Scans of another Mozart LP have been added: A 00166 L. And also added: front cover scans for all remaining issues in Classical Favourites, etc. (7 inch). Only a few had been added before, it has now been completed. Navigation buttons will be added soon.
Added are images for two Mozart LP’s, both from the Mozart Jubilee Edition. Click on the images below to see all images (larger).
Because of Mozart’s 200th birthday in 1956 (January 27), Philips decided to release a series of Mozart recordings in the preceding years. The series continued in and maybe even after 1956. If so, only just a couple of albums were released in 1957. Most were compiled and edited under the supervision of Mozart connaisseur and conductor Bernhard Paumgartner.
On several of the LP’s in this series it says that Philips started the Mozart Jubilee Edition in 1951. 1951 is quite early, but it’s possible that Philips launched the initiative back then. However, releases that actually mention the Mozart Jubilee Edition, seem non-existent before 1954 (except for stickers that were likely used later for left-over copies).
The following issues are mentioned (in the same order) in the “Mozart Jubileum Editie“, a booklet from early 1956 (I added the years and comments):
S 06100 R – 1956; 10inch in linen box with booklet mentioning January 1956, showing the Mozart Jubilee logo
S 05904 R – 1955; 10inch album without the Mozart Jubilee logo
S 06027 R – 1955; 10 inch album, cover shows the Mozart Jubilee logo
A 00614 R
A 00112 R*
A 00724 R
N 00656 R – 1953/54; 10 inch album, cover shows the Mozart Jubilee logo
A 00232 L
S 06031 R – 1955; 10 inch album, cover shows the Mozart Jubilee logo
A 00211 L
A 00676 R*
A 00696 R*
400 005 AE*
A 00283 L*
A 00239 L – 1955; LP, cover shows the Mozart Jubilee logo
A 00753 R – 1955; 10 inch issue, cover shows the Mozart Jubilee logo
A 00752 R – 1956?; 10 inch issue, cover shows the Mozart Jubilee logo
A 00698 R – 1954; 10 inch issue, cover shows the Mozart Jubilee logo
A 00166 L – 1954 probably, LP cover shows the Mozart Jubilee logo
A 00199 L – 1954; this LP won a prize in 1955, LP cover shows the Mozart Jubilee logo
A 00258 L – 1955; LP cover shows the Mozart Jubilee Edition logo
A 00167 L
A 00657 R
A 00740 R
A 00197 L
A 00121 L – 1954; most likely issued late 1954; LP cover shows the Mozart Jubilee logo
A 00260 L
400 003 AE
A 00280-82 L*
A 01125 L
A 00111 R
A 01600 R – 1953; this album does not show the Mozart Jubilee logo, but there are copies with the logo on a sticker
A 01142 L*
400 004 AE – 1955; this 7 inch EP does not show the Mozart Jubilee logo
This listing is incomplete, as the series continued after the release of the booklet – see the following unmentioned issues (most were issued in 1956):
Unmentioned:
A 00184 L* – A 1954 album, showing the Mozart Jubilee logo – should have been listed in the booklet!?
A 00207 L
A 00259 L
A 00274 L
A 00290 L
A 00305 L* – A 1956 album, showing the Mozart Jubilee logo
A 00306 L*
A 00307 L*
A 00313 L
A 00315 L
A 00318 L* – A 1956 album, showing the Mozart Jubilee logo
A 00319 L*
A 00338 L
A 00339 L – A 1956 album, showing the Mozart Jubilee logo
A 00340 L – Probably a 1957 album, showing the Mozart Jubilee logo
A 00343 L
A 00357-9 L
A 00367 L
A 00375 L
A 00392 L*
A 00398 L
A 00417-19 L
A 00691 R
A 00758 R*
A 00771 R
A 00758 R – 1956 release showing the Mozart Jubilee logo, probably issued Feb. 1956
A 00778 R
A 00779 R – 1956-57; this album shows the Mozart Jubilee logo
A 00781 R
A 00997 R
S 06158 R
The record sleeve that comes with the 1956 box “Mozart Miniatuur” (S 06100 R), predicts the series will include 60 albums in 1956. 63 albums are currently listed above.
Some releases do not bear the Mozart Jubilee logo, though in some cases stickers were used to drag these issues into the series, probably pasted on left-over covers at a later moment.
Note that in the US the Mozart Jubilee Edition was issued on Epic (a Columbia subsidiary label).
Numbers marked with a asterisk are in my collection, but the albums still need to be scanned.
This EP was on the website already, with images of the pressing meant for the Dutch market. Added is the pressing meant for the German market.
