What is a spoken word record?

A spoken word record features a text read aloud by an actor or the author: a novel, tale, poems or a play. On vinyl, it is the ancestor of today's audiobook, especially common for children's records and literary classics. Many came with a book.

Who made the first spoken word records?

Spoken recordings go back to the early days of the phonograph, but the LP era made them popular. In the US, Caedmon Records, founded in 1952, became a landmark label by recording authors such as Dylan Thomas reading their own work.

How do I check a used spoken word record?

Read the condition description carefully, because with a solo voice every click is audible. Also make sure the original booklet or illustrated book is included, and that box sets for longer works contain all their discs. Compare several copies before choosing.

Does Vinyles.com sell these records?

No. Vinyles.com is a price comparison site: it lists offers from partner stores for each record, and you buy directly from the store you choose. That lets you compare price and availability for the same spoken word record before clicking through.

Audiobooks

This category celebrates spoken word books, where the voice brings words to life and transports the listener into the author's world. Novels, poems, short stories, or tales take on a new dimension through vocal interpretation. These vinyl records are perfect for enjoying literature in a different way and rediscovering works from an intimate and immersive perspective.

Let yourself be carried away by the power of narration.

Newest

20 result(s)

Horrorble (Mekons vs Tony Maimone In Dub Conference)/Limited White Vinyl

The Mekons

DiversLivres lus

2026-06-05

Audiobook Vinyl: Spoken Word Records, Readings and Stories

What is an audiobook on vinyl?

Audiobook vinyl covers records where a text is read aloud: adapted novels and tales, poetry, plays, or authors reading their own work. Long before CDs and streaming audiobooks, LPs and 7-inch records were the main home for spoken word, especially children's records and literary classics performed by actors. Many were aimed at children.

This section collects these spoken word records, from French actors such as Gérard Philipe and Fernandel to English-language voices including Charles Bukowski, Douglas Adams and Vincent Price, along with recent projects that blend literature and music, like those of French author and singer Mathias Malzieu. The section is compact but varied.

Classic spoken word records

In the US, Caedmon Records, founded in 1952, recorded writers reading their own work, starting with Dylan Thomas, and Vincent Price lent his voice to the tales of Edgar Allan Poe. Among French records, Antoine de Saint-Exupéry's "Le Petit Prince" read by actor Gérard Philipe, with Georges Poujouly as the little prince, is one of the best-known spoken word releases and has been reissued many times. Caedmon's catalog later grew to include many major authors. Most of these records are found secondhand today.

Buying used spoken word records: what to check

On a spoken word record, the voice is alone and pauses are frequent, so clicks and scratches are far more audible than on music. Groove condition is the main criterion. Also check for the booklet or illustrated book that often came with children's records, and the number of discs for longer works, which were sometimes spread across several LPs. Children's records in particular have often been played heavily.