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Wikipedia has an excellent "History of Sound Recording" entry which goes back to the Music Box, but the first mass-produced record-and-play-back machine was the Gramophone and the Gramophone Record, also called a 78 because of the speed at which it was played, 78rpm. Jazz and blues were popular, with artists such as Glenn Miller, Bing Crosby, Frank Sinatra and Peggy Lee all recording on 78.
Music Hall and comedy were also popular, with George Formby, Mel Blanc and Max Miller among the many recording artists to be found on old 78s. And while the West moved from shellac 78s to 8-track and vinyl Lps, some countries, such as India, were still producing 78rpm recordings of the big names such as the Beatles (which now sell for around £300 each!).
The vinyl LPs that emerged in 1948 took over from the 78s, and were originally issued in mono. Stereo music was not marketed until 1957. The first Buddy Holly album, and even the Beatles White Album were released in mono.
All of this, surprisingly, is before the Compact Audio Cassette, which only appeared in 1963. Prior to that you could still buy your chosen artist - Elvis Presley, The Rolling Stones, Roy Orbison and, later, even David Cassidy and Donny Osmond and play it on your 8-track player.
In the 70s came the development of quadraphonic sound, using four speakers and giving the first taste of the Home Cinema / Theatre Systems surround sound. Pink Floyd's Dark Side of the Moon and Mike Oldfield's Tubular Bells were issued on vinyl in quadrophonic sound.
The vinyl LP and vinyl single held sway until 1982 when the Compact Disc was introduced. Billy Joel's 52nd Street was the first album to be actually released (in Japan) on CD. With Brothers In Arms in 1985, Dire Straits became the first artist to sell a million copies on CD and the following year Queen became the first artist to have their entire
back catalogue issued on CD.
But life does not stand still. From the beginning, with the music box, we have held the product in our hands, be it the shellac 78, the vinyl single, the audio cassette or the CD. Until now. Now it seems that the majority of the listening public are quite content to simply have the music, in mp3 form, downloaded to their computer and transferred to
their ears via their iPod. But in twenty or thirty years time that, too, will have to move over to make room for innovations.
Who knows where our music will come from then?
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