Columbia Records - A Brief History

Columbia Records has been in the music business for over a century. Their catalog spans genres from Viva-Tonal to Licensed recordings. Throughout the years, they have released hundreds of thousands of albums and singles, and have produced some of the most recognizable music ever.

Viva-Tonal era

In the late 1920s, Columbia Records' catalog series began to include double-grooved records with a blue background. This label, dubbed "Flag," must have been extremely expensive to produce. It was soon replaced by a gold-on-blue label. The flag label had a limited shelf-life, so Columbia soon discontinued it.

The company's success was built on its A&R department and bandleader Mitch Miller, who hosted a TV show called "Sing Along With Mitch". The show featured chorus-style performances of popular standards. The show was so successful that Columbia issued more than 20 million "Singalong" albums. By the time it was cancelled, the show had earned over three million viewers, a huge audience share.

Columbia Records' next step was the development of long-playing "microgroove" records. These records rotated at 33 1/3 revolutions per minute, setting the standard for gramophone records for forty years. CBS research director Peter Goldmark played a managerial role in the project. And engineer William Savory's technical expertise helped produce the new format.

The company was still relatively unknown in Canada. Many records were imported from the United States, but were labeled with Canadian prices. The Canadian label has a slightly altered license statement, which suggests the Canadian pressing was made in Canada. These records were cheap enough to sell at 50 cents. George Formby, Yvonne Grey, and the Count Basie Orchestra also recorded for Columbia during this time.

Greatest Hits compilations

One of the best ways to learn about a band is to listen to their best-selling greatest hits compilations. Most of these albums have been produced by Columbia Records and feature a variety of different artists. Among the many artists featured on these compilations are AC/DC, Aerosmith, Nas, Julie Andrews, Blind Willie Johnson, Leonard Bernstein, and more. In addition, you can find recordings by Earth, Wind & Fire, Bob Dylan, and Blue Oyster Cult.

In 1958, Columbia Records started issuing "Greatest Hits" compilations featuring artists from different genres. For example, "Swing Time" by Jimmy Smith featured music from the blues and jazz genres. Despite this, the compilations tended to chart at only a 25th position on the Billboard charts. Many artists were also on the decline during this period, and so it was common for a record label to release a compilation of their best albums during the downturn of their careers.

The company began using the 45-rpm format in the 1950s. At this time, the 45-rpm format was still an uncommon format for pop albums. However, the format's new speed paved the way for the introduction of long-playing records. This new format gave Columbia a defining advantage over RCA Victor, which had previously relied on the more classical 78-rpm format.

Columbia Records also ran recording studios. The first one was located in the Woolworth Building in Manhattan, which was one of the tallest buildings in the world at the time. It was here that the label began making its first jazz records.

Licensed recordings

Columbia Records began pressing disc records in late 1901 but did not establish its first Canadian operation until 1904, by which time it had already established operations in London, New York, and other European cities. The company's initial address was 107 Yonge Street in Toronto. The Toronto operation was a distributor for American Columbia Records and pressed records with imported stampers. Tariff considerations probably led to the importation of these stampers.

Records were issued in a variety of formats, with different catalog numbers. The 18000-D series was one example. Columbia also issued a series of double-grooved "Longer Playing Records" on the Harmony, Clarion, and Velvet Tone labels. These labels were later discontinued. The labels for classical and Broadway records remain on the Columbia masterworks series. The label for a recording is usually red or blue, depending on its content.

Columbia Records licensed recordings by many of the most famous musicians and performers. Its catalogue includes recordings by AC/DC, Aerosmith, Bessie Smith, John Lennon, and Louis Armstrong. The company also has a thriving line of blues and jazz artists. By 1926, it had established a stable of jazz artists, including Paul Whiteman.

While Columbia began specializing in recording Broadway musicals, it also began releasing soundtrack albums for popular films. The company's master book, The Columbia Master Book Discography, published by Greenwood Press in 1999, included all of Columbia Records' recorded recordings from 1900 until 1934.

John Carter Cash

In the early '80s, Johnny Cash recorded an album for Columbia Records. The album, Out Among the Stars, was not released for several years. But the recording, completed post-addiction, would prove to be an important step in Cash's comeback. It would be a huge step in the direction of country music, which was undergoing a change in the era.

John Carter Cash is an accomplished American musician, record producer, and author. His father was a legendary country musician, and he often worked with his famous mother, June Carter Cash. Recently, Cash discovered some unreleased music from his parents, which he will be releasing on his Columbia Records Legacy imprint. This album, produced by Billy Sherrill, was recorded in 1981 and 1984.

