Masterpiece Records

[epigramophone]

I bought a few records at a flea market yesterday and one was in this unusual (for the UK) sleeve, but sadly it was not a Masterpiece record.

Apart from an incomplete discography, all I have discovered on the Internet is that the records were manufactured in the USA by Musicraft, yet the manufacturer's name does not appear on the sleeve. Another oddity is that none of the titles listed on the sleeve show who the performing artists were!

Does anyone know why the performers received no credit?

[OrthoSean]

In short, masters were leased (or even pirated) from other companies. This was one of several smaller labels produced by Eli Oberstein, whom you can read about elsewhere. Marian Anderson, Jan Peerce and other well-knowns turn up here, sometimes on great quality shellac, but usually on the usual Musicraft garbage.

This will start you off - Eli was quite a "character"!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eli_Oberstein

Sean

[marcapra]

I have some Masterpiece records, but no sleeves, so thanks for posting this pic of a sleeve! My records give the composer and the title, but no performer information.

Can anyone name the composers on the sleeve from left to right? I think I can:

Bach, Mozart, Schubert, Haydn, Beethoven, Brahms, Wagner, Liszt, Verdi.