[78-L] Did The English Take Better Care Of Their Records?

[Matthew Duncan]

Junking in England reveals that in general - the 50s pop records were played sparingly and turn up in nice shape - the rock n roll ones were played more and are often in poorer shape...also....if a box of 78s is put out for sale in a junk shop or charity shop or similar in England...the rock n roll 78s will go first...and so many people are looking for them compared to other styles of music on the format and also they don't crop up to much (plus the 45rpm equivalents are rarer and often very expensive to get)...

45s of any kind from prior to 1960 (the year of the demise of 78s in England) found when junking are varied in condition but are often in poorer shape than later records but no less poor or more poor than the 78 equivalents....78s still outsold 45s until mid or late 1958 in England so some 45s of 1952 to 57 (especially R&R) are almost impossible to find in any shape...some records even the pop ones (Diana by Paul Anka on Columbia from mid 1957 for example) turns up on 78 extremely frequently but hardly ever on 45...45s didn't truly over take 78 sales until early 1959...it happened very quickly .....I understand 45s were taken to by the USA much earlier (like early to mid 50s) but 78s were still around in 58/59...

Rock n Roll LPs from 1960 or earlier are hardly ever seen when junking...LPs were too pricey for teenagers in the 50s and the ones that were bought by youngsters (e.g. Elvis on HMV) were well played and often only turn up in worn shape with tatty covers...

I mainly collect 50s music on US 45s (if it is US music) and on UK 45s if it is UK music - as far as possible...I still have some skiffle items from the mid 50s that were only issued on 78 and also some 78s where the 45s are very rare...

The searches continue..

Matthew 
UK




________________________________
From: Robert M. Bratcher Jr. <bratcher at pdq.net>
To: 78-L Mail List <78-l at klickitat.78online.com>
Sent: Fri, 4 June, 2010 23:38:20
Subject: Re: [78-L] Did The English Take Better Care Of Their Records?

At 02:39 PM 6/4/2010, you wrote:

>A lot of them were probably imported to North America because the 
>originals were long out of print. I turn up nice HMVs and 
>Parlophones in radio station collection and at jazz conventions. Of 
>course the ones you really want to get are the Australian laminated 
>pressings, which are extraordinary..even of run-of-the-mill 12" 
>Deccas like the Paul Whitemans.
>
>
>
>dl
>

I've noticed that the big band, pop, & rock 78's (of US artists) that 
I buy in English pressings on Ebay  are often in better shape than 
the US pressing of the same records. Either they weren't played as 
much or they were better taken care of by a past owner or owners. 
Where I find both US & English pressings in the same great shape is 
mid to late 50's pop & rock 78's as here in the states the 45's were 
played much more than the 78's (of the same record) were. Often I've 
found a near mint to very good condition 78 rpm of a record where the 
45' is often in poorer shape but still playable until a better one 
comes along. At least thats how I've found many 50's era US issues to 
be. The English 45's might be in better shape but I honestly don't 
know if they are or not as I really don't look for English 45 rpm 
issues of American records although I do own a few from the 60's & 70's.

> > From: malcolm at venerablemusic.com
> > To: 78-l at klickitat.78online.com
> > Date: Fri, 4 Jun 2010 15:34:40 -0400
> > Subject: [78-L] Did The English Take Better Care Of Their Records?
> >
> > I swear, after listing and grading several thousand records, 
> every time I run across English (or other European) issues of 
> various jazz and country records, they are nearly always in 
> pristine shape compared to their American counterparts. Most every 
> Parlophone or HMV I come across is in E to E+ condition! In fact, 
> I'm trying to remember ever having an English issue record in less 
> than VG shape? I'm not always sure how the English issues got back 
> here to the States (other than the obvious years of trading), but 
> surely they would have been enjoyed just same on the other side of pond?
> > Is it just that Europeans understood the importance of a fresh 
> needle? What gives?
> >
> > Malcolm

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