[78-L] "A" vs "B" sides

[Michael Shoshani]

I file my records by label, then catalogue number/series (the latter is
germane to, say, HMV records where I file B.- records before B.D.-, and
those before export series like J.O. and M.H., and then historic archive
records V.A. and so on.). On records that have a clearly marked A- and B-
side, I follow those. On records that don't, I generally list the
lower/earlier matrix first; the exception is with certain HMV and
Parlophone records that are part of swing or jazz music series. In those
cases, the label assigns numbers within the series (say, Swing Music Series
1946, No. 45). In such instances, I make the lower number the "A" side for
filing purposes.

I use an Excel spreadsheet for all my data, and then have that mail-merged
with a Word document that prints out large adhesive labels with the label,
catalogue, matrix, title, artist, series, and whatever sundry notes I might
have made regarding recording date/location, take, etc., that get affixed
to the Bags, Unlimited sleeves in which each record is stored.

It works for me, but I only have some 200 10" records, and probably 2-3
dozen 12" records. For really large collections, that may not work as
efficiently.

Michael Shoshani
Chicago


On Fri, Jun 28, 2019 at 8:50 AM Cary Ginell <soundthink at live.com.invalid>
wrote:

>
> I file my records accordingly, in descending order of importance:
>
> 1) Genre
> 2) Artist
> 3) Label
> 4) Record No.
> 5) Label design variations
>
> To explain - with #4, this means that records are not necessarily
> chronological within each artist and label category. Decca’s post-war 46000
> series comes earlier than the pop series but I maintain numerical accuracy.
> #5 would include filing DJ copies before commercial copies if I had
> examples of both, since DJ issues were released first. Similar to this are
> label designs - a scroll Victor would precede a “circle” design if I had
> both issues. Thus, only in #5 would strict chronology take precedence.
>
> A & B sides are filed according to what can be determined as the “A” side.
> If none is displayed, I go with the earlier recording. In some cases, such
> as with more prominent artists in my archive, I will make exceptions to
> that. Thus, since I’m a Carson Robison collector, there are many discs that
> have other artists on the opposite side. If it’s an obscure artist with
> only one release, I might still file it under Robison, even if the opposing
> side was recorded earlier, only because I would be more likely to be
> looking for the Robison side than the other side. It’s all up to you.
>
> Cary
>
> > On Jun 27, 2019, at 10:37 PM, Rodger J. Holtin
> <rjh334578 at gmail.com.invalid> wrote:
> >
> >
> > Since the A and B are often just as arbitrary as those not having an A
> and B (or R and L) I always list the lower number first. At least it’s
> consistent, even if it seems to be counterintuitive, like those instances
> where a big name or hit tune becomes the second side and the first side is
> a dud by an unknown artist.
> >
> > As for filing I always use the original issue number. They become self
> indexing and more or less chronological. There are exceptions where I’ve
> slipped some grouped things into an album for quick access, but in the main
> they’re numerical by series and label. Even the ones in albums are by
> number just like they came that way. Sometimes they did!
> >
> > I’ve taught my wife and kids how to find stuff using Rust et al and some
> albums were assembled so they could find favorites quickly. The grandees
> are learning to find the stuff via the spreadsheets however. Perhaps partly
> because they helped build the spreadsheets!
> >
> >
> > Sent from my iPhone
> >
> >> On Jun 27, 2019, at 4:57 PM, Lloyd Davies <all_my_linx at yahoo.ca.invalid>
> wrote:
> >>
> >>
> >> Folks,    I'm hoping for a simple answer to my conundrum.  When
> cataloguing my records, I find often that there is no clear "A" or "B"
> side, so I don't know which song to list first in my entry.
> >>    I tend to list first whichever side has the earlier matrix number,
> but this doesn't work when the sides were recorded in different studios in
> different cities and have different numbering systems.
> >>    Any advice?
> >>    - Lloyd in Calgary
> >>
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