Negro Laughing Song - George W. Johnson - 1901 Columbia Record take 12

[@kjcassell]

I remember as a child in the 60's listening to this Thank you for the GREAT memory!

[@sideshowtink]

That is superb! That has to be RARE rare rare! Look at the condition of that disc, as well! Wonderful piece of history!

[@bluespupil414]

Thank you so much for posting this! What's interesting to hear is how he phrases his reaction to racist comments in the first verse. He states he heard the negative comments but laughed them off. What an amazing way to disarm those who would seek you harm. And using music/ art to put counter messages into consciousness. More civil and edifying.

[@chrisholdread174]

listening to a man singing from the year 1901 in the year 2021. 120 years

[@KeizerHedorah]

Back when I was young, oh how time flew.

[@DragoonNoR]

I just love this song. Thank you for posting it.

[@ednacutrer7517]

Brings a tear to my eye. :') Sounds wonderful.

[@emperor-zelch1850]

I have wanted a copy of this song since the day I started collecting

[@radioman5615]

awesome love this tune very nice Thanks Bruce.

[@jinnymudlark1815]

Thank you for posting. We need a bit of laughter here at the mo' but perhaps not as much as some in the world - especially in some places in your Country. - wishing all Americans well. Cheers from Australia

[@handlebar41]

What a great thing..wowww..it’s a gift for us..thank you

[@thearchivest]

there are people out that try to cancel this and i say suck it up you cant cancel history

[@bernadettescott7578]

He sounds like an early Country artist. I have never heard of him before. I too love the 1800s and 1900s, the 1920s through 1950s too, being a Generation Xer and having a love for old music and culture in my teen adolescent and teen years as well. Who knows maybe folks like myself are reincarnated from the past. 11/22/18. (Thurs.) Thanksgiving Day. 11:29 p.m.🎶🎼🎥🎩😊

[@luisdeleonlossi]

Simplement un vrai bijou

[@unclejuniorsoprano]

This is an invaluable recording & very historical in its content. Laughing was extremely contagious during this period, as times were truly rough & this sort of record was very popular back then. Many people listening to such a recording would begin to laugh even though they didn't know why. Uncle Josh {Cal Stewart} used a very similar style to this.

[@lizichell2]

Just to think. That disc is 120 years old and still plays

[@mrob75]

1901 and this record still made me laugh in 2018

[@olegoks6259]

Same

[@victrolaman]

@dumphuq I obtained this elusive copy of Take 12 from the Widow of Collector friend of mine, she was selling off most of his collection of 78's and this George W. Johnson Columbia double sided record, was one of them. The machine is a Victor Type II Talking machine from about 1905. Thanks for watching. Victrolaman

[@yaboimaxwell9031]

This video got me into records, thanks.

[@madsherm123]

I wish I had pieces of history like this

[@LyneisFilm]

I have heard several recordings of this on KZbin and this one sound like it is playing faster than recorded. Still fun to see that he was recorded on records as well as cylinder players.

[@chicagorainbow8935]

I sure do wanna meet Uncle Larry 😅😅😅😅😅

[@victrolaman]

What are you talking about ?

[@Musicradio77Network]

Never seen the early Columbia label before. This is one of the very first black artists to appeared on the label in 1901 just decades before R&B became a trend.

[@HustlemanHustlonian]

These are the roots of HipHop and Rock and Roll

[@Kennephone]

This record is in such great shape for being a 1908 pressing of a 1901 recording, I wish I had this. I have a few records from 1916-08 but they aren't in nearly as good condition, and none of them are from such important artists as Johnson.

[@Wolfganger]

Someone needs to upload a transfer of this.

[@Top_Hat_Man]

The Joker's favorite song

[@Turkeydoodlers]

Nice as always Bruce, Very nice

[@edwardmiller9611]

I remember hearing about The Laughing Place from Brer Rabbit talking to Brer Fox in Walt Disney's Song of the South.

[@Jaimebugs]

Cute (and a WONDERFUL piece of history to listen to), but boy have we come a LONG way . . . .

[@victrolaman]

Thanks, glad you enjoyed it. I have several other George W. Johnson records from the same era, on my Victrolaman channel. So you can hear them at your pleasure. Thanks again for watching.

[@milascave2]

I'm not so sure about that.

[@lucyyoung77777]

THAT WAS AWESOME LUCY

[@Westtoledoguy]

thank you so much

[@victrolaman]

Thank you so much. Your kind comments concerning this disc, and performance by George W. Johnson from 109 years ago, are very much appreciated. Victrolaman

[@tunccdd]

Bruce Victrolaman Young thank you..