Images have been added for LP A 00162 L, featuring the Residency-Orchestra, led by Willem van Otterloo, with Cor de Groot on piano. This LP was first released in 1953 (see this review from the Algemeen Handelsblad, May 16, 1953). Shown is a reissue from 1954-55 probably. It doesn’t have the thin cardboard sleeve with folded flaps but a more sophisticated one with laminated front cover. There’s no mention of “All Philips Records are High Fidelity Records” on the back cover (introduced in 1956 probably).
Images have been added for LP A 02043 L. This album was released in 1960, the same year Clara Haskil died. See the album for more details.
Due to copyright rules, I didn’t pay attention to before, I removed all images of newspaper articles and replaced them by links to the correct pages on Delpher.com.
Just added: images of Philips LP A 00102 L from 1951/52
A second early and classical Philips LP as part of today’s additions: A 00132 L. This 1952 album features Herman Krebbers on Beethoven’s “Konzert Für Violine Und Orchester – D-Dur Op. 61”. An album made in the Netherlands but meant for the German market.
This album was first released in 1952, with a different (standard) cover, see below (note that the speed designation is unboxed). It was reviewed in “Het Parool” on April 12, 1952, see this link. Among its many re-releases there’s also one in Philips’ “SL series” (S 04000 L), with a different cover again (1956).
Added today are images for Philips 12inch LP A 01100 L. Side 1 features “La Mer”, performed by the Philharmonic-Symphony Orchestra (cond.: Dimitri Mitropoulos), side 2 features “Iberia”, performed by the Philadelphia Orchestra (cond.: Eugene Ormandy).
This album was released in 1953. A May 1953 review from the Algemeen Dagblad (Dutch newspaper) can be seen here.
There are many online sources for back issues of newspapers, magazines, etc. and when these sources use a search option, interesting facts about whatever subject can be found in these archives. I used the Delpher website which appeared to be very helpful in finding details about the early years of the Philips (Minigroove) label. This post links to several articles I found and I added notes to them (the articles are in Dutch, but my notes will explain the more essential details for international readers).
Surprisingly, all articles I found, dealing with Philips’ new approach of the record industry, are from September – November 1951. Apparently this was the time that Philips brought their new plans to the attention of the media, which concurred with the introduction of the 7inch 78rpm record, a novelty to the record world.
Link 1: De Tijd – September 22, 1951
Some interesting facts here. The article tells us that Philips will start their new laboratory in September 1951. A new factory being ready in early 1952. It mentions a list of records being produced already, which means that the new records were being made even before the laboratory and factory were (officially) started. The article mentions the upcoming new 7inch 78rpm singles and albums in the 12inch format (not new in the market, but new for Philips). All records will be made with the “long play technique”, known as “Minigroove”.
Link 2: Het Parool – September 22, 1951This article has more or less the same contents as the previous one. It also tells us that the new records will eventually be made by the new factory in Baarn, and until then the factory in Doetinchem will remain active. Apparently Philips introduced their new 7inch 78rpm record in attendance of government officials, business people and artists, looking back on passed achievements and paying attention to their future plans and goals.
Link 3: Algemeen Dagblad – September 22, 1951
Another article from the same day in 1951, showing the same information again, but now with the mention of upcoming long play records with durations of 15 and 22 minutes (the 10inch and 12inch albums respectively).
Link 4: Leeuwarder Courant – September 22, 1951
This article, again from September 22, announces that ‘next week’ the Dutch public will be introduced to the “Philipsgramofoonplaat’, meaning the 7inch and album formats. This is a concrete indication for the first releases on Philips Minigroove.
Link 5: De Waarheid – October 10, 1951
“De Waarheid” compares the new records (the long play records) with the old 78rpm records and concludes that the sound quality of the old 78rpm records surpasses the quality of the long play records. What makes this article especially interesting is the mention of an Philips LP: The Fourth Symphony of Tsjaikowsky, by the Residency Orchestra, led by Willem van Otterloo. This is Philips LP A 00110 L.
Link 6: Het Vaderland – November 2, 1951
Philips LP A 00110 L (see previous article) is said to be the first Philips long play record in this article. This appears to be correct though it’s a bit odd as there are several albums with earlier numbers.
Link 7: Nieuwe Courant – November 14, 1951
This article mentions a concert where long play records (with a duration of 45 minutes and to be played at 33 1/3 rpm) will be available. Assuming these were Philips Minigroove albums, there were several titles available on Nov. 14.
Link 8: De Tijd – November 20, 1951
This article mentions the production of 10 and 12inch albums, apart from the 7inch 78rpm record. LP 00100 (12inch LP) is mentioned again, and now a specific 10inch album is mentioned as well: Mozart’s Haffner Symphony by the Berliner Philharmonic Orchestra, led by Lehmann. This is Philips A 00111 R.
