No picture 'cos I'm not into 45rpm :( Member since Jan 2013 3354 Points Moderator
Some of you will be aware (although many don't seem to know) that there are release year guides for many UK labels 78rpm on site. You'll find these in the 'label biography' link at the bottom of a label listing page.
Over the past nine years I've spent a lot of time trying to establish when UK records were released, often to the month of release, and I've written software (Windows PC only) to provide an easy way to access the information collected (too much for label biogs). The current coverage in this update is :
You can download the program and files in a zip file here.
Just unzip the files to a new folder and run the program file. Select the series or label, enter the numeric catalogue number, and press Search. The release date, or release dates of surrounding catalogue numbers will be displayed. To uninstall just delete the folder. The download includes a user manual in the 'Manual.pdf' file
I still have hundreds of monthly supplements to transcribe, but to make this latest update more comprehensive I've used year info from Eddie Shaw's DATES
No picture 'cos I'm not into 45rpm :( Member since Jan 2013 3354 Points Moderator
I forgot to mention that the pre ~1930 Columbia/Rena now has multiple issues. So if you search for 'Columbia and Rena' - 'Numeric 10 inch (inc. Rena) (1908-1930)' and 1088 for example, you'll get a result showing each re-recording issue.
1088 was released in Mar 1909 Matrix 388/570
1088 also released in 1915 Matrix 29638/?
1088 also released in 1924 Matrix A934/A933
1088 also released in Jly 1926 Matrix WA3419/WA3420 Cat No. suffix R
This should help with some difficult name or title changes with different issues under the same catalogue number.
thanks, I tend to be lazy and add discs first and someone else can add the dates
(of course adding to discogs when they go date, (per known release) , no date - because they deem a new tax code as a 'reissue' and presume its unknown in that code run , sort of right and wrong in doing that !!)
I have to say I thought "dating software" was something else...
Lol :D
Scrough, have you extracted data from the CLPGS label books? Those will fill in a lot of the months of release. It sounds like you’ve been doing good work anyway. It can be very hard to find out when a particular 78 was issued.
No picture 'cos I'm not into 45rpm :( Member since Jan 2013 3354 Points Moderator
TMG - I've extracted from the CLPGS Reference Series where possible, as well as various discographies. See this list. But as we've probably discussed in PMs, I'm also transcribing some of Frank Andrew's handwritten notebooks, with Parlophone R100 series completed and now included in the software, and Regal-Zonophone now in progress.
No picture 'cos I'm not into 45rpm :( Member since Jan 2013 3354 Points Moderator
I haven't changed anything here in the past year, but I'm bumping this thread up so newer members get to see it.
Over the past year I've had a couple of mails from people having similar problems with using the program.
The first part of the Manual.pdf file within the program's folder covers using the program, with pictures of the program in action. So if you have any problems, that's the first place to look. But if that doesn't help, please send me a PM.
I'm always happy to receive comments (good or bad!!) and suggestions.
Great resource.
I was hoping it also contained recording dates as well.
Any idea if such online resources (with the recording dates) exist for UK releases ?
No picture 'cos I'm not into 45rpm :( Member since Jan 2013 3354 Points Moderator
There are lots of books, etc which have recording dates where they are known, but many aren't. But release dates are much rarer, and are the basis of this site which concentrates on details of the record itself.
I just have a few suggestions if that's okay... Could you add the approximate release dates in the Columbia CB one and the Decca F series release dates. Just because I noticed the Columbia CB part only has two release dates, also the Decca F series is mostly listed as "nil". I don't mean to come off rude or anything it would just be really cool if you could add those at some point soon! Thank you!
Too Many Records , Too Little Time Member since Jan 2013 306 Points
Apple, see other thread on Decca F ones. It is possible if you can find decca info sheets or copies of grammophone magazine, its possible your local library has an online subscription to it to search back issues, but is going to be hard work