High Quality Content by WIKIPEDIA articles! Edison Records was the one of the earliest record labels which pioneered recorded sound and was an important player in the early recording industry. Thomas A. Edison invented the phonograph, the first device for recording and playing back sound, in 1877. After inventing and patenting the phonograph, Edison and his laboratory turned their attention to the commercial development of (electric lighting), playing no further role in the development of the phonograph for a decade.