In honor of HM Elizabeth II (1926-2022), who reigned as Queen of England for 70 years, we present this ca. 1891 recording of “God Save the Queen,” from our GRAMMY-nominated album "Etching the Voice," which presents the earliest disc recordings of Emile Berliner. Of course, when this was recorded, it referred to a different monarch, Queen Victoria (1819-1901), who reigned for 63 years. Press coverage of Queen Elizabeth’s passing has pointed out that her reign has constituted 30% of the period that the United States has existed since the ratification of our Constitution in 1788. Well, if you add in Queen Victoria’s time on the throne, the tenure of the two queens together have overlapped with 57% of U.S. history! 

Here's the transcription of this recording:

God save our noble Queen!
Long live our gracious Queen!
God save the Queen!
Send her victorious
Happy and glorious
Long to reign over us:
God save the Queen!

Hurrah! Hurrah! Hurrah!

Etching the Voice

God Save The Queen (ca. 1891)

I Want a Girl Just Like the Girl that Married Dear Old Dad by American Quartet (1911)

The Missing Link

Pesticatin’ Mamma by   Paul Ash and His Granada Orchestra (1923)

Honey Babe by   Lyman’s California Ambassador Hotel Orchestra (1923)

By The Pyramids by Gene Rodemich’s Orchestra (1921)

I Love You Sunday by   Isham Jones Rainbo Orchestra (1920)

Bow-Wow by   Wiedoeft Wadsworth Quartet (1920)

Read ‘Em and Weep by   Al Bernard (1920)

Karavan by Carl Fenton’s Orchestra (1919)

Underneath the Japanese Moon by   Irving Kaufman (1914)

The Moorish (“Maurice”) Glide by   Victor Military Band (1914)

Grammy-winning reissue label dedicated to the acoustic era of recording--the 1890s through 1925. We preserve, restore, and contextualize lost sounds.

I Want a Girl Just Like the Girl that Married Dear Old Dad by American Quartet (1911)

Archeophone Records

Related tracks