Little Wonder Records
| Company type | Record label |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1914 |
| Founder | Columbia Phonograph Company |
| Defunct | 1923 |
| Fate | Ceased operations |
| Headquarters | United States |
Area served | United States |
| Products | Single-sided gramophone records |
Little Wonder Records was a budget record label based in the United States, operating between 1914 and 1923. The label focused on producing single-sided discs that contained shortened versions of songs, offered at a very affordable price point.
History
The Columbia Phonograph Company manufactured Little Wonder records, which were initially distributed exclusively by Henry Waterson, a music publisher and partner of Irving Berlin, from 1914 until 1916. This distribution agreement was confidential according to the original contract. Performers on these records were rarely credited by name; instead, the labels identified the recordings simply as "band," "tenor," "quartette," or "accordion solo."
These lateral-cut, single-sided gramophone records measured 5 1/2 inches and typically held around 1 to 2 minutes of audio. Despite their small diameter and charming label design, Little Wonder’s target audience extended beyond children to include general consumers seeking inexpensive music options.
Priced at just ten cents apiece, Little Wonder records were among the most economical offerings available at the time, helping to broaden access to recorded music. The sound quality ranged from average to slightly above average, utilizing narrow grooves that required smaller styluses for playback. Sales reached approximately forty million copies, primarily through sheet music counters located in five and dime stores as well as through Sears Roebuck catalogs, rather than conventional record retailers.
All known recordings on the Little Wonder label were performed by artists who also recorded for Columbia. Some accounts indicate that sessions took place in Little Wonder’s own studio within the Woolworth Building, possibly before or after Columbia recording sessions held on a different floor. There is speculation that some masters originated from warm-up balance tests during Columbia sessions; however, legal documents confirm that musicians received payment specifically for their work on Little Wonder recordings.
The first release, Little Wonder #1, featured "Ben Bolt" performed by Henry Burr, who recorded more titles for this label than any other artist. Vaudeville performer Sam Ash was the most active solo artist on the label, beginning with Little Wonder #98, which included a rendition of "Chinatown, My Chinatown". Al Jolson, a Columbia artist, made his only appearance on Little Wonder in 1914 with "Back to the Carolina You Love." Other prominent performers associated with the label included Gene Greene, Wilbur Sweatman, Billy Murray, Vernon Dalhart, Frank Crumit, the Louisiana Five, and the California Ramblers.
In 1916, Columbia took full ownership of Little Wonder. The following year, it introduced a series of small illustrated children's books known as "Bubble Books," which also achieved bestseller status. Later on, Columbia released promotional discs using the same small-disc numbering system; however, these are distinct and separate from the original Little Wonder label.
Little Wonder #339, titled "The Camp Meeting Jubilee" (1916), includes lyrics such as "We've been rockin' an' rolling in your arms," representing one of the earliest audio instances of the phrase "rock ... and roll," though used here within a religious spiritual context.
See also
Further reading
- Brooks, Tim, alongside Merle Sprinzen, authored Little Wonder Records and Bubble Books: An Illustrated History and Discography, published in Denver by Mainspring Press in 2011. This work offers an extensive historical overview and detailed discography.