1938 Snow White Soundtrack - 78 rpm Record Set J-8

Entitled Songs from Walt Disney's Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, it was an immediate sensation. Issued by RCA/Victor Records in January of 1938, this commercially-released movie soundtrack was the first of its kind. Originally sold as a set of three shellac 78 rpm 10" discs, it contained eight of the nine songs heard in the picture (not "Bluddle-Uddle-Um-Dum"). These recordings were taken directly from the film's track and thus include bits of dialogue and sound effects. The album was a hit. 

Album cover.

Earlier this year, collector Rick Payne picked up this rare gem while at a memorabilia show. What a super find! Here's his description of the set...

The three records are held in Victor sleeves that have no mention of Disney. They are contained in an outer envelope that has a flap at the top; it's made of paper similar to today's manilla envelopes (although a bit softer). The only opening was at the top; mine is split completely along both sides. The back side has no printing. The front is breathtaking. The scene of the dwarfs crossing the log is on a glossy stock that is glued to the envelope--a costly process that shows that everyone at Disney and Victor treated the release with great attention to detail. The number "J-8" is printed at the bottom of the front panel. Someone told me that the set had an original retail price of 75 cents, but I can't confirm that. The records are in perfect condition.

In 1940, two years after it's release, this first pressing set was selling for $1.50. The "J" prefix designated Victor's Juvenile (or Junior) Series. SOURCE: The Golden Age of Walt Disney Records, Murray, p.159.

Record 1: Victor #25735
Side A: "With a Smile and a Song"
Side B: "Dig-a-Dig Dig / Heigh Ho"

Record 2: Victor # 25736
Side A: "I'm Wishing / One Song"
Side B: "Whistle While You Work"

Record 3 Victor # 25737
  Side A: "Dwarfs' Yodel Song"

Side B: "Some Day My Prince Will Come"

The record sleeves.

Record #25735. Side A: With a Smile and a Song

Record #25735. Side B: Dig-A-Dig Dig and Heigh Ho

Record #25736. Side A: I'm Wishing and One Song; Side B: Whistle While You Work

Record #25737. Side A: Dwarfs' Yodel Song; Side B: Some Day My Prince Will Come

Description and image scans courtesy of Rick Payne via dadric's attic.

In these early days, Disney did not have its own music publishing company. All material was contracted out to Irving Berlin, Inc. and starting in 1944 to Bourne, Inc.

All the rights to publish the music and songs from this film are actually still controlled by the Bourne Co. In later years, the Studio was able to acquire back the rights to the music from all of the other films, except this one. Prior to Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, a movie soundtrack recording was unheard of and [had] little value to a movie studio.  Source: IMDb.

Read about a 1995 United States Court of Appeals case of Bourne vs. Walt Disney Company in regards to a Snow White copyright infringement in the use of video cassettes (first released on home video in 1994) and TV commercials.