Spoken Word

Spoken word on vinyl: when the voice takes the lead

In short: Spoken word gathers records on which people speak: poems, speeches, readings, radio plays and comedy, sometimes with music. Many such records came out in the sixties and seventies – today too, artists join the spoken word to jazz and electronic music. The Vinyl Room currently has 46 spoken word records.

What is spoken word?

Voices of the sixties and seventies: Gil Scott-Heron with “The Revolution Will Not Be Televised”, Dick Gregory with “The Two Sides Of Dick Gregory” and David Frost with “The Frost Report On Everything”.

The spoken word today: Moor Mother with “Jazz Codes”, Irreversible Entanglements, Félicia Atkinson with “The Flower And The Vessel” and, from Denmark, Vi Sidder Bare Her with Jørgen Leth on “Ingen Regning Til Mig”.

What to look for

Our spoken word records are mainly US editions; most date from the sixties and seventies; label, catalogue number and year of release help you tell which edition you have – it’s noted with each copy.

From our stock

First pressings

New in

→ Poetry · Comedy · Free jazz · Jazz on vinyl · How to spot a first pressing · Grading explained

FAQ

What is spoken word? Records on which people speak – poems, speeches, readings, radio plays and comedy.

Is there spoken word with music? Yes, for example Gil Scott-Heron or Moor Mother, who join words and jazz.

Are there Danish recordings too? Yes, for example Vi Sidder Bare Her with Jørgen Leth.

Which spoken word records do you have? Here, for example, Gil Scott-Heron’s “The Revolution Will Not Be Televised” and Moor Mother’s “Jazz Codes”.