Haunted 107 year old record?

I was not prepared for the terrifying sound that would come out of this record when I started to make this video!

[@Segatari]

As a native French speaker, I didn’t actually find it creepy or weird at all. This song is literally French culture. This is actually a song that would put me to sleep. Every one knows this song here in Quebec, Canada. Actually, lots of people here consider Clair de Lune by Debussy a rip-off of Au-Clair de la Lune because of their similar names. Any way, I translated the lyrics from French to English just so it doesn’t sound like total gibberish: In the moonlight, my friend Pierrot. Lend me your pen, to write a text. My candle is dead, the fire is out. Open your door to me, for god’s sake. Under the moonlight Pierrot answered: “I have no pens I'm in my bed, go to the neighbour's house I believe she’ll be ok because in her kitchen there is a lighter.” Under the moonlight gentle Lubin knocks on the brunette's door, she answers suddenly “who knocks this way?” He then says: “open your door for me for God's sake.” It’s kind of a poem so it’s hard to translate but there it is!

[@Recordology]

THANK YOU for sharing this!

[@Segatari]

Record-ology you’re welcome!

[@HMV101]

Furthermore, the earliest known recording of a song is someone (probably, Scott de Martinville) singing 'Au-Clair de la Lune'. It was made in 1860, 17 years before Thomas Edison invented the tinfoil Phonograph.

[@michelb.5994]

thanks for the comment and I agree with you.

[@peterv7258]

Thank you, That is lovely.

[@adrianandkatrinadove203]

I should imagine this is exactly how someone is going to feel when they play an Elton John Record,on a suitcase player,in 107 years time.....The Thought sends shivers down me spine !! ...Great Vid....Ade

[@Recordology]

Agreed! Thank you sir!

[@dreamcast8430]

Shiver me timbers

[@pcallas66]

i actually heard it the way it was supposed to be and it's much slower, and it's actually beautiful.

[@graceamodeo1587]

I thought it sounded a little fast.

[@pcallas66]

It sounds a little fast to me. Slowing it down a little bit may make it sound a little less scary.

[@Tadfafty]

These classical discs were recorded at more about 74 RPM

[@gordonchadwell2412]

Your machine sounded like it was set about 83, to 85 Rpms. Try playing it at 78 Rpms.

[@Recordology]

Could be

[@jcbc2004]

I thought we were going to hear Debussy's Claire de Lune... Oh well, after all it's the old lullaby song...

[@jennmullins1063]

This was so cool to see! I absolutely love old stuff like this. Also glad i found your channel, I'm just now getting into record collecting and your videos have been sooo helpful in learning about it!

[@Recordology]

Awesome! Thank you!

[@Official-Oldblox_2008]

SAME! I OWN A 1953 RECORD! AND A RETRO SQUARE TV! ALSO, I HAVE THE MOTOROLA DYNATAC FROM 1984!

[@Edubarca46]

Very interesting. My oldest record in my rather small collection of 500 Lps. is one of the first Columbia records issued in 1948. It is the Piano concerto in A Minor by Edward Grieg. Oscar Levant with the Philharmonic-symphony orchastra of New Yor conducted by Efrem Kurtz. Record No. ML4028 non.breakable. It belonged to my late father and believe it or not, it is in pristine condition and sounds very well. It just shows what I have always said: vinyl and shellac records are the ONLY eternal format. All others have a very limited life, no mstter how good you take care of them. Best wishes and greetings from Colombia.

[@saintmichael1779]

My oldest album is "South Pacific" original Broadway cast with Mary Martin and Ezio Pinza from 1949. ML 4180. It sounds amazingly good.

[@Iconoclasher]

I worked with one of Geraldine's descendants. Forty years ago I worked with a guy (last name Farrar) and I asked him one time if he was related to Geraldine Farrar. He said he was. I gave him one of her records.

[@Recordology]

Wow

[@JamesIrwins78s]

Fair sounding and very clean 78, with a sleeve type that I have yet to come across. Good video overall, and my oldest record I just got the other day for Christmas, it’s a Columbia disc record from 1901 with the title of “Back Yard Conversation (Between Two Irish-Washerwomen)”, a comedic recording, and interesting to own.

[@omarfigueroaofficial]

Your videos helped me get into records and you have taught me a lot thanks

[@Recordology]

Glad to hear it! Thank you!

[@HMV101]

At a guess, I'd say this was record was recorded at about 70rpm or even lower. Try playing this at the optional X.75 speed available by clicking on the gearwheel symbol toward the lower right edge of this video.

