[78-L] Single-Sided Columbia - microphone label

[David Lennick]

Laughton recited the Gettysburg address in "Ruggles of Red Gap" (1935) so this 
record could have been in answer to requests. Rust says "c. January 6, 1937" 
and that it was recorded in London. My copy (early 40s) has no lead-in groove 
and an old style stop groove which was overcut by an eccentric stop groove, and 
the matrix number is US Columbia style, not English. The flip on my copy has an 
earlier run-through groove and matrix number 3-375-1.

The S indeed indicates single-sided and you'd think that it might have been to 
denote a lower price, but the 1940 catalog lists it at 75 cents, same as all 
other -M series records. Victor also used S for single-sided discs when in 
album sets, and those were priced lower. Nor can I find any indication that 
this disc was issued in England, at least on Columbia..maybe the CP prefix 
indicates a special purpose or custom recording. It does say "Imported 
Recording" on the label.

In answer to Royal's question which just came in, it's a standard blue 
Masterworks type label without the word "Masterworks".

dl

Taylor Bowie wrote:
> I've had a copy of this for ages and have wondered as well...was it some 
> kind of issue for schools?  Great,  whatever it is.
> 
> Taylor
> 
> 
> 
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Tyrone Settlemier" <talk78s.settlemier at sbcglobal.net>
> To: "78-L Mail List" <78-l at klickitat.78online.com>
> Sent: Saturday, March 21, 2009 6:18 PM
> Subject: [78-L] Single-Sided Columbia - microphone label
> 
> 
>> I'm looking at a single-sided Columbia of Lincoln's Gettysburg Address. 
>> No, it's not by Harry Spencer, but this is a CBS/Microphone Masterworks 
>> label by Charles Laughton.  It seems to be in their M-suffix series, but 
>> it has an S prefix, i.e. S271-M.
>>
>> (matrix is CP 253-2)
>>
>> So, does this fit into their regular M-suffix masterworks series?  Does 
>> the "S" stand for single-sided?
>>
>> Actually, it's not quite single sided.  The reverse has a lead-in groove, 
>> six silent grooves, and the rest of the record consists of runout grooves 
>> and the eccentric end grooves.  Matrix number for this side is 33451.
>>
>> Can anyone shed some light on this one?
>>
>> Thanks!
>>
>> Tyrone
>>
>>
>>
>>