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Episode 1
World Laughter Day 2026 Special, “Laughing on Shellac” - Part 1
In celebration of World Laughter Day on 3rd May 2026, this episode features Charles Jolly with “The Laughing Policeman” recorded in June 1922;
The early recording humour of Sallie Stembler with her “Laughing Song” recorded on September 23rd, 1903;
The curious mystery of the Scala “Laughing Record” from around 1922;
The unmistakable Scottish wit of Harry Lauder and “Stop yer ticklin’ Jock” recorded in August 1930;
And finally the rhythmic comedy of Charles Penrose with “The Laughing Jazz Drummer” from 1922.
You can watch the video episode here
(full of bonus images and slides with information in text form):
Or you can listen to the Audio Podcast here:
Episode 2
World Laughter Day 2026 Special, “Laughing on Shellac” - Part 2
In continuing the celebration of World Laughter Day, we have:
“The Parlophone Laughing Record – Number Two. The Singing Lesson” issued in December of 1925;
Charles Penrose with “The Laughing Family,” recorded in 1912;
“A Message on Happiness,” recorded around 1930 by Reverend Pat McCormick, who was the Vicar of St Martin-in-the-Fields Church in London;
and finally Charles Jolly with “You’ve Got to Laugh – The Laughing Song,” from 1922.
You can watch the video episode here
(full of bonus images and slides with information in text form):
Or you can listen to the Audio Podcast here:
Episode 3
Bing Crosby Birthday Tribute
Some extremely rare and unique records played in celebration for the birthday of one of the most beloved voices ever captured on record: Bing Crosby, born on May the 3rd, 1903.
Firstly Bing Crosby with the Ken Darby Singers, singing “Happy Birthday”;
Then the most remarkable, one-off private record featuring Louis Armstrong, singing and playing “Happy Birthday to Papa Bing Crosby”. Recorded on the 2nd of May, 1939;
This is followed by very rare Tuck’s Gramophone Record Postcards titled “Birthday Greetings” and “Birthday Wishes.” from the 1920s;
Bing Crosby performs a specially rewritten version “The Girl With the Pigtails in Her Hair,” for Myra Joan Kapp, celebrating her seventh birthday on April 19th, 1939;
Finally Bing Crosby and Louis Armstrong together singing “Gone Fishin’.”
Or you can listen to the Audio Podcast here:
You can watch the video episode here
(full of bonus images and slides with information in text form):
Episode 4
When the Bells Rang and the Flags Flew: VE Day 1945
In celebration of Victory in Europe Day on 8th May, we hear Winston Churchill announcing the end of the war in Europe. Churchill delivered this historic broadcast at 3pm on May 8th, 1945;
Then King George VI’s speech which begins with the simple but powerful words: “Today we give thanks…”;
This is followed by an interview with my mum, recounting her memories of World War 2 and her belief that the flags on VE Day were all put out for her birthday when she was 5 years old on 6th May;
Finally a HMV recording capturing the bells of five great British churches and cathedrals, all rung in celebration on Victory Day, May 8th 1945. The record features the bells of: Westminster Abbey, York Minster, Coventry Cathedral, Bath Abbey and St Mary’s Church in Puddletown.
You can watch the video episode here
(full of bonus images and slides with information in text form):
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Or you can listen to the Audio Podcast here:
You can watch the video episode here
(full of bonus images and slides with information in text form):
Episode 5
English FA cup Football special
With this year’s FA Cup Final being played on 16th May 2026, this broadcast steps onto the grand stage of English football tradition, the FA Cup Final.
On the first record we hear the teams who contested the 1932 FA Cup Final played at Wembley Stadium Arsenal Football Club and then Newcastle United (Newcastle winning 2–1);
Then a theatrical recreation of Cup Final excitement of 1911 with Sammy Shields presenting “The English Cup Final” when Bradford beat Newcastle United 1-0 in a replay at Old Trafford after a goalless draw in the first match;
Finally the 1951 FA Cup Final when the great Stanley Matthews’ Blackpool Football Club were beaten 2-0 by Newcastle United.
Or you can listen to the Audio Podcast here:
Episode 6
Scottish Cup Final Football Special
Football in Scotland has never just been about the ninety minutes on the pitch. It’s about the songs, the stories, the laughter, and the characters who followed the game with passion and good humour.
In this episode we travel back through time using six sides from three historic 78rpm shellac discs. Each record captures football as it was enjoyed in its own era: lively, humorous, and full of personality.
