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.

I added some information to the Minigroove (general information) page. I’ve copied and pasted the addition here for your convenience.

Correction:
From old news paper articles it can be determined that the first 10 and 12 inch albums were released in 1951. It’s an ongoing search to figure out what was released by Philips in which year. It appears to be quite a mess actually.

Addition:
Recent observations led me to think Philips 07XXX series (for jazz, big band and other more popular genres) were released according to the following scheme:

070XX Most releases before 10/1956
071XX Released from 1956
072XX Released later than 9/1956
073XX Released later than 9/1956
074XX Non-existent?
075XX Released later than 9/1956
076XX Most releases before 10/1956
077XX Most releases before 10/1956
078XX Non-existent?
079XX Non-existent?

This means that the 070XX, 076XX and 077XX ranges were released first, than came 071XX, to be followed by 072XX, 073XX, 075XX.

Sources: My own collection, Discogs and especially the Philips catalog “Amerikanische Serie, hauptcatalog 1956/57”, which lists releases published before Sept. 30, 1956. When going through the pages all I can find are issues from the 070XX, 076XX and 077XX ranges and a few from the 071XX range.

More research is needed though.

This 10inch record features tangos, waltzes and pop songs, including a cover version of Les Paul and Mary Ford’s “Mister Sandman” (written by Pat Ballard). The record gives less to enjoy than the title suggests. The cover art is a bit silly too, though it has some naïve charm at the same time (the name of the artist is not given, but it could be Cornelius van Velsen).

The Continental Juke Box series appears to feature five volumes; the first issues came in the 10inch format (No. 1, 2 and possibly 3), the others in the 12inch format.

See also “Continental Juke Box No. 4” (with a more interesting cover design, made by a David Houthuyse as David·H).

Click on the image above to see all images for this record.

“The Norman Luboff Choir was one of the leading choral groups of the 1950s, 60s and 70s. They came to prominence through their participation in the very successful Christmas broadcasts with Bing Crosby which ran from 1955 to 1962. History was made in 1956 when Luboff and his choir recorded with Harry Belafonte on “Calypso”, the first album to sell one million copies. The choral group toured yearly from 1963 to 1987, and recorded more than 75 albums. The holiday albums Songs of Christmas (1956) and Christmas with the Norman Luboff Choir (1964) were perennial bestsellers for years”. (from Wikipedia)

Philips released many sides by this group, all leased from Columbia Records. The songs on this EP were first released on Columbia LP CL 657 in 1955.

I listened to this EP and I didn’t like it. I’m not such a choral fan and I guess it’s also because it’s a white group; they can sing but it doesn’t swing… But it features a cool picture sleeve.

Click on the image above to see all images for this record.

I reorganized things a little, by removing the ‘oddities’-menu. The items which were listed there are now integrated in the ‘other’-menu, while the Japanese series “Jazz Behind The Dikes”, from 2007, has been omitted from the website entirely.

According to a contributor on Discogs, the Philips Hi-Q equipment was launched in 1955 and this record could be from the same year. I tend to think it’s from 1956, because of the text “All Philips records are hi fidelity records!” on the back cover. The record wasn’t commercially available but was used for various demonstration purposes. I guess it was sent to shop owners and used on hi-fi meetings.

Click on the image above to see all images for this record.

Another record associated with Youth For Christ. Less obvious than on Philips P 13091 R, which I added yesterday, but the YFC logo is shown on the back cover again. Both 10inch records appear to be from a series titled “Jeugd In Actie”, so I’ll have to change that in the main listing. The Moody Chorale, a students choir from the Moody Bible Institute, Chicago, was founded in 1946 and is still active today – so beware!

Click on the image above to see all images for this record.

Another oddity, a promotional record for the Youth For Christ movement. YFC was organized in 1941 in the USA by Billy Graham a.o., to be introduced in the Netherlands in 1946. This 10inch record was recorded in Haarlem, the Netherlands, on October 25, 1958. If you read the lyrics it’s hard to believe these were meant to please the youth back in the days. The back cover states that YFC is no church or sect and no doubt that’s true but you should stay away from it nevertheless (YFC’s still active around the globe).

Click on the image above to see all images for this record.

It’s been some time since I last worked on the website. The thrift stores were closed and the fading chances of finding something worthwhile correlated with my low motivation to add things to the website. There’s still enough to do, but the Corona malaise put it all on the back burner.

The shops were re-opened, I found a few Minigroove releases and felt like picking up on things again. Let’s see if it lasts… 🙂

I added the info for the releases I found and added images for one of them: “Music For The Millions No. 5“, with it’s weird and thus interesting cover…