When post-war ads for the Voice-o-Graph machine proclaimed the instant-vinyl device represented “a new and growing field,” little did anyone know. Last night on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, Neil Young used Jack White’s refurbished Third Man Records 1947 Voice-o-Graph for one of the more memorable late-night TV musical performances seen lately. The gear allows a person to record up to roughly two minutes straight to vinyl and receive a six-inch record immediately afterward. Here’s how Young described the thing to SPIN in March: “[It’s] a phone booth. It’s all acoustic with a harmonica inside a closed space, with one mic to vinyl … It’s a funky old machine, it sounds like Jimmy Rogers or something.”
Above, watch Young cover Willie Nelson’s classic “Crazy,” most famously performed by Patsy Cline, in the machine (“Crazy” appears on the box set version of Young’s sneak-released all-Voice-o-Graph album, A Letter Home). Below, as a Web exclusive, watch him do Ivory Joe Hunter’s “Since I Met You Baby.” And scroll down to watch Young and White chat with Fallon and demonstrate the booth. Turns out Young really liked Fallon’s impression of him for a version of Willow Smith’s “Whip My Hair.” The other guest was Louis C.K., who looked endearingly thrilled to shake Young’s hand.
