Put another nickel in the National Jukebox

Posted by Laura McCulloch on May 12th, 2011 at 07:43 AM | | Tweet

If you are in the mood for a diversion, try listening to some scratchy old records!

If you are in the mood for a diversion, try listening to some scratchy old records! Earlier this week the Library of Congress, in conjunction with Sony Music Entertainment, launched The National Jukebox. The new site streams 10,000 sound recordings from the historic Victor Records collection circa 1910-1929.  All the songs on the National Jukebox can be listened to free of charge, but they cannot be downloaded.  Sony Music Entertainment owns the rights to the historic Victor Records Co. collection, and has licensed the collection to the Library. The site allows users to create playlists without having an account. Users can also save, share, embed and submit their playlists to the Library to be featured on the site. Genres include Classical Music, Ethnic Characterizations, Popular Music, Religious and Spoken Word. Users can also find recordings by date, so you can see what songs were recorded on your birthday. Well, probably not your actual birthday, since these recordings were made between 1910-1929, and if you were born during those years, you’re probably not reading this blog post.

Here are a few choice selections from The National Jukebox followed by a video of Harry Connick Jr. at the launch party!

Wreck of the old 97
You may be fast but your mamma’s gonna’ slow you down
Alcoholic blues
Oh! How she could yacki hacki wicki wacki woo