WARNING: This list contains sounds which may offend some listeners] I have struggled long and hard over a second list of incredible recordings, but I have finally managed to find 10 that I think are worthy of being here. If you are new to the site you might want to hear some of the original recordings – you can find them on the Top 10 Incredible Recordings list.

10. Alessandro Moreschi The Last Castrato

The recording of Moreschi was extremely popular on the original list, so I have found a second song by him. In this recording of Domine Salvum Fac, we hear the typical “sobbing” style from the time. Here we also have Moreschi backed by a choir and singing some of his finer high notes recorded. Moreschi was the last recorded castrato (a man who had had his testicles removed as a child, to prevent his voice from breaking as he grew older). We have his recordings thanks to the foresight of Pope Leo XIII, who had an interest in the “modern” recording devices being invented at the time. You can read more about Moreschi, and Castrati in general, at the Cogitz article Castrati: Castrated for the Love of Music.

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9. Ted Bundy Confession Tapes

[WARNING: This recording contains graphic descriptions of violence] Ted Bundy, the infamous serial killer, confessed to his crimes on tape. The tapes were eventually released uncensored in to the world. The clip above contains a portion of the confession in which Bundy describes burning the skull of one of his victims.

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8. Albert Einstein

E = MC2

In this historic recording we hear Albert Einstein announcing and explaining E = MC2.

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7. Dylan Thomas Do not go gentle

Dylan Thomas was a Welsh poet. He is regarded by many as one of the 20th Century’s most influential poets. “Do not go gentle into that good night” is one of his most famous poems and, in this recording, we hear him reading it. The poem was first published in 1951. Thomas addresses wise men, good men, wild men and grave or serious, somber men all with the same message; to pursue their passions, even in the face of their mortality and impending death. This is a truly inspiring poem by a great writer.

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6. The Exorcism of Anneliese Michel

I included this as a footnote on the first list of recordings, but did not say much about it. It is now taking its rightful place on a list. This is the authentic and full recording of the exorcism that took place in Germany, leading to the famous trial upon which the movie “The Exorcism of Emily Rose” is based. The girl being exorcized was called Anneliese Michel and in the process of the exorcism she died. You can see a rather gruesome photograph of Anneliese after the exorcism here. You can also read a much more in depth article on exorcism complete with audio, videos, and images here.

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5. Neville Chamberlain Declaration of War on Germany

After Germany invaded Poland, Great Britain declared war. Here we hear the British Prime Minister, Neville Chamberlain, announcing the state of war.

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4. King Edward VIII The abdication

Only months into his reign, Edward forced a constitutional crisis by proposing marriage to the American divorcée Wallis Simpson. Although legally Edward could have married Mrs. Simpson and remained king, his various prime ministers opposed the marriage, arguing that the people would never accept her as queen. This is the first recording broadcast by the ex-King after his abdication.

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3. Thomas Edison The first human recording

This is the first recording of a human voice in history, made in 1877. In the recording we hear Edison recite Mary had a Little Lamb. The recording is surprisingly clear.

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2. Georgia Brown The world’s highest sung note

According to the Guinness Book of World Records, Georgia Brown has sung the highest notes recorded of a human voice. In the video clip above you get to hear them all. I don’t think I could honestly say I like it, but it is historically valuable. Georgia’s range spans 8 octaves, from G2-G10.

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1. Adolf Hitler Threatens Jewish Extermination

There have been some debates in comments from certain people who deny the Holocaust truly happened. Despite showing images which give evidence that it did, some still don’t believe it. This recording is a very important one because it is the recording in which Hitler clearly states that if they go to war, the Jews of Europe will be exterminated. This is a translation of what he is saying:

And one more thing I would like now to state, on this day memorable, perhaps, not only for us Germans. I have often been a prophet in my life and was generally laughed at. During my struggle for power, the Jews primarily received with laughter my prophecies that I would someday assume the leadership of the state and thereby of the entire nation and then, among many other things, achieve a solution of the Jewish problem. I suppose that meanwhile the laughter of Jewry in Germany that resounded then is probably already choking in their throats. [applause; Hitler coughs] Today I want to be a prophet again. If international finance Jewry within Europe and abroad should succeed once more in plunging the peoples into a world war, then the consequence will be not the Bolshevization of the world and therewith a victory of Jewry, but on the contrary, the destruction of the Jewish race in Europe. [applause]

The recording was made on January 30, 1939, the sixth anniversary of Hitler’s rise to power.

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