[78-L] e: Story of the LP

[Michael Biel]

From: don ward <dward7 at earthlink.net>
> > I seem to remember that the first "LP's" to show up in the
> > local record store were 10", both red and blue labels.
> > Red pop and blue classical.  Right or wrong ??  dnward 

Partially right.  There were 4 different series that Columbia introduced
in June 1948.  The Masterworks had blue labels but there was both a
10-inch ML 2000 and a 12-inch ML 4000 series.  Then there was a 10-inch
pop CL 6000 series with red labels, but also a JL 8000 juvenile series
that were 10-inch with yellow labels.  Shortly they used green labels on
some of their personality masterworks records, such as original casts
like South Pacific ML 4180.  (What I'm trying to remember is what the
first pressing of Kiss Me Kate was like.  The 78s were 12-inch red
labels, right?  The Lp was ML-4140, but I remember it with a red
tombstone cover, but can't think of it having a blue label, but it can't
have a 12-inch red label.  My copy is not at hand.  Anybody have a first
pressing handy?)    

From: David Lennick <dplennick at yahoo.com>
> Actually, none of the pre-1948 items was called "LP".
> Columbia named it that and launched it in June 1948, 

Actually what Columbia launched in June 1948 was the "Lp".  Capital L,
small p. THAT is their trademark.  Lp not LP.  Edison did use the term
"Long Playing Record".  The labels state "This Record Can Be Played Only
With Edison Long Playing Reproducer".  Columbia/Clarion used the term
"Longer Playing", but I don't think anyone abbreviated it LP.    

> so to be specific, yes it's 60 years for the LP,

No, it is 60 years for the Lp.

> an anniversary which didn't seem to get much attention that I was aware of. dl 

We talked about it here in May and June, and there were several articles
and radio features that were mentioned and torn asunder.

Mike Biel  mbiel at mbiel.com  



>Steven C. Barr wrote: 
>
>----- Original Message ----- From: "John Wright" <vintage at jabw.demon.co.uk> 
>
>BBC Radio 2 have an upcoming four part weekly series on the history of the LP, from Tuesday 18th 
>Is it 60 years since they started commercially? 
>
>Technically, yes...IF you ignore Victor's "Program Transcriptions" and the 
>many 33-1/3rpm non-commercial recordings pressed before 1948...?! 
>
>....stevenc