turns out it wasn't edison's 'mary had a little lamb'. this older recording was made by edouard-leon scott de martinville and is of a woman singing 'au claire du la lune'. it was made in 1861
fantastical!
here's the full article:
http://www.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/europe/03/27/france.recording.ap/index.html
amazing...i love it when edison doesnt get all the credit for shit he didnt do =)