Edward Meeker - "I'm A Yiddish Cowboy" (1908)

A track from the compilation album Jewface, a collection of antique novelty records made by Jewish performers for an audience made up mostly of recent immigrants. Mel Brooks would be working virtually the same shtick almost 70 years later in Blazing Saddles.

Kaleidoscope - "Flight From Ashiya" (1967)

The UK Kaleidoscope, that is, not the US outfit with David Lindley on guitar. Kaleidoscope (UK) were one of the very best popsike/freakbeat acts, but they never made the British charts and remain virtually unknown in America.


This is the only known footage of the band, appearing on a French TV show. That's Serge Gainsbourg at the piano.

Bruce Channel - "Mr. Bus Driver" (1967)

A nice uptempo soul-rocker, from the singer who unfortunately couldn't buy a hit after his "Hey! Baby" smash.


If it reminds you of that same year's "The Letter", that's because they were both written by Wayne Carson Thompson.

Billy Murray - "The War In Snyder's Grocery Store" (1914)

A satirical allegory of the recently initiated Great War:

This site has a detailed bio of Billy Murray.