A Question For Our U.K. Friends

[ChesterCheetah18]

Possibly a long shot but I'm trying to find the recording date, or the release date of this record. Notice this is not the studio recording of the song, but was taken from a radio broadcast. Any info would be highly appreciated.

Steve

[physicist]

According to this database:-

https://mail.45worlds.com/78rpm/record/fb2449

the date was 1940.

[emgcr]

Yes, my data base also confirms 1940.

[Inigo]

it would be interesting to investigate if Peter Copeland articles in Historic Record have these Columbia/EMI matrixes listed. I have extracts at home that Peter sent to me many years ago in txt form. I'm now at work... I will check them this evening at home
The 0GF matrix code could mean 10" Gracie Fields, and if it is no.55, it means that there are other 54 previous recordings by Gracie?

[ChesterCheetah18]

Thank you to all who replied. I had suspected that the record was made after the 1931 merger, but I must admit 1940 was a little later than I expected. I would love to know the date of the radio broadcast and where it originated from. If anyone knows, I would be very grateful.
I'm asking because I'm trying to unravel what to me is a mystery regarding this record I bought recently on eBay. Something about it doesn't seem to add up. The master almost certainly originated in the U.K. yet to my knowledge the RCA "spiderweb" backplate was not used outside of the U.S. This would seem to indicate it was pressed in the U.S. but as far as I can tell few, if any, Gracie Fields records were issued there, at least before The War. It also doesn't have the typical test pressing or special pressing labels. The mystery to me is why this record was pressed. What are your thoughts on it? Thanks.

Steve

[Inigo]

it could be helpful to see the runout area where the matrix numbers are engraved, both in the Columbia record and in the RCA Victor pressing... sometimes these engravings give a clue...

[ChesterCheetah18]

it could be helpful to see the runout area where the matrix numbers are engraved, both in the Columbia record and in the RCA Victor pressing... sometimes these engravings give a clue...

Here you are. There is also the take number (1) in the usual 9 o'clock position. Unfortunately, I don't own a copy of the Columbia issue.

Steve

[Governor Flyball]

The single faced records you have appear to be test pressings. But according to the DAHR, it looks like it was never issued in the US. It may have been in Canada however.

Note issues up to OGF29 and a Canadian Victor 120,000 series disc is listed as issued.
Yours is OGF55 which fits at around 1940.

https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/index.php/ ... lds_Gracie

[physicist]

There is an earlier issue of Stop And Shop At The Co-Op Shop by Gracie Fields on HMV B 3305 dated 1930

[ChesterCheetah18]

There is an earlier issue of Stop And Shop At The Co-Op Shop by Gracie Fields on HMV B 3305 dated 1930

That would be the original studio recording.

Steve