The album's title suggests that it is a tribute to his father, but there is a certain amount of bleakness in Cash's songs. Indeed, some critics have criticized Cash's American albums for being too dark, but this isn't without precedent.

This album also features classic songs such as Wayfaring Stranger and Mary of the Wild Moors. Mary of the Wild Moors is a 19th century British song about a woman betrayed while pregnant. The acoustic sound of Wayfaring Stranger fits in well with Cash's style.

Terry Melcher's "Don't Make My Baby Blue"

The music of Terry Melcher's "Don't' Make My Baby Blue" is reminiscent of a bygone era. In the 1960s, Melcher recorded several songs for his mother's label. Melcher was the son of legendary singer Doris Day. He was also a producer for the Byrds and Paul Revere and the Raiders. In 1964, he collaborated with Bruce Johnston to make the hit "Hey, Little Cobra." The two also appeared on the Beach Boys' seminal album "Pet Sounds." During the 1970s, Melcher produced several singles for Terry Day, including the Beach Boy's hit "Kokomo." Melcher died in 1989 from skin cancer.

The music of Terry Melcher is also reminiscent of the early days of California pop. His mother, Doris Day, wrote the easy-listening song "Move Over Darling," while he was a songwriter for the same song. Melcher was also involved with many other musicians, including Bruce Johnston, the Wilson Brothers, Steve Barri, Roger Christian, Gary Usher, and others. Terry Melcher was born on February 8, 1942 in New York City. His first name was taken from a popular comic strip, "Terry and the Pirates."

In addition to Frankie Laine, the song "Don't Make My Baby Blue" was also recorded by Blaine. Melcher wanted to use drums that made a statement, and the producer wanted to use an instrument that would make an impact on the listener. Blaine had already worked with Patti Page and had already used Gretsch timbales, which are known for their high projection and loudness. The timbales were tuned down from traditional latin tuning, and Blaine mounted one as a rack tom and one as a floor tom. As a result, the drum kit had a powerful sound and was a great choice for the recording.

Columbia Records - Recording Music by Famous Artists

Columbia Records has a long history of recording music by famous musicians. The company has released albums by AC/DC, Aerosmith, Julie Andrews, Louis Armstrong, Leonard Bernstein, and many other great artists. They've also issued records by Cheap Trick, David Bowie, and Earth, Wind & Fire.

The Viva-Tonal era is a period of music when records were played at 45 rpm. The company had two labels: the American Columbia Records Company and the British Columbia Graphophone Company. Each of these labels released a wide variety of music, with a focus on jazz and popular music.

In the early 1950s, Columbia began issuing stereo albums. The first dozen of these were mono versions of previous albums. By the end of the decade, the company stopped issuing mono versions of albums otherwise released in stereo. The company also celebrated the 10th anniversary of the LP and launched a new series called "Adventures in Sound," which showcased music from around the world.

During this period, Columbia Records began to expand its presence in the West Coast music market. It opened a state-of-the-art recording studio in San Francisco (later Automatt). The label also hired George Daly, a producer at Monument Records and former bandmate of Nils Lofgren. The studio remained open until 1978.

During the Viva-Tonal era, Columbia began to produce double-sided discs. These 10-inch discs cost 65 cents each, and were released under the Columbia name. The company also introduced a new sound reproduction device, called a "Grafonola," to compete with the Victor Talking Machine Company. The company used a logo known as the "Magic Notes" (a pair of sixteenth notes in a circle). Columbia also began issuing celluloid cylinder records.

Classical artists also played a large role in early Columbia recordings. In 1949, the company partnered with the Columbia Symphony Orchestra, which was made up of leading musicians in New York. The first recording of the orchestra was made by Sir Thomas Beecham and the Columbia Symphony Orchestra. In 1956, the Columbia label began stereo recording, although stereo LPs were not manufactured until 1958. The same year, Columbia released the first pop stereo albums.

Quadraphonic recording

A Quadraphonic recording is a recording format that has four channels of sound. These recordings are most effective when played on a high-quality stereo system. They were first created in the 1970s and became popular during that time period. However, they were not as effective as the five-speaker surround sound that is common in DVD theater systems today. For this reason, you need a special stereo system to listen to Quadraphonic recordings. They were available in several formats including cassette tape, vinyl, 8-track tape, reel-to-reel and CD-4.

Although the Quadraphonic format was not used by all recording companies, many popular recordings were released in this format. Artists such as the Electric Light Orchestra, Billy Joel, and Pink Floyd made use of this format. Others included Barbra Streisand and Johnny Cash. In addition to these artists, many classical artists used quadraphonic recordings.