[@luvmyrecords]

Nice! General rule of thumb: one play per side. In this era, the records were formulated to grind/shape the steel point to their unique selves. A second play is risky; a third, and you're trashing your record with a mini chisel, even if it feels sharp. If you play one record with a needle, and then play a different record with that same needle, record #2 is being trashed. Yes, this is much too fast. Move the regulator all the way toward you, and perhaps move it up slightly. Most antique phonograph collectors agree that you should wind up the spring with brake off, counter-intuitive as it may be. Also, if I may slightly contradict another comment, unless the machine is going to be stored for a long tiime, do NOT let the spring wind all the way down, just most of the way. Going from zero tension to complete tension is very hard on the spring, and you risk breakage.

[@tedlawrence4189]

If you play 78'S often enough,on those crappy old phonos, you will end up with having a collection of crappy old records.

[@gordoncampbell7858]

The very first recording of au Claire de lune is far more terrifying like the one from the 1860s

[@TheScavenger71]

Any spring driven device should be fully unwound if it is not going to be used all the time. The spring has probably lost some of it's tension from age although those old phonograph springs packed quite a wallop, but leaving it wound for a long time when not in use will cause the spring to take a set and lose even more of its tension. It doesn't matter if it is a phonograph, a large music box from that era or even a small music box in a jewelry case, if it runs on a spring and will not be used often let it fully unwind before you shut it down.

[@beerrox711]

Also true for stringed instruments

[@dannysvinylrainbow4852]

I got the same vibe from it. I have a few 78s that scare the wits out of me. From 1919

[@beyondobscure]

i too have some. I have a ukulele Diamond Disc that scares the shit outta me.

[@Rebel9668]

The oldest "recording" known is that same song. It was recorded on paper in the 1860's and for years there was no way to play it back until someone figured out it could be read digitally and while it's more noise than sound, you can hear the voice that made the recording. The recorder was known as the Phonautograph and was patented in 1857. Here's a link to the video of it on youtube I found a few years ago. kzbin.info/www/bejne/Y2GraYRqhqlgma8

[@zimtheailen1919]

This is a French song and not only that I think you played it at the wrong speed

[@supahcomix]

Fun fact, this song was in the first human voice EVER recorded

[@JamesLee-on1yb]

I recall Au Clair de Lune was the first recorded song by Édouard-Léon Scott de Martinville on his test project 1860s but the recording wasn't heard till 2000s.

[@markmcnary1785]

When i was very young my Grandparents used to have an old record player that played 78 RPM records, and i used to listen to them as a very little boy, i found them interesting at the time, and it is true that they can be haunting to listen to, for instance the single of Quentin's Theme from the summer of 1968 was composed to sound like an old Edison cylinder recording from 1897, if you remember the show Dark Shadows, that's where it was played most of the time, in the show's storyline, and it did have that haunting quality to it, if you listen to it.

[@johnmilakna4972]

This music was used as the theme song in the movie The Bad Seed. The little girl played it as her piano piece. This was a very fine movie,but very disturbing. 1950's black and white. John.

[@theantiquescollector2199]

Sounds pretty good for 107 year old record.

[@alexthebirb6966]

I just got two shellac records and I don't know if turntables from the 1970's with 78 rpm for a third option can play it

[@LALATheClown]

Do you have a full breakdown on different seal colors and their meanings. Red seal is classical. Is there a blue seal. Anything else that could indicate what type of music is on a record?

[@maximilianfischer8899]

In these old days Victor had black labels for popular (dance) music and red seal for classical music

[@oldradios09]

My oldest records date to 1901. some pre-dog Victors and Climax Columbias and a brown wax concert cylinder (these cylinders are huge and I don’t have a player for it) also from 1901. It would be nice to have some 1890s recordings but I’m too cheap and can’t bring myself to pay more than $25-$30+ for just one record. Probably why I don’t have any Berliners, Zon-o-phones, Improved Johnson labels, Paramount blues, Black Swans, Black Patti, Early rock n roll 78s, ect.

[@Recordology]

Awesome....

[@thephoenixhasflown]

Sounds like your player might be a little more haunted than the disk if it's suddenly starting up on its own. :-)

[@cadmiral3d146]

That stink'n Au, gets me every time!

[@GEOFF0906]

Finally gets round to playing it at about 3'-40", just at about the same time as everyone loses the will to live.

[@Recordology]

😂😂😂

[@coinhound8482]

Before 1925 I read a lot of the Victor records ran at 76.59 rpm. Maybe try that speed and see how it sounds. Also if you can try an eq Turnover 629 and Rolloff -8 to -12 for turntable setups with a way to adjust it. Maybe it won`t be as scary sounding.

[@xaenon]

Imagine if we had the conspiracy-theory loons of the 1970s and 1980s, listening to this backwards to see if it had 'satanic' lyrics..... I know, that sounds silly today, but it was a thing.

[@Recordology]

Well, you have the whole "number 9, number 9" = "turn me on dead man" thing with the Beatles....

[@xaenon]

@@Recordology Oh, my.... how on earth could I have forgotten THAT?!

