One Million CDs Sold

Rmoore · Post by **Rmoore** » Fri Oct 12, 2007 10:01 am

Yes it was 16. These were very rare and normally spoken word as the quality wasn't good enough for music! I have seen nearly every different format that existed at some point but have never ever come across a 16 rpm record!

78 Rpm records were made in the UK until about 1962 (although by this time not very many new releases were made this way) Back in those days Stereo singles were a rarity although Stereo EP's did get released as early as 1957/8. I have never come across a Stereo 78 disc and it's unlikely there ever was one. Although in recent times a few new 78 rpm discs were made. During EMI's 100th anniversary year a limited edition 78 was issued with a 1920's recording of Pomp & C.i.r.c.umstance by Edward Elgar (with him conducting) on one side and Robbie Williams singing Millennium on the other! I guess that side was in stereo!

Richard

PS C.i.r.c.umstance spelt this way as forum thinks this is a rude word!!

john · Post by **john** » Fri Oct 12, 2007 4:33 pm

Yes, my parents used to have an old gramaphone years ago and I remember seeing 16 on it along with 78, 45 and 33, but I have never seen a 16 record either.

Marian · Post by **Marian** » Fri Oct 12, 2007 6:09 pm

For anyone that's really interested, there's a whole lot of information if you look up "Gramophone Record" on Wikipedia, with a whole section on the various speeds.
It does say that turntables which included 16 speed, were still available until the late 70s, which surprised me.

As Richard mentioned, it says that 16 recordings were mainly produced for the visually impaired, or for radio transcription discs, and were never widely commercially available.
Marian

paul jh · Post by **paul jh** » Fri Oct 12, 2007 6:18 pm

The article probably doesn't mention the 48 speed.

Around 1969 - 1970, some US Top 40 stations played the songs at 48 rpm, so they could play more records per hour. It was very frustrating to hear the songs at a slightly higher pitch and quicker speed.

Gray · Post by **Gray** » Mon Oct 15, 2007 6:52 am

Thanks everyone for all this information, I would love to know if the Robbie Williams 78 record is the only one ever produced in stereo!

Paul, I would love to hear Lulu's 'Shout' played at 48rpm

Gray

mariana44 · Post by **mariana44** » Mon Oct 15, 2007 8:18 am

Gray-the only way I like to hear "Lulu's" shout is at 0 rpm

Rmoore · Post by **Rmoore** » Mon Oct 15, 2007 2:14 pm

Yes but if you're forced to hear it at least at 48rpm it's over and done with quicker!

Richard

mariana44 · Post by **mariana44** » Mon Oct 15, 2007 2:33 pm

Well Richard--you could be right--but I was assuming that if it was played at 0 rpm---the disc would never go round--and nothing would be heard!

Gray · Post by **Gray** » Mon Oct 15, 2007 6:29 pm

Yes, Marian & Richard, I do know what you mean

I wonder what Paul Robeson would sound like at 48rpm?

Gray

Marian · Post by **Marian** » Mon Oct 15, 2007 6:41 pm

Like Paula or Pauline Robeson???

Marian

Gray · Post by **Gray** » Tue Oct 16, 2007 9:21 pm

Anyway, all you lucky people with extensive collections of Matt on vinyl, I hope you treasure them, there is nothing like the sound of a stylus touching vinyl followed by Matts voice.

(I hope I haven't offended anyone who loves the compact disc! It's just a nostalgia thing with me!

)

Gray

Marian · Post by **Marian** » Tue Oct 16, 2007 9:33 pm

I've really built up my Matt vinyl collection over the past year and really love it. There is nothing quite like a mint copy in vinyl.
Marian

jon · Post by **jon** » Wed Oct 17, 2007 8:43 am

Though my parents had vinyl at home in yesteryear I never personally owned any as I am of the tapes and Walkmans generation. I've still got a lot of old cassette recordings but they deteriorate over time and become muffled, so I don't really listen to them. Funny thing is, on the train the other day I saw someone listening on his earphones to a cassette tape of the Seekers, which was perched on his lap.

Lena & Harry Smith · Post by **Lena & Harry Smith** » Thu Oct 18, 2007 12:34 am

Well, we have Two wind up gramophones and now and again they come out at gatherings here,

We have reel to reel tapes. We have cassettes. Miles of Vinyl.
It's a family thing.

My Brother in Law is researcher for the City Of London Phonograph And Gramophone Society.
He has published books and discographies on labels, he gives lectures at their regular meetings, and shows slides of conservation of historical recordings.
He has a phonograph and he plays us the cylinders.

The Society was originally The London Edison Society
We did manage to drag him out for my Birthday lunch yesterday although it was their meeting last night.

Gray · Post by **Gray** » Thu Oct 18, 2007 7:16 pm

Oh Wow, Lena, that's fantastic!
Please expand a little on what he does...is it the actual medium that fascinates him i.e. vinyl, tape etc or is it the recordings?

Does he look for recordings by a particular artist?
Or it the first pressing of a song?
For example Cliff Richard: Move It.
What would make that recortding special to him - Cliff Richard or getting hold of the first 50 pressings?

Am I even on the right track?!

Gray