What is the point of a "Laughing Record"?

[recordo]

I came across this in the collection today. It is a trombonist playing some solo melodies and then two people laughing uproariously.

I remember laughing records on 45s as a kid and have always wondered "what is the point"? Was it to liven up dull parties?

On the other side of this Parlophone laughing record is the loudest military band recording I've ever come across.

Regards, Glenn.

[WDC]

Laughing records were quite popular in the early 1920's, most of them were recorded acoustically.
I know of two German laughing records and they would start the very same way. One is called "Die missglückte Jugendzeit" and the other one refers to the Lorelei. "Lied and die Jugendzeit" was a very slow performed song, often sung by a quartet. The trombone player starts with the first notes and pretends to cannot hold himself anymore. This is also happening on your record apparently.

I suppose that record companies thought of it to be a cute idea to make laughing records. I could imagine the use at a party or some sort of.

To my opinion, the origins of these laughing records go back to the recordings of George W. Johnson with his Laughing Song, which made him famous in the 1890's.

http://www.tinfoil.com/cm-0801.htm

[Henry]

Spike Jones made "The Jones Laughing Record" on 9/28/46 (RCA Victor 20-2023, also re-issued on LP and CD). It consists of trombonist Tommy Pederson attempting to play Rimsky-Korsakoff's "Flight of the Bumblebee" on trombone, a ridiculous notion in itself, made all the more laughable by Frank Leithner's interspersed sneezes. Pederson eventually breaks down, and the laughing begins as a loud snicker, soon escalating to convulsive cackling and various other risibilities. Of course, the point is that there *is* no point, except to sell records and make money, although as a trombonist myself I have to say that Pederson does a really fabulous job: his technique is fully up to the task, and he surely could have made it all the way through the piece in fine shape, but of course that was not part of the plan!

[Edisone]

The point was to have fun. To be amused and silly and happy.

[Henry]

That too.

[gramophoneshane]

The Parlophone laughing record was actually also recorded in Germany by Beka records, and was released in USA on the Okeh label & later on the Melotone label. It apparently stayed in US Columbia's catalogue until the late 1950s.
The online 78 discography listed the Okeh issue as being recorded on Novermber 4, 1922, although every other reference I can find lists it as a 1923 recording.(anyone got a Beka discography?)
I think the Nov 1922 date is probably correct, and it must have been an instant success as a very similar recording (set to the tune of "When you & I were young, Maggie") was released in April 1923 on Edison-Bells "Winner" label, and they got the master from Gennett.
This is the Gennett/Winner recording-

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yfKj---3E1s[/youtube]

Another variation is the early Columbia laughing record (The spoiled cornet solo), but I'm unsure of the recording date as the online 78 discography doesn't list the international "E" series discs.
Perhaps this is another German recording?

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jkUTp6tgJY0[/youtube]

[solophoneman]

[quote="gramophoneshane"]The Parlophone laughing record was actually also recorded in Germany by Beka records, and was released in USA on the Okeh label & later on the Melotone label. It apparently stayed in US Columbia's catalogue until the late 1950s.
The online 78 discography listed the Okeh issue as being recorded on Novermber 4, 1922, although every other reference I can find lists it as a 1923 recording.(anyone got a Beka discography?)
I think the Nov 1922 date is probably correct, and it must have been an instant success as a very similar recording (set to the tune of "When you & I were young, Maggie") was released in April 1923 on Edison-Bells "Winner" label, and they got the master from Gennett.
This is the Gennett/Winner recording-

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yfKj---3E1s[/youtube]

Just curious, what brand of machine is that in this Winner Laughing Record Video. Looks very interesting.

[recordo]

from a c.1927 Parlophone catalogue

[recordo]

Shane,

the videos you posted of the two laughing records are much, much more interesting than the Parlophone record I have.

The tune in the "Spoiled Cornet Solo" is "The Last Rose of Summer".

Thanks for putting them here!

Regards, Glenn.

[recordo]

In reference to Spike Jones above, I found this tonight from 1955. I love the Spike Jones recordings (and the radio shows which are truly hilarious) more than any other comedy. These notes are pretty brilliant, too!