[@JackGardnertenor]

Most acoustic Victors were recorded closer to 76 RPM but I would think your regulator is off as that is WAY too fast

[@rubewaddell1704]

I don't understand. What was terrifying about that?

[@teamtreat3286]

I collecting old recordings like this in my record collection some of them i have is from early 1900's i have one from 1901 which is one of my earliest recordings but I do like to listen to them i know there creepy but for my record collection I like them.

[@78rpmblog]

Just played waaaaay too fast. Ancestors of the Chipmunks .... or Smurphs if you're European.

[@Recordology]

hahahahaahahahaha

[@alterman156channel]

The voice sounds like they were doing a vibrato. Possibly a common practice when the recording was made.

[@jimm6095]

The record grooves will eventually wear out playing the record with an iron needle and such as heavy tone arm? And couldn't better sound come from a modern 78 player?

[@CharcoalRabbit]

My favorite Victor record is the one that has the Japanese song Tokyo Shoe Shine Boy.

[@David-uf8xi]

Obviously too fast

[@Fardemark]

I have a few spooky ones their great to play on Halloween XD

[@mewhor]

The cover mentions tungs tone needles which would put the cover as manufactured a 1926 or later. The label is called the “batwing” label which began in 1915. In 1913 the “band” label was used.

[@jimmyjudha8424]

May you play it on vinyl turntable as a backup. Because electric pickup has better frequency response and you can record it with your laptop. The record before 1918 is mechanical recording after that it is electrical assisted. So that all the musicians don't neet to squeeze them self Infront of a mechanical horn. Au Clair de Lune is actually the first song recorded. It was recorded on a paper by a French researcher in mid 1800, who use needle and ink. And in 2009 there are sound engineer recover the recorded sound from the paper.

[@ThePhonographStop]

The speed is making it sound like an old Asian recording lol. These Victor Red Seals are usually played around 77rpm. Also change the needle after each play / side. And when mentioning the vertical position of the reproducer, Pathe played with a sapphire ball stylus and Edison discs are played with a diamond stylus (no steel). Love the phonograph btw! Keep on spinnin!!

[@TonyBrown-MoodyBlues]

The Springfields (with Dusty Springfield) used this tune for "Say I Won't Be There", a big hit in 1963

[@MyDegeneration1965]

Looks & sounds like you're playing it at 107rpm

[@nintendy]

Very interesting - thanks for sharing! I have several records from 1902 in my collection. (large and one-sided)

[@spookdog1067]

I have an entire box of these for sale if anyone wants them. There's 63. One is even a brown vinyl. Most of them still have their original sleeves

[@hetmanjz]

All the same song?? wow

[@laratiara1]

i think it's running a little too fast. You can check the correct speed with a stroboscope disc and a tube light, while playing

[@Magicleafmercer]

I have over 900 of those shellacs from 1900s, 1910s and early 20s. A lot of them are Opera, Vaudeville and Fox Trot, Accordion and even Hebrew

[@georglimiux677]

Crazy. Several years ago, I bought a Victrola and of ALL the records that could have been in it, I found a K.K.K. record. Yikes. Sold it a few weeks later for $75.00.

[@neilmansfield8329]

This is a great song and record player

[@jhonwask]

I think it was playing a bit too fast.

[@newambassador376]

That’s cool I have a old one too call Golden slippers/swing low sweet chariot by the Fisk jubilee singers that’s either 1904 or 1909

[@SmithIsPrettyGreat]

For a 107 year old record the music is still gorgeous like it was in 1913

[@dguy0386]

what's significant about 1913 is that that's the last year before they changed the design on the label, yours has the "Batwing" design that was used from 1914 to 1926, so is it possible this is a 1914 pressing of the record?

[@larryboysen5911]

I have many of these 100+ Victor Records in my collection...started collecting back in 1963...the thrift stores had shelf fulls of these vintage classics! Have the Victrolas to play them on as well. Played way too fast!!!! 78 RPM was the usual speed, Columbia records at 80 RPM.

[@RC-wm7cw]

I now want to see how he reacts to Berliner Gramophone discs 😂 Edit: also with the oldest record, my oldest wax cylinder dates from February of 1902

[@oldradios09]

Is it a brown wax or already a black wax?

[@RC-wm7cw]

@@oldradios09 its the first black wax cylinder issue, number 8003, "Uncle Josh and the Fire department"

[@dguy0386]

if you think this one sounds scary you should hear the version recorded in 1860 by Leon Scott de Martinville

[@thedinobros1218]

There is a hole in the front because 78s are packaged like that.

[@ninjabluewings]

That gramaphone is in AMAZING CONDITION!!!

[@ArtAmol]

Early Victors spin at about 71-72 RPM

[@jor-d5640]

I actually thought the singing was pretty good.

