Too Many Records , Too Little Time Member since Jan 2013 306 Points
I suppose its the same as the 45 world.
London in the UK was mostly for the issue in the UK of labels and producers that had no direct british outlet other than what London signed ( and the agreements may have been to take just about whatever the signed label issued ).
Likewise London in the USA was used for releases of British Artists into the North American Market, I think most artists were on Decca in the UK , but someone will probably tell me in the early days of London other labels may have been included - its late and I haven't looked up any of the published histories of London.
I'm fairly sure that US London started pressing some copies of their own releases (or contracted them out to other companies, such as RCA) fairly soon after incorporation, at least by 1950, because I seem to recall that their monster hit of that year, Anton Karas' "Third Man Theme" was a mixture of UK and US pressings. I think I might be able to find an old Billboard article about that record later (I'm supposed to be working right now!).
Well, not the article I was thinking of (should have bookmarked it when I saw it a few months ago), but this one from BILLBOARD of 14th October 1950 says that London's domestic pressings had been handled by Webster Records in Webster, Massachusetts (article on left of page, "Gabor Devotes Pressery To Own LP Lines").
I just acquired this one (its in the mail). As usual 'Made in England', but possibly for the Canadian market as he had just finished up a big Canadian tour in October 1949.
Seems that UK Decca pressed up stuff and shipped it over for both the US and Canada. I have placed it in the US listing, but it may actually be Canada only, seeing as that is where I acquired it from.
Tell me he's lazy, tell me he's slow Member since Jan 2011 4138 Points Moderator
Strange that so little is known about where Londons were pressed. We now have 22 countries showing releases on London, though I suspect that London Record from Bulgaria is probably unrelated - anyone know?
Also I suspect that London American from Pakistan should be renamed to just London
Decca was doing its bit for post war Britain's economy which was struggling
From Wikipedia
Immediately after the war in the Pacific ended, the U.S. halted Lend-Lease, but did give the UK a long-term low-interest loan of US$4.33bn. The winter of 1946–1947 proved to be very harsh, with curtailed production and shortages of coal, which again affected the economy so that by August 1947, when convertibility was due to begin, the economy was not as strong as it needed to be. When the Labour Government enacted convertibility, there was a run on Sterling, as pounds were traded for dollars. This damaged the British economy and within weeks convertibility was abandoned. By 1949, the British pound was seen to be over valued and had to be devalued. The US dollar had become the world's premier currency.
The major economic priority of post-war Britain was to raise exports to fund he UK's dollar deficit. This required the extension of rationing, as British goods and produce were prioritized for export markets. Unlike Continental European countries, where rationing was abandoned within a few years of the wars' end, Britain actually tightened rationing restrictions and didn't fully abandon them until 1954.[209] The U.S. began Marshall Plan grants (mostly grants with a few loans) that pumped $3.3 billion into the economy and encouraged businessmen to modernize their approach to management.[210] Marshall Aid, however, failed to have the desired effect of modernizing industry and stimulating the economy, because 97% of the funds were used to service British debt repayments. This left the UK at a comparative disadvantage to rivals like France and West Germany, who were able to invest the money directly into industry and infrastructure, creating more competitive, efficient economies in the long-term
The war years caused a gradual selling off of UK Decca's holdings in the American company, the money being needed for research to help the war effort. Part of this research, to produce high-fidelity recordings for use in the identification of submarines, resulted in a dramatic increase of tonal range obtainable from 78rpm records. Decca was quick to exploit this technical innovation in its classical and popular repertoire, marketing it as 'ffrr' (full frequency range recording) with a distinctive logo based on the human ear.
I find this very interesting, knowing also that Decca were at the same time developing a worldwide radio navigation system, which remained in operation until 2000.
A girl who looks good in vinyl Member since Dec 2012 1544 Points Moderator
Juke Jules wrote:
Strange that so little is known about where Londons were pressed. We now have 22 countries showing releases on London, though I suspect that London Record from Bulgaria is probably unrelated - anyone know?
Also I suspect that London American from Pakistan should be renamed to just London
The Bulgarian one is definitely not related to Decca's London as Decca London didn't exist at the time of issue.
The Pakistani (as well as others that are similar) is a debatable thing. I would have called the label 'London American' in all cases including the UK. Likewise the South African should be 'London International'. In some ways they are similar to Decca Music While You Work, which we discussed a few weeks back, as they are a distinct series apart for the main London label.
I think that for a certain period of time all London disks destined for the USA and Canada were initially pressed in the UK -- if it was European master. (Non-European masters would see local pressings first.) If demand required, US or Canadian pressings would be made to quickly supply the market for the 'imported' product. This may have continued in I'm guessing 1954.
Hello Amy.. as this forum is specifically geared towards the UK and US London pressings, I may have inadvertently placed a particular 78 that I own in a incorrect category. I own a copy of London L973.. Bobby Wayne with Dick Hayman and orchestra, performing Let Me In on the A side, and Wild Card on the B side. This pairing was released in February, 1951. When I did a search for this 78, I found it under London UK, with the same cat number. And, there was no label scan to compare it to. So.. I uploaded pics of my label to the listing. It was then that I noticed... My label states Made in USA on the rim top....
A girl who looks good in vinyl Member since Dec 2012 1544 Points Moderator
That's a good article Keith and it does confirm what I thought -- that American masters got pressed locally and non-American got imported, at least initially. I also knew that RCA Cannonsburg pressed for London. BTW - RCA Cannonsburg came about because of the success of Perry Como, who was from there.