Uploaded September 2025 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
The recordings presented to you here are (mostly) unedited (though they have been cleaned up a little) recordings of authentic American voices and lives, everything from songs to greetings to candid party tapes is featured on this collection. A brief window into the past, and a small glimpse into life in post-war America, to the life of someone who led a life, whose voice will be forever heard. The sources for all of the audio used are linked below, and please, enjoy.
Most artists are unknown, but when listed are provided. The opera singer has a few more 78s on archive.org, and one of them has a partially illegible date as 193X, so maybe then. Similarly the woman from "I Laughed 'Cause I Cried" has a few more but no more information.
SIDE 1: HOME-RECORDED MUSIC
0:00 October 1947: "Wake, Awake" Choir (Religious)
3:11 Unknown date: Fiona[?] - Sleepytime Gal (Pop, jazz)
6:32 Unknown date: Boston Two Step [10-7259] (Polka)
9:31 1938-9: Bini people of Nigeria: Secret Society Dance Song
11:27 Unknown date: I Laughed 'Cause I Cried Over You (Vocal)
14:36 Unknown date: Unknown title, piano and opera singer. (Opera)
19:04 Unknown date: "My Rock" Quartet [Take 1] (Rock & Roll, Gospel)
Piano/Opera
archive.org/details/78_none-legible_gbia0306427a
My Rock
archive.org/details/78_my-rock_gbia0296456a
Wake, Awake
archive.org/details/78_wake-awake_gbia0360076a
I Laughed 'Cause I Cried Over You
archive.org/details/78_i-laughed-cause-i-cried-over-you_gbia0548640a
Boston Two Step
archive.org/details/78_boston-two-step_gbia0512676a
Field recording[?]
archive.org/details/78_none-listed_gbia0457506a
Sleepytime Gal
archive.org/details/78_none-legible_gbia0375270a
SIDE 2: SPOKEN WORD MESSAGES
21:59 March 14 (Label says 15), 1948: A Southern family has a family gathering.
26:47 September 3, 1948: The same family records Labor Day greetings for relatives.
30:28 January 26, 1949: Seasons greetings and humorous messages from Detroit. Recording skips.
34:15 September, 1949: A barbeque party is held. Mains hum is audible in the background. Recording is interrupted by adult comedy.
38:29 August 11, 1951: During a house party, a woman tells a crude rule-of-threes joke. A man announces the date and location at the end.
41:59 December 26, 1953: A couple records a holiday message for their away family. Perry Como can be heard playing, and has been trimmed from the beginning.
44:23 March, 1954: Favorite movies are discussed, and a rendition of "You Are My Sunshine", presumably in a school.
48:30 Unknown date: A couple has a light conversation about what happened over the holidays.
March 1954
archive.org/details/78_none-listed_gbia0520017a
August 1951
archive.org/details/78_none-legible_gbia0341572a
March 1948
archive.org/details/78_none-legible_gbia0341570a
Discussing the holidays
archive.org/details/78_none-legible_gbia0355606a
Greetings from Detroit, Jan. 1949
archive.org/details/78_none-legible_gbia0371731a
Same family as March 1948 records Labor Day message to family, September 1948
archive.org/details/78_none-legible_gbia0341574a
Christmas Greeting, Dec. 1953
archive.org/details/78_christmas-greeting_gbia0371733a
Barbeque Party, September 1949
archive.org/details/78_barbecue-party-sept-1949_gbia0371744a
The recordings presented to you here are (mostly) unedited (though they have been cleaned up a little) recordings of authentic American voices and lives, everything from songs to greetings to candid party tapes is featured on this collection. A brief window into the past, and a small glimpse into life in post-war America, to the life of someone who led a life, whose voice will be forever heard. The sources for all of the audio used are linked below, and please, enjoy.
Most artists are unknown, but when listed are provided. The opera singer has a few more 78s on archive.org, and one of them has a partially illegible date as 193X, so maybe then. Similarly the woman from "I Laughed 'Cause I Cried" has a few more but no more information.
SIDE 1: HOME-RECORDED MUSIC
0:00 October 1947: "Wake, Awake" Choir (Religious)
3:11 Unknown date: Fiona[?] - Sleepytime Gal (Pop, jazz)
6:32 Unknown date: Boston Two Step [10-7259] (Polka)
9:31 1938-9: Bini people of Nigeria: Secret Society Dance Song
11:27 Unknown date: I Laughed 'Cause I Cried Over You (Vocal)
14:36 Unknown date: Unknown title, piano and opera singer. (Opera)
19:04 Unknown date: "My Rock" Quartet [Take 1] (Rock & Roll, Gospel)
Piano/Opera
archive.org/details/78_none-legible_gbia0306427a
My Rock
archive.org/details/78_my-rock_gbia0296456a
Wake, Awake
archive.org/details/78_wake-awake_gbia0360076a
I Laughed 'Cause I Cried Over You
archive.org/details/78_i-laughed-cause-i-cried-over-you_gbia0548640a
Boston Two Step
archive.org/details/78_boston-two-step_gbia0512676a
Field recording[?]
archive.org/details/78_none-listed_gbia0457506a
Sleepytime Gal
archive.org/details/78_none-legible_gbia0375270a
SIDE 2: SPOKEN WORD MESSAGES
21:59 March 14 (Label says 15), 1948: A Southern family has a family gathering.
26:47 September 3, 1948: The same family records Labor Day greetings for relatives.
30:28 January 26, 1949: Seasons greetings and humorous messages from Detroit. Recording skips.
34:15 September, 1949: A barbeque party is held. Mains hum is audible in the background. Recording is interrupted by adult comedy.
38:29 August 11, 1951: During a house party, a woman tells a crude rule-of-threes joke. A man announces the date and location at the end.
41:59 December 26, 1953: A couple records a holiday message for their away family. Perry Como can be heard playing, and has been trimmed from the beginning.
44:23 March, 1954: Favorite movies are discussed, and a rendition of "You Are My Sunshine", presumably in a school.
48:30 Unknown date: A couple has a light conversation about what happened over the holidays.
March 1954
archive.org/details/78_none-listed_gbia0520017a
August 1951
archive.org/details/78_none-legible_gbia0341572a
March 1948
archive.org/details/78_none-legible_gbia0341570a
Discussing the holidays
archive.org/details/78_none-legible_gbia0355606a
Greetings from Detroit, Jan. 1949
archive.org/details/78_none-legible_gbia0371731a
Same family as March 1948 records Labor Day message to family, September 1948
archive.org/details/78_none-legible_gbia0341574a
Christmas Greeting, Dec. 1953
archive.org/details/78_christmas-greeting_gbia0371733a
Barbeque Party, September 1949
archive.org/details/78_barbecue-party-sept-1949_gbia0371744a