[@DanzigFan-vq3zf]

I wonder if ol George got tired of recording the same old song

[@muffs55mercury61]

I think Columbia later reissued this when they went to the blue label a few years later. The song remained so popular for years so people still wanted a copy.

[@ItchyBarney34]

This version is my favorite.

[@chompo7]

very cool as always. i learn so very much watching your videos. keep up the great work and explaining whats being played

[@EmmetEarwax]

The label resembles those of several 78rp Columbia acoustic shellacs I have, including "Camp Meeting Band","Buffalo Baby Rag","Sweet Spirit Hear my Prayer","The Rosary",and the demo record. I wonder which ones were stamped en masse instead of cut one by one.

[@yakupgungor1089]

thank you sir

[@victrolaman]

This is double sided Columbia (which I explained in my verbal description) and thus was mass produced, some with original recordings and others taken from earlier masters.

[@Berolinus]

Eine Zeitreise!

[@kikeheebchinkjigaboo6631]

I want that record

[@riverboatjoe4449]

kinda sounds like: " Ms Susie had a steamboat, the steamboat had a bell" anyone remember that song?

[@casparpolitman]

similar to the laughing policeman from 1926

[@Zawmbbeh]

caspar politman Huh, really?

[@casparpolitman]

Zawmbbeh Yes really!!!

[@mickpenning6132]

@@casparpolitman That's what came immediately to mind when hearing the first few bars.... kzbin.info/www/bejne/nnqUn4OabM2YsK8 The Laughing Policeman - Charles Jolly / Penrose 1,625,235 views 11K 375 SHARE SAVE

[@tari4482]

I don’t think I would have heard that on my own!

[@edgarallanpoestheblackcat6613]

awesome

[@megabojan1993]

I don't know why but I find funny the 02:15 part of the song when the singer instead of saying the words: "and he'd been the apple of their eye. He just mubles them instead and they sound like gibberish :)

[@eddieboggs8306]

I always heard the first double sided record wàs in 1911 Columbia.

[@jcmucci2001]

Interesting that this is very much like "And then I Laughed" by Cal Stewart And Then I Laughed : Cal Stewart (1907) LYRICS INCLUDED

[@moow950]

Makes me 😆🤣😂😁

[@Digibeatle09]

I think some other comments may be in this vein - "The Laughing Policeman" - sung by Charles Penrose - and very popular in Britain and Ireland in its day - is based on this song of George Johnson's; possibly others haven't gone on to say that, arguably, Penrose's actual laughing - more full and longer in duration - is more effective than Johnson's but Johnson came up with the idea in the first place and - if it were in the present era - I think Mr. Johnson would have been consulting his lawyers about suing Mr. Penrose. Having said that, perhaps, it would be just best to think of these two men - now up in the celestial heavens - having a good laugh together !!!

[@gpauhrjjwnqfibqorwi]

Listening to a man in 1891

[@victrolaman]

@amiedetherese Among Collectors, I have a very modest collection of basic machines ranging from those from the late 1890's, up to the "last gasp" of the Crank Phonograph & Victrola era of the late 1920's. Approx. 30 at this point. If you go on line, you see websites devoted to what I call the "super collectors" including Mr. Victor, who actutally has, in addition to the phonographs he has in his home,has a large attached display room lined with rows and rows or phonographs & talking machines.

[@1vanEclipse]

Do u have the same song by him but the one where he Whistles

[@dumphuq]

when i listened to the laughing policeman, i had no idea of this song. when i first looked for this song, i found this one and it was the first version i listened to and i can tell you now, i certenly picked the best one to listen to first! if you dont mind me asking, where did you get that amazing record from? i like to know you see, also what make is the machine that plays it, because it is a pretty good machine

[@victrolaman]

@sfca925 Thanks, let me know when you confirm the recording date, and I will update the information on the video. Victrolaman

[@paulcarrollmusic]

You may know him but he has an old cylinder with an unidentified song. You may know it Great concept ! Have to send you a reference. Paul

[@amiedetherese]

How many sound machines do you have? It's always a pleasure to follow what you post and I enjoy the details you give on the machines and recordings, the biographical stuff. Thanks!

[@ebralley]

Have this on blue single sided disc.

[@victrolaman]

@Westtoledoguy It is number 210 take 12 Victrolaman

[@waderaney7]

👍one😀

[@GlenJansen]

Brilliant, thank you. So thats where the laughing policeman song came from then

[@bevisfaversham2669]

johnson started making records in 1891

[@blc6464]

Do you have any Uncle Josh ?

