Matthew 7:7 Member since Nov 2008 3211 Points Moderator
Question for 78rpm World :
Was it common in the early/mid 50's for a 78 to be released at the same time as the 45 equivalent, or was there often a delay in the release dates (for example, to wait and see if it sold enough to warrant a 45 release) ?
I ask specifically in relation to Billy Bland "Chicken In Basket, where the 78rpm was a definite '55 release, but every reference I've seen points to the 45 being a '56 release.
Too Many Records , Too Little Time Member since Jan 2013 306 Points
Billy, allegedly the 45 was invented from 78-33 = 45, (the RCA vs EMI / Columbia patents ) although I have also heard that the speeds were derived something from electrical motor phasings.
Releases probably depended on on pressing plant avaliblity. By the mid 50s I would guess new speed record players were becoming more common, so logically a 45 might come first, but I guess small labels knew their markets and where & when best to distribute different formats.
A girl who looks good in vinyl Member since Dec 2012 1544 Points Moderator
I think that the your thoughts are correct. I see it as a number scenarios
late 40s early 50s: 78s first - then 45s if warranted for all but RCA. For RCA they would be at the same time.
Early 50s to mid 50s: releases at the same time
Mid 50s to late 50s -- 45 first -- 78 later.
It does depend on the audience though. For example -- R&B releases may have had a 78 first almost always because the audience could not afford a player for 45s. Pop artist would have had 45s first an then 78s if the market needed it.
In the case of the R&B on78 first, I can see a small label only doing 78s an dthen moving to both later, re-issuing a record as a 45 to capture the white teenage crowd, and using the same catalogue number with a 45- prefix.
The two last HMV POP were in 1959 HMV POPs last two 78s were No. 712 & 792, but there were big gaps from No. 603 and on.
Deccas last 78rpm was F 11256 in July 1960. There were also big gaps before the end of the 78s. Until appr. F 10380 there were a lot of different release dates. Often up to six months later for the 45s. Although in May & June 1954, almost both were released at the same date.
Hope this helps a bit.