does anybody remember laughter?

Wikipedia: Laughter

Laughter is an audible expression or appearance of merriment or happiness or an inward feeling of joy and pleasure (laughing on the inside). It may ensue (as a physiological reaction) from jokes, tickling and other stimuli. Inhaling nitrous oxide can also induce laughter; other drugs, such as cannabis, can also induce episodes of strong laughter. Strong laughter can sometimes bring an onset of tears or even moderate muscular pain. Laughter is a part of human behavior regulated by the brain. It helps humans clarify their intentions in social interaction and provides an emotional context to conversations. Laughter is used as a signal for being part of a group — it signals acceptance and positive interactions with others. Laughter is sometimes seemingly contagious, and the laughter of one person can itself provoke laughter from others as a positive feedback. This may account in part for the popularity of laugh tracks in situation comedy television shows.

"Laugh at yourself first, before anyone else can." - Elsa Maxwell

"Laughter is an instant vacation." - Milton Berle

"There is nothing in which people more betray their character than in what they laugh at." - Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

"Laughter is the closest distance between two people." - Victor Borge

"Against the assault of laughter nothing can stand." - Mark Twain

"The most wasted of all days is one without laughter." - e. e. cummings

"Man plans and God laughs." - Jewish Proverb

"One horse-laugh is worth ten thousand syllogisms. It is not only more effective; it is also vastly more intelligent." - H. L. Mencken

"Beware of those who laugh at nothing or everything." - Arnold H. Glasgow

"It takes a big man to cry, but it takes a bigger man to laugh at that man." - Jack Handey

"Laughter is not at all a bad beginning for a friendship, and it is far the best ending for one." - Oscar Wilde

"Man, when you lose your laugh you lose your footing." - Ken Kesey

"In this life he laughs longest who laughs last." - John Masefield

"He who laughs last didn't get it" - Helen Giangregorio

The Gardenias: I'm Laughing At You - 2MB

Chris Connor: They All Laughed - 3MB

Bob Dylan: It Takes A Lot To Laugh, It Takes A Train To Cry - 6MB

Gomez: Don't Make Me Laugh - 7MB

The Maytals: When I Laugh - 2MB

Slim Gaillard: Laughing In Rhythm - 4MB

The Beau Brummels: Laugh Laugh - 5MB

Big Mama Thornton: Laugh, Laugh, Laugh - 3MB

The Guess Who: Laughing - 5MB

Bob Wills & His Texas Playboys: I Laugh When I Think How I Cried Over You - 2MB

Derrick Harriott: Laugh It Off - 3MB

The Spinners: Living a Little, Laughing a Little - 8MB

During the beginning of recorded sound industry, no one was sure what people wanted to hear. The idea behind Laughing Records was pretty simple - laughter is contagious, why not have recordings of people laughing? It's not The Dave Chappelle Show, but back then, you took your entertainment where you could get it. I started collecting Laughing Record sound files a few years ago, here's a taste of some of the better ones - these and more can be found at the Internet Archive and the Cylinder Preservation and Digitization Project.

Al. H. Weston & Irene Young: OKeh Laughing Record - 3MB

The Spoiled Cornet: Laughing Song - 4MB

Maurice Farkoa: Laughing Song - 3MB

Button Buster: Laughing Song - 3MB

I'm guest blogging over at Cover Lay Down, the theme is Gallows Pole and Variants - stop by for a spell and find out about a ballad that's been around for a millennium.