This accompanies the main article on Fontana. (linked) Sleeves ImportsBefore Philips / Fontana started pressing 45s, importsturned up from the Netherlands frequently. These are Dutch copies found in the UK. The first sleeve The first British 45 sleeve in January 1958. It didn’t last long. The red sleeve The first Fontana 78s in 1958 had … Continue reading Fontana – 45 sleeves and centres →

Sleeves Some record labels have discs so collectible that minute differences in matching sleeve designs affects values. It’s not apparent with Philips, except for David Bowie’s Space Oddity. 78 sleeves: 45s Philips only introduced 45 rpm  singles in the UK in January 1958, after three years of producing 45 rpm EPs. By early 1957, quantities … Continue reading Philips – 45 sleeves and centres →

See also the linked: Capitol – part oneCapitol – part two Paul M. Pelletier’s “British Capitol 45 rpm records” was an invaluable source here, listing every Capitol release with month of issue and chart position where appropriate. Discogs lists over 104,000 Capitol releases in various formats from various countries. The British Capitol 45 rpm Records … Continue reading Capitol – sleeves and designs →

SEE ALSO:Parlophone (Part 1) … before The Beatles.Parlophone (Part 2) … 1962 to 1973Parlophone (Part 3) … post 1976Parlophone-OdeonParlophone: The Best Beatles Album? Parlophone started producing 45 rpm singles in 1953, and the numbering series from 1953 to 1956 is MSP which stood for mauve, seven-inch Parlophone. This chart is approximate based on Record Information Services for … Continue reading Parlophone- 45 sleeves and labels →

The HMV trademark, Nipper, comes from an 1899 painting by Francis Barraud, entitled ‘His Master’s Voice’. Barraud’s brother in Bristol, UK, owned the dog, Nipper, and when his brother died, Barraud noted that the dog was enthralled by recordings of his voice on an Edison-Bell phonograph. It is difficult to say how the idea came … Continue reading HMV and ‘Nipper’ →

London sleeves and centres There was a lad at school who had a profitable playground business. You’d show him an old penny, the heads side up, and he’d tell you the date, which was hidden away on the tails side. If he was right, he took the penny. If he was wrong he gave you … Continue reading London: sleeves and centres →

Gene Vincent Dandelion LP 63754Released January 1970Recorded 21 August 1969 to 2 September 1969Produced by Kim Fowley side one side two 1 Rockin’ Robin(j. Thomas) 1 Sexy Ways(Henry Ballard) 2 In The Pines(Traditional) 2 Ruby Baby(J. Leiber / M. Stoller) 3 Be Bop-A-Lula ’69(Gene Vincent / Sheriff ‘Tex’ Davies) 3 Lotta Lovin’(Alva Hemming) 4 Rainbow … Continue reading I’m Back and I’m Proud →

ABOVE: The first Dandelion label, as distributed by CBS The late John Peel was a national treasure, a radio institution, a promoter of aspiring musicians. While many of the artists whose career he helped were excellent musicians, it has to be said that complete and utter lack of technical proficiency was never a barrier for … Continue reading Dandelion →

Test pressings and acetates Acetates are early pressings done at the studio on thicker and softer vinyl. They were aluminium discs, coated with a nitrocellulose lacquer. They could be recorded cheaply and quickly,. and they wore out fast with playing. They wear out quickly and were run off for musicians and producers to take home … Continue reading Test pressings and acetates →

Hey Mr DJ See also The A side and the B Side article. The need for the large A is discussed in the A & B side article. I think it means A side, rather than ADVANCED COPY or AUDITION COPY. Is it necessary? In the mid-80s I did several radio interviews. Local radio is … Continue reading DJs and Radio demos →