The first recording takes us right back to the early years of the twentieth century — around 1905 — with ‘Aberdeen v Queen’s Park,’ performed by Harry Gordon and Jack Holden on the Beltona label.
The next record comes from around 1930 and is titled ‘The Bluebell Chasers FC Annual Meeting,’ performed by William McCulloch and released on the Columbia label.
The final record is ‘Sandy Wins the Football Pool,’ recorded in 1937 by comedian Sandy Powell and company on the Rex label.
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You can watch the video episode here
(full of bonus images and slides with information in text form):
Or you can listen to the Audio Podcast here:
You can watch the video episode here
(full of bonus images and slides with information in text form):
Episode 7
Edinburgh and Glasgow : From Friendly Rivalry to Harmony
This broadcast spins us along the old road between Glasgow and Edinburgh — two great Scottish cities, only forty-odd miles apart, yet worlds apart in personality.
The first record is a true music-hall classic: “I Belong to Glasgow,” sung by the incomparable Will Fyffe, issued on the Regal label in 1921.
Then it is “The Flowers of Edinburgh,” performed by the Scottish Country Dance Players on the His Master’s Voice label, recorded in November 1948.
We then return west to Glasgow, this time through the voice of Molly Weir, recorded on the Parlophone label in 1957 and the song “Glasgow”.
There are few melodies that are as instantly recognisable as the fourth disc, with the Massed Bands of Scottish Command performing “Scotland the Brave.”
The final record takes us back to a 1928 recording compilation: “Songs of Scotland” by the Light Opera Company.
Or you can listen to the Audio Podcast here:
Episode 8
A fireside nicht wi' Burns
A celebration of Scotland’s national bard starts with Archie Anderson from 1919, performing “A Man’s a Man for a’ That”, one of Burns’ most powerful and political songs;
Then John Mathewson, sings ‘Ae Fond Kiss’, recorded around 1926;
This is followed by Ramsay MacDonald, British Prime Minister, recorded on Burns Night, 1929, with “Robert Burns: A Man Amongst Men”.
Finally The Caledonian Band and “A Nicht wi’ Burns”, recorded specially for Scottish Music Week in Oct 1925.
You can watch the video episode here
(full of bonus images and slides with information in text form):
Or you can listen to the Audio Podcast here:
You can watch the video episode here
(full of bonus images and slides with information in text form):
Episode 9
The Suffragette Special: Votes, Voices and Shellac
Stepping back to the times of the Suffragette movement with a first disc recorded on July 15th, 1914, “Fall in Line, a Suffrage March”, performed by the Victor Military Band.
This is followed by “Mr Dooley’s Address to the Suffragists”, performed by Steve Porter and released in January 1915;
Then the delightfully unexpected “The Suffragette Polka” (also known as La Femministe), played by the Imperial Guards Band on the Phoenix label, dating from around 1913.
We then have something truly historic: a spoken recording titled “Suffrage for Women”, delivered by Christabel Pankhurst and recorded in 1909 for the His Master’s Voice label.
The final record is “Women of Britain”, performed by George Baker with the Mayfair Orchestra, recorded on November 30th, 1915.
Or you can listen to the Audio Podcast here:
Episode 10
160,000 records... Why??
My story and a brief view of the collection.
With around 160,000 records, each one has its own story, its own history, and in many cases, its own unique sound that you simply don’t hear anymore. These records weren’t just music—they were moments.
In this episode, as well as exploring four sides of classic 78rpm records, I’ll share a few stories about my collecting journey.
First up is ‘Hurrah for the Highlands’ by Alexander MacGregor, released on the His Master’s Voice label in the 1920s.
Then some extracts from the first records I bought in 1984, the Gilbert and Sullivan opera, The Mikado.
Following that, we hear from a true legend of Scottish entertainment—Sir Harry Lauder with ‘The Waggle o’ the Kilt,’ recorded in 1928 on the Zonophone label.
‘Misty Islands of the Highlands’ by Roy Fox and his Band is next, recorded in 1935 on the Decca label, with a vocal chorus by Master Bobby Joy.
Finally, we move into the post-war era with a recording from December 1950. This is ‘Ferry Boat Inn’ by the Tanner Sisters and the Hedley Ward Trio, released on the His Master’s Voice label.
You can watch the video episode here
(full of bonus images and slides with information in text form):
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