Excavated Shellac: An Alternate History of the World’s Music

An Unforgettable Journey Through Early Global Recordings

Travel across six continents and 89 countries through this extraordinary collection of 100 vintage recordings made between 1907 and 1967. Excavated Shellac offers a rich and rare listening experience that celebrates the diversity and artistry of early 20th-century music from around the world.

What’s Included

• 100 tracks featuring carefully restored 78 rpm recordings
• View the complete tracklist here: [Insert hosted PDF link]
• An in-depth 186-page book in PDF format filled with essays, photographs, and meticulous annotations
• Stories that illuminate the cultural, political, and personal histories behind each track

Curated by Jonathan Ward, the collection was nominated for a GRAMMY Award and praised by music historians and collectors. Excavated Shellac is a one-of-a-kind sonic expedition: playful, surprising, and profoundly moving.

Praise & Reviews

“Presumptuous as it may seem to announce that the best album of 2021 has already been released, to my mind it’s unlikely it will be topped.”

— The Guardian

“Jonathan Ward … has lovingly plucked a selection of these artifacts from music history’s rubbish heap and unearthed background information on each in a herculean feat of research.”

— Stereophile

“The music is superbly mastered so giving the listener a taste of how dynamic these recordings sounded when played for posterity some generations ago.”

— The Attic Magazine

Prefer the box set? Check out the physical version here.