"The OKeh Laughing Record" by Lucie Bernardo and Otto Rathke 1920 / 1922

Описание: OKeh records released “The OKeh Laughing Record” in 1922, but it was actually a dup of the 1920 German Beka records release from 1920. I find this record obnoxious, hilarious, and contagious. It really does take the listener in and make them laugh as well even when thinking it is completely weird.

Described by the Library of Congress as "one of the most unusual, (in its way) influential, and surprisingly enduring novelty records ever recorded," "The OKeh Laughing Record" is exactly what its name implies. It begins with a cornetist playing a sad, mournful tune. Suddenly, a woman's laugh interrupts the performance, temporarily stalling the solo. As the cornet continues to play, the woman keeps laughing, and soon, a male laugh joins her.

That's really all there is to it. "The OKeh Laughing Record" is fundamentally simple, but also strange—and its unusual nature quickly made it into an international sensation.

Otto Rathke together with the laughter artist Lucie Bernardo, were involved in the 1920 creation of the world-famous "Original Lach-Aufnahme (Laughing Record)” on Beka records in Germany. He was on the cornet, who repeatedly plays the song "Aus der Jugendzeit (From the youth)” and adds to the laughter.

If you like (or hate) this one check out the "OKeh Crying Record":
   • "OKeh Crying Record" ca 1923  

The Cameo Laughing Record:
   • “Laugh and the World Laughs With You” by A...  

The Gennett Laughing Record:
   • "Gennett Laughing Record" by Al. H. Weston...  


Otto Rathke wikipedia page (in German):
https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Otto_Ra...

A good site for info on Laughing Records, but also info on Otto Rathke and Lucie Bernardo
https://grammophon-platten.de/print.p...

An interesting wikipedia page (in German) about Laughing Artists:
https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lachk%C...

The Bizarre History of the Okeh Laughing Record (blog post):
https://imgur.com/gallery/PbXpX