GO TA-TA-TA-TA. A geat little diity! Thanks for posting this.

[@HarborGuy]

Same Jack Dalton from "Titanic" This is a great version. I have a different one tho. much fun!

[@nadeine2007]

Nice that you found what you were looking for , after all those years. I have a pristine Edison DD in storage, and played it once: "Way out west in Kansas" on one side, cant remember what's on the other side though. I too have been kind of on the lookout for a 20's version of "Thanks for the buggy ride", by "an unknown comic", that I had when I was a kid. Still remember most of the words and melody. Thank you for posting!

[@PotterPossum1989]

My God, what a fascinating version. Thank you for sharing!

[@luismantaras6460]

Thank you! I only know the more easy to get Fred Sugar Hall recording of this funny song with singing by Arthur Fields, if I'm not wrong, which I prefer to Kaufmans.

[@Robbi496]

My sister learned this song in Girl Scouts! Her and I used to sing it back in the late 1950's-early 1960's!

[@MusicBoxBoy]

@chagall56 I forgot to respond to your other question. The speaking intro is exactly as it was recorded on both the Edison Diamond Disc and the Blue Amberol version of this song. This song was also recorded on at least one lateral cut record label of the late 1920's as well.

[@RatPfink66]

"The ladies back then, as today, would still have a good deal of impact on what comes into the home, right guys?" Why am I thinking that this is not an issue with you? :) -RatPfink66, confirmed old bachelor and likely to remain so

[@bornhoffer]

Brilliant! Simply brilliant ;-)

[@EdisonSquirrel]

What a fun recording! I'm amazed at the superior sound quality of the disc.

[@pgh45rpms]

Beautiful machine. I believe the Edison recordings could only be played on Edison phonograhs. Quite a long lead-in. This recording sounds very similar to the comic novelties recorded by Billy Jones & Ernest Hare.

[@Vinyl_Dave]

Electric recording? Are you sure? (I don't think Edison ever went that way.)

[@thomasstephen1505]

thats some really neat stuff!

[@MusicBoxBoy]

@Lucius1958 Glad to hear from you and that you enjoyed this one!

[@chagall56]

I've got to get this record! I'm looking for that record and many other DD's like I can't give you anything but love, baby. I've heard this song before but don't remember the long talking intro. Is there another recording of this song?

[@MisterTalkingMachine]

This is my certainly my favourite version of this song. I'd love to have a full transcript of it, as the net just provides the standard lyrics without the last verse nor the dialog at the begining.

[@MusicBoxBoy]

@EdisonSquirrel Thanks Rocky!

[@Lucius1958]

Just got a resin copy of this from Don Wilson!

[@agesagomusic08]

@MusicBoxBoy Great record and great sound! you do have truely a jem there! a great old fashioned blue babies tune! you can definately tap your feet to that and the sound is superb, you actually feel like your there listening to this record! thanks for posting!

[@jhonwask]

That is a funny song and i love Chevrolets. LOL

[@simonenoll7219]

for so long search is so lucky to have this Nice

[@inflatedginger8778]

Not a bad sound

[@haganstim9635]

I love it

[@MusicBoxBoy]

@mayatatyana1 Thank you Maya! Always nice to see a comment from you. Stop back again soon.

[@MusicBoxBoy]

@agesagomusic08 Thanks! Maybe we can swap stories sometime offline about Edison Diamond Discs since you enjoy them as well.

[@MusicBoxBoy]

@mayatatyana1 Thank you Maya! Always nice to see a comment from you. Stop back again soon.

[@MusicBoxBoy]

@Mishy2sons Thanks. Good to hear that you enjoyed this.

[@CurzonRoad]

@mayatatyana1 ... fancy meeting YOU here! Agreed... just wonderful! Thank you MusicBoxBoy for posting... and thank you Maya for sharing! Doug --

[@MusicBoxBoy]

@WinterHaven Thanks WinterHaven!

[@MusicBoxBoy]

@RobinPratt Thanks!!

[@MusicBoxBoy]

@RobinPratt Thanks!!

[@dougthompson5305]

If one were to order an air horn kit which goes "ta ta ta ta," what would it be called in the catalog?