The Secret History of Rock

What Was the First-Ever Hidden Track? (Part 2)

Last time, we talked about hidden tracks, those unlisted songs that are placed on CDs (and, in some cases, vinyl) to surprise and scare us. 

I’m talking about songs like “Endless, Nameless” on Nirvana’s Nevermind and “Train in Vain” on the original vinyl version of the Clash’s London Calling. 

But who was the very first to do this?  It appears that it was a 1931 78 RPM record on the RCA Victor label by the Novelty Orchestra called “Puzzle Record.” 

The label read “This side contains three tunes.  Can you find them?”  This was a multi-grooved record with three different songs cut into three different sets of grooves.  You’d get whatever song the needle happened to catch first. 

Monty Python did something like this in the 1970s, too.

Alan Cross

is an internationally known broadcaster, interviewer, writer, consultant, blogger and speaker. In his 40+ years in the music business, Alan has interviewed the biggest names in rock, from David Bowie and U2 to Pearl Jam and the Foo Fighters. He’s also known as a musicologist and documentarian through programs like The Ongoing History of New Music.

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