February 26th – It was on this day in 1955 that, for the
first time since their inclusion in the recording industry, the sales of 45’s
overtook the sales of 78’s. I can sense the shaking of heads as some re-read that
statement saying, “WTF is that old coot talking about now? He’s lost it, he
has, it’s gone…”
For the uninitiated, a 45 was a plastic recording disc that
was seven inches across and was the standard issue for all recorded, modern music formats
from it’s inception in 1949 right through until falling out of favour in the
mid 1990’s. 78’s were ten inches across and reminiscent of a well-flung
Frisbee, made excellent plant-pot holders if you steeped them in boiling water
and were the primary distribution method of recorded music from about 1898/9
through to the mid 1950’s. It was also (the 78) the reason why the ideal pop
song was three minutes long; not because of any artistic merit but because a
ten-inch 78 disc could only hold three minutes of music; even back then
industry held sway, just like now with the start of football and rugby matches
delayed, specific horse races started at specific times or the timing of
specific events in athletics, the corporate dollar takes precedence (more on
this tomorrow methinks). There now, don’t you feel better?
There’s been much said about the feel
of music played on vinyl (do you think it could just be a nostalgia thing?) and
there was a tendency from the 00’s to bring back music recorded on 12-inch
vinyl, particularly for DJ’s and ‘Old School’ turntable masters. I was called
on for three years to do the lighting for the UK Rastafarian DJ Finals (with a
now deceased and much-missed friend, Lester Samuels) in Wolverhampton and I
remember the deep and earnest discussions that ensued between the various
competitors as to who owned what, what they played on what and where they
tapped into supplies of the vinyl they used. These guys and gals...can I say
that today after…you know…after thingy…? Whatever... these guys and gals used
to get huge roars of approval from their fans and the dancers on the floor as
each, recognised, ‘old school’ piece came over the speakers. The whole musical
ensemble was mixed with the current and the obscure on CD, but it was usually
the vinyl that gained the most approval (don't ask me how the punters knew, but
they did) and so the most votes (roars of approval) led onto deciding the most
successful DJ and hence to a winner. Wonderful times – thank you, Les.
Do I think the almost universal use
of the CD will hold such a place in the music-public’s heart, hold as much
appeal when it’s played in ten years time; have as much history attached to it?
In a word; nope. Music back then was a ticket to a magical place, a place of
equals, of change, of…I hate to say it, but a place of hope; in many cases
nowadays it’s just a commodity…or is that just nostalgia talking?
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