[@dumphuq]

when i listened to the laughing policeman, i had no idea of this song. when i first looked for this song, i found this one and it was the first version i listened to and i can tell you now, i certenly picked the best one to listen to first! if you dont mind me asking, where did you get that amazing record from? i like to know you see

[@shanecarter6194]

To The Author: did George W.Johnson actually write and produce this?? I would also like to know.. about how much money George W. Johnson earned off of this (if any).

[@dumphuq]

Have you got the video of the other side of the record, and if you have, is it also by George W Johnson?

[@kirbygru5161]

Do I love a piano

[@Westtoledoguy]

What is the record number of that record?

[@carlcurphey]

The Laughing Policeman - Charles Jolly / Penrose

[@AngryVGFur]

amish DJ

[@killerdillr]

Do you say, he recorded this song first time in 1890, then later in 1896 and again in 1901? Or did he recorded it in many takes on 1890? Was this first released on a 7" ?

[@victrolaman]

Johnson was originally discovered singing and whistling on a Street Corner in 1890, and recorded this Laughing song for the very first time that year. Back in those days the Recording Companies did not have the ability to stamp out numerous copies of songs from a single master, so these early artists like Johnson had to sing these songs over and over and over again to produce multiple copies to be sold !!

[@killerdillr]

@@victrolaman so you are saying, he sang this one for each copy? Was it on 78 or the rolls?

[@victrolaman]

@@killerdillr No, this particular record was mass produced using a recorded stamper from the original master. All of his earlier recordings in the 1890's, were produced using the old process. He recorded on both Cylinders and Discs. and you can see examples of those different types of recordings by George W. Johnson on my Victrolaman KZbin Channel.

[@killerdillr]

@@victrolaman how do I finde that one. Thank you. So, just to clearify. The Laughing Song was recoded already i 1890? or ?

[@shanedaniel7]

Bruce, If I wanted to buy an original, expertly restored record machine like the one in this video, how would I go about it? Could I get one like it or similar--a machine that plays flat records from 1900 onward--for under $500? I'm not sure who to trust on restoration and making sure that the machine isn't a fake, and is a real antique.

[@kyleanderson4160]

you can buy one on amazon but I think they are $900 and im not so sure if its real

[@victrolaman]

These come up quite often on ebay. This is a Victor II Talking Machine. You can tell by the sellers rating in the upper right hand corner of the listing if they are reputable. As for restoration. Check out the Antique Phonograph Society website. There are many collectors who are also restorers and very reputable and reasonable.

[@shanedaniel7]

Thank you both so much!!! :)

[@shanedaniel7]

Bruce Victrolaman Young Bruce, I just thought of another question. Are these early (1900-1930) records fairly easy to find and affordable in decent listening condition? I'm pretty frugal and low on funds, so it might be pointless to get a VIctor II restored if the records were really difficult to find in good shape.

[@joewilson3575]

+Shaney I'm not sure if you still care, but I would say that records before 1940 are hard to find in great condition however many are still easy to listen to and while not an expert I would say that you should buy any records you like the sound of because if you like 'em a bit of crackle shouldn't bother you!

[@robertpreston4869]

Sounds very much like the laughing policeman

[@NewUser-nm7zd]

can i play a regular album on that type of turntable?

[@tanukicyber]

New User No, the speed is different and requires a different needle.

[@josephespinosa3173]

Not only that... The weight of the reproducer of these old phonographs will rip the new records of today to shreds... Literally.

[@michaelsandford1015]

Sounds like the laughing policeman

[@casparpolitman]

very similar to the laughing policeman

[@pingpongbros6915]

But this was made way before The Laughing Policeman...

[@casparpolitman]

yes yes, the composer of the laughing policeman was inspired by this song

[@plazmatixxprmental614]

1908

[@kevinf5354]

So fast...

[@leabednarczyk3078]

interesting original Africa language and memory e.g. the name of a La-World Hero 3-4kya it is another song liric disguised as english in my colection hahaha bcz. i bet jou dummies never got it

[@zzubuzz]

I wonder why this hasn't been done over again in a rap version, Biggie could have done this great (r.i.p).

[@dazzlingsky8863]

🗿

[@luketracey3269]

I hear the Adams family theme song lol

[@georgebutcher6320]

Segregation Music 🎶.

[@lianecornils6603]

That’s not it. It was laughter. All types of laughter. Not a song. 👋🤫🤫🤫🤫✡️🤥📡👨‍⚕️👩‍⚖️🤣🤣🤣🤣