#1890smusic

[musicbefore1950]

The Liberty Bell (1897)

John Philip Sousa wrote a lot of marches in the late 19th & early 20th centuries. Many of his compositions are still used today by schools, the US military, throughout popular culture. The Liberty Bell was written in 1893 during a time when the bell was traveling around the country and being shown off as a symbol of freedom at exhibitions. The earliest recording I could find online is this one from 1897, but I'm sure earlier ones exist. Either way, Monty Python's Flying Circus fans should instantly find it recognizable! 

[musicbefore1950]

Daisy Bell (1894)

The song Daisy Bell was written by Harry Dacre in 1892 and is a love song from a time when bicycling became quite popular. I wasn't able to find a recording earlier than this 1894 cylinder with Edward M. Favor singing and not sure one exists online.

Fun fact: In 1961, IBM made a computer sing for the first time and chose this song.

[musicbefore1950]

Hello! Ma Baby (1899)

The first time I heard Hello! Ma Baby, a cartoon frog was singing it on my television while kicking his legs high and waving his hat in the air. The frog only sang the chorus which is so memorable and I would bet that almost anyone I know could perform it from memory without giving it much thought. The rest of song originally recorded by Edison Records in 1899 by Arthur Collins is deeper than a guy simply trying to win over a girl. The lyrics in the verses are about finding love in the modern era and the frustration of adapting to a new technology known as the telephone. Is this song a critique (or warning) about the future of human interactions?