[78-L] Okeh, American Parlophone and Odeon

[Harold Aherne]

The Odeon label was introduced in Germany in the 1903-04 period. In its first years
it was owned by the International Talking Machine, which was acquired in 1911 by the
Lindström company, where it would be joined by sister labels such as Parlophon(e),
Beka, Fonotipia, Lindström, and in 1918 OKeh (or as it was rendered in the early
years, OkeH). OKeh was controlled by the General Phonograph Corporation, the 
American branch of Lindström. The Lindström company, along with all branches and
labels, was acquired by Columbia Graphophone in 1926 (and ergo OKeh became a 
subsidiary of American Columbia). Columbia in turn became part of EMI in 1931, thus
putting Odeon, Parlophon, et al. under the same umbrella as HMV. However, American
Columbia and OKeh were excluded from the merger due to anti-trust laws in the U.S. 
OKeh then pursued a largely separate corporate path from the rest of the world's 
Odeons and Parlophones, although OKeh material still often appeared on these labels
in other countries.
 
In countries that had both labels, Odeon and Parlophone were usually closely linked.
(And all of the foregoing info makes the nature of the labels in any particular country
somewhat easier to understand ;-). The American Odeon label was launched in 1920-21,
intended as a sister to OKeh with similar material appearing on both (i.e. quite a bit of
popular material appeared on Odeon in the early 20s, including Vaughn DeLeath sides
that were apparently released nowhere else). But by 1922 or 23, Odeon was largely
reserved for ethnic and classical music, much (most?) of it derived from European masters
(some of Dajos Bela's symphonic and light music appeared on the label; I don't recall
whether I've seen any of his dance sides on American Odeon in this period).
 
This state of affairs continued until 1929, when the ONY series was launched (is there 
any solid evidence that these records were never actually marketed? It seems odd that 
they would continue issues for two years if they didn't intend to sell the discs). Many of 
these recordings also appear on OKehs of the time; but some matrices were exclusive
to Odeon and Parlophone (the PNY series was also launched in 1929, AFAIK, and its
history appears to mirror American Odeon of this time, except for when/how/whether
it was sold). OKeh artists were often disguised by psudonyms on both labels, and both
were retired by 1931. It's possible that the classical/ethnic recordings continued to 
be issued on Odeon in the 1929-31 period, but all issues had ceased by '31. ONY
and PNY are well-liked for their exceptional pressing quality, just as contemporary
OKehs. Both series are rare, but I'd say that PNY is somewhat harder to find. It looks
more like the German and Italian Parlophon label of the late 20s than the British.
 
Anyway, feel free to denounce any inaccuracies in the foregoing...you can find listings
for ONY and PNY at http://www.78discography.com/
 
-Harold