Inconsiderate Record Companies

Subject: Inconsiderate Record Companies
From: John Hindsill
Date: 09 Apr 01 - 12:00 AM

Having been away for sevaral days I missed taking part in the discussions regarding the Kingston Trio and the Gateway Singers.

With respect to the chronology of the Gateways, it is the fault of the record companies that makes dating difficult. Many, (Elektra, Capitol, Decca come to mind) did not date the recordings on the jacket or the disc (except perhaps in a code), thus we must rely on our memories, or some clue in the liner notes, or in the patter of the recording (i.e. reference to an event) to narrow the chronolgy. Think of it as discography archaeolgy.

Thankfully, in the CD re-releases, the packager has access to original production and release information, and often includes it...but I'm not aware of Gateway CDs.

As to the Kingstons, they deserve a place in the pantheon, if only because so many of us developed our awareness of folk music from their work.---John

Subject: RE: Inconsiderate Record Companies
From: ray bucknell
Date: 09 Apr 01 - 10:28 AM

Discography archaeology, I like that term. Does anyone know WHY the record companies didn't put dates on the records or jackets during the Fifties and into the Sixties? I can't think of a good reason, but obviously somebody did at the time. I'd appreciate being enlightened on this subject. Ray

Subject: RE: Inconsiderate Record Companies
From: paddymac
Date: 09 Apr 01 - 12:07 PM

My guess (sheer speculation) as to not dating records is that they likely hit different markets in different time windows, and a dated product would identify it as an "old" release in a market crying out for "new" stuff. I imagine that most records were pressed in small batches, at least initially, to avoid the cost of over-production. The market place might not have been considered as too receptive of later pressings. Of course, "collectors" today would likely pay more for a record with an authenicated production or release date, but that probably wasn't a concern then.