Music recorded in March 1918
March 1918 was a month in which the outcome of World War I and the restructuring of institutions in various countries progressed simultaneously. On March 3, the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk was signed, significantly shaking the Eastern European order surrounding a large area of the former Russian Empire. On the 12th, the government led by Vladimir Ilyich Lenin (1870–1924) moved from Petrograd to Moscow, relocating the post-revolutionary center of power. On the 19th, the Standard Time Act of 1918 was enacted in the United States, formalizing the standard time system and the operation of daylight saving time as federal law. On the 21st, the German Empire launched Operation Michael on the Western Front, and the course of the war shifted dramatically once again. In March, a large-scale influenza-like illness was confirmed at Camp Funston in the United States, which is considered the initial stage of the later global pandemic. The 23rd marked a major turning point in both the political and cultural spheres, with the German Empire recognizing Lithuania and the 25th being the death of Claude Debussy (1862–1918).
Confirmed recordings this month: 0
Summary of information regarding the recording from March 1918
Recording records from March 1918 confirm that songs and descriptive recordings with a strong wartime theme were being prepared in parallel with dance tunes and popular songs for urban entertainment. The records show that Thomas A. Edison, Inc. recorded actual recording dates from early to late March, with wartime songs,慰問 songs, descriptive recordings, and foxtrots all being recorded within the same month. Meanwhile, corporate activities include the reorganization of the American Graphophone Company, the establishment of a distribution center for Vocalion by Aeolian Co., and the introduction of a new playback mechanism by Brunswick-Balke-Collender Co. Therefore, March 1918 was a month of activity in both recording production and sales/playback mechanisms.
Edison
Regarding Thomas A. Edison, Inc., their public discography confirms recordings from March 4, 5, 7, 15, and 21, 1918. The content included marches by John J. Kimmel (1866–1942), war songs such as "Bing! Bang! Bing 'em on the Rhine,"慰問歌 (comfort songs) like "Each Stitch Is a Thought of You, Dear," descriptive pieces like "A Submarine Attack — Descriptive," and even dance tunes like "The Tickle Toe — Fox Trot." The documentation clearly shows that in March 1918, the company was simultaneously preparing recordings for both wartime propaganda and popular entertainment.
Columbia
According to company history documents, the American Graphophone Company was reorganized into the Columbia Graphophone Manufacturing Company in March 1918. Other documents also confirm that the company was under the name American Graphophone Company until March 1918, and then switched to the name Columbia Graphophone Manufacturing Company from April 1918 onward. Therefore, in March 1918, the most important development for the Columbia group was not the release of new records themselves, but rather the reorganization of the company, which involved streamlining the roles of manufacturing and sales.
- https://www.radiomuseum.org/dsp_hersteller_detail.cfm?company_id=2179
- https://catalog.hathitrust.org/Record/011450843
Aeolian/Vocalion
The March 1918 issue of "The Talking Machine World" reports that Aeolian Co. established a Vocalion distribution center in St. Louis on March 1st. The article's headline also focuses on the development of Vocalion in St. Louis and the establishment of the distribution center, indicating that the company was strengthening its distribution in the Midwest. While this is not the actual implementation of recording, it is a clear business activity that can be confirmed in March 1918.
Brunswick
Similarly, the March 1918 issue of "The Talking Machine World" features Brunswick-Balke-Collender Co.'s "Ultona Soundbox" as a new product introduced to the industry. The headline prominently highlights its new method of playing various types of records, confirming that in March 1918, the company was emphasizing not only the supply of software but also playback compatibility itself as a competitive selling point. Even in the wartime market, the ability to play various formats was an important competitive factor.