Classical music was one of the earliest categories of recorded music on Columbia. Early recordings featured the Columbia Symphony Orchestra, composed of leading New York musicians, including Sir Thomas Beecham. The first Columbia album featured the orchestra, with recordings of the Philadelphia Orchestra and the New York Philharmonic Orchestra. In September 1958, Columbia began releasing both stereo and mono versions of recordings. However, the production of mono recordings ceased altogether in 1968.

Columbia Records began releasing albums outside North America in 1961. In addition, the label was renamed CBS Records in 1962. The company continued to release Columbia recordings on the international market and promoted them in Britain until 1964.

Royal Blue labels

One of the oldest record labels in the world, Columbia Records has recorded artists ranging from Louis Armstrong to Leonard Bernstein. The label's roster also features such artists as Bob Dylan and Pink Floyd, and has a diverse list of other notable artists as well. Some of the more popular artists that have released albums on Columbia's label include David Bowie, Aerosmith, and the Rolling Stones.

In late 1932, Columbia Records introduced the Royal Blue labels for its records. These records were made with a brilliant blue laminated record and a matching label. These issues are extremely rare and are sought after by collectors. During the early part of the century, the company was having difficulty remaining in business, owing in large part to the increasing popularity of radio stations.

Columbia Records used this style of label until the mid-1930s, when the company switched to all-blue labels. The differences were primarily in the placement of the Viva-Tonal statement and in the colors. These were the only differences, and both types of labels had a similar design.

Columbia Records was also an early innovator of the 45 rpm format. They made recordings of songs by New York Metropolitan Opera singers. The goal was to maintain a certain standard of excellence, and this meant that they had access to some of the greatest singers of the day. They also experimented with quadraphonic sound, but failed to establish a standard because of the differences between recording studios and encoding methods.

The company began producing disc records in 1888 and became one of the most popular labels in the United States during the 1920s and 1930s. In 1925, they introduced the "Viva-tonal" electrical recording process, which made their recordings some of the best sounding records of the day. In 1926, they acquired Okeh Records. In the 1930s, the label experienced a period of financial difficulty and introduced the "Royal Blue" labels. These records were pressed on blue shellac to produce an exquisite sound.

Bob Dylan

Bob Dylan has won numerous awards for his music, including the Nobel Prize for Literature. His songs have been called timeless and have a message that can be hard to ignore. "Blue Train" is one of Dylan's best acoustic recordings. Whether you listen to the lyrics in a lyric-free mode or try to understand them, this album is sure to make you feel something.

Bob Dylan received the Prince of Asturias Prize for the Arts in 2007. He was named "the living myth of popular music and a light for a generation that dreamed of changing the world." In 2009, Dylan received a special citation from the Pulitzer Prize Board for his contribution to American and British culture. He was still touring as he reached his 70s and turned his focus to the Great American Songbook, including Frank Sinatra standards.

The era of Bob Dylan's recordings was a crucial time in the artist's career. In the early 1960s, the artist was making his first albums, and he was already working on a breakthrough song. During a performance at Gerde's Folk City in New York's Greenwich Village on April 19, 1962, Dylan was able to play a song he had just finished.

The new album, "Times They Are A-Changing," was the first to feature the "Anthem" song "Amazing Grace." Dylan subsequently teamed up with a new backing band, consisting of Al Kooper on keyboards, Harvey Brooks on bass, and Robbie Robertson and Levon Helm of The Hawks. The audience was booed throughout the entire show, but Dylan and his band managed to keep the audience enraptured, and "Like a Rolling Stone" hit number two in the United States that week.

Bob Dylan's 39th album, "Rough and Rowdy Ways", is a brilliant recording project. The album's first album of new material since 2021, it is packed with powerful yet playful songs. His lyrics are rife with sardonic wit. It's a record that the world desperately needs right now.

Duke Ellington

The first twelve-inch long-playing record, "Mood Indigo," by Duke Ellington, was a stunning artistic accomplishment. Though phonographs were still new, the recording process had become more advanced and Ellington was able to capture a wider range of sounds and arrangements than ever before.

This new edition of Duke Ellington's Columbia Records catalogue includes all the band's studio recordings from the early '30s to the late '30s. It features the music of the legendary saxophonist and conductor, as well as all surviving masters and alternate takes. In addition to Ellington, the disc contains numerous performances by virtuosos in the matchless Columbia orchestra.

Ellington's discography contains recordings by his sidemen. It also includes many collaborations with other musicians and soloists. He was a master of ceremonies at the Monterey Jazz Festival, and he announced his first number, "Newport Suite." His career spanned more than two decades and was ultimately the first American jazz pianist to win the Pulitzer Prