The opening of the Columbia pressing plant in 1926 with its brand new technology of electrical (as distinct from purely acoustic) recording opened the doors to Australian performers to record their music.
Columbia’s Sydney-based factory was followed within a year by Vocalion Records opening a pressing facility in Melbourne.
One of the first local recordings was O! Sydney I Love You, the winner of a song writing competition organized by The Sun newspaper.
On 16 March 1927 the paper enthusiastically reported on the recording session, with Len Maurice and the 2FC Studio Dance Band led by Eric Pearse recording the song.
O! Sydney I Love You, 1927 Len Maurice – Columbia 0610
The cover image for this song is the sheet music for O! Sydney I Love You. Image source: National Library of Australia
Summary written by Graham McDonald
The National Film and Sound Archive of Australia acknowledges Australia’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the Traditional Custodians of the land on which we work and live and gives respect to their Elders both past and present.