[@gspepe2002]

Awesome

[@MathisensMusikMuseum]

i got a record from 1908

[@matthewbrown1823]

What are the colors of the music genres on the RCA Victor records do you know @recordology ?

[@Recordology]

www.pinterest.com/pin/441352832225000985/

[@adlerwhited01]

5:44 I feel you

[@fromthesidelines]

Recorded on March 17, 1913.

[@mabel8179]

I didn't find it scary lol.

[@Tadfafty]

Nor did I.

[@graygarrison2692]

I didn’t either I found it very beautiful of what was played.@@Tadfafty

[@thephoenixhasflown]

Yep just like a lot of the comments said that is a tad fast

[@threestoogescritic3280]

My oldest is from 1916

[@luvmyrecords]

The label is a typical size for this era...you are more correct when you say they vary in size. I saw your video featuring a much later Red Seal record and made a similar statement about 78 rpm records having smaller labels. That smaller label was typical for records made in the 1940s and on. Yes, everyone here is correct about it running way too fast. Geraldine Farrar would have been a bit horrified by this, too.

[@markmcnary1785]

I'll be quite honest, the record did sound creepy, but it's history when you approach it that way, and it was of great interest in that historic sense, i mean think about it, the record was recorded 104 years ago, that is amazing and haunting at the same time.

[@jean-paul7251]

Bit fast. Don't reuse steel needles, they turn into tiny chisels that will cut your grooves away

[@yjlconductor]

Geraldine Farrar!

[@tedrobinson372]

I checked the speed of your turntable. I measured 85 rpm! Why?😅

[@jimc9823]

I agree!

[@JCJasion]

You need to calibrate your playback speed! I think it's going at at least 90 rpm. Slow it down!!

[@alexvaliansky7707]

It makes the singers sound like Chip n Dale.

[@01chippe]

I have this, and quite a few others from that era.

[@Bonniefr6678]

I actually like this record!

[@Caleb-fv5fp]

So that’s what ghost sound like

[@Recordology]

lol

[@Timothycan]

It's admittedly not a great recording, even by acoustic recording standards. I think it is a slower song really, and they may have been singing it up-tempo to try and fit it into the time available on the record. To be honest, I've heard better songs recorded on wax cylinders which are even older than this record. Thanks for sharing.

[@georgiancrossroads]

The speed was not right. Too fast by a quarter. I actually liked the song at the right speed, but was intrigued by your speedy version.

[@m.c._wonderstudios7531]

Three Edison cylinders, I have

[@radionicpowers5938]

the pitch IS WAY 2 fast

[@craigmeyer1468]

This can be put onto cd!!!

[@antoniboleslawowicz8095]

Most pre-1924 Victors were cut at 76.25. You were playing it too sharp.

[@kuromi5034]

What if you use a 1950s record on this? Will it work?

[@BlackPatti78s]

An lp no but 78s from then yes, maybe not as well and may be a bit poor Quality than usual but it will work

[@digidoridvideos3672]

Yes but if you don't want to wear your record out, slightly dull the steel needle about 6 seconds by playing an early 78s then play your later 78s.

[@dm95422]

It needs to be remastered to CD using original master tapes. lol

[@toniweber-rice5977]

They didn't have master tapes in 1913. Everything was still recorded directly to records.

[@ciaragarrity6425]

It sounds like ABBA.

[@spacemissing]

Slow It Down. A LOT.

[@rcavictor1077]

I don't hear a bad sound

[@tobymummert3035]

Wasn't really horrifying it's just that it sounded like it could make up whether it was part of the Lollipop Guild or I think just the speed of your record player I think it is off or when they made the record they many have been a bit tipsy and ran the needle pressed too slow and that's why when you turn it to 78 speed it sounds like they are singing higher or faster. But that record does not horrify me. Daffy Duck horrifies me. That dude is vicious! Did you ever hear the way he talks! Demonic is all out get!

[@Recordology]

lol

[@victorianghost16]

i have the 1860 recording of this

[@Recordology]

Did you get it when it dropped? Lol! I waited in line for four hours.

[@danielarick2105]

The record was going a bit too fast, try slowing it down it probably was playing at at least 80 or faster,slowing it down while playing you might see that it was going to fast

[@Tmilitaria]

Not to be rude but for starters it is on the wrong speed. The speed should be 78 RPM. Kind Regards, TM.

[@cindys1819]

spin the platter in the OPPOSITE direction so it plays Backwards and well see what it says 🤘🤘

[@progressiveguy9959]

Are the two singers still performing? 🤔😂😂😂

[@Recordology]

Somewhere!

[@teamtreat3286]

There long gone now.

[@theantiquescollector2199]

Yep, in the theater of dead.

[@Tadfafty]

How was that scary?

[@Discrimination_is_not_a_right]

I honestly don't hear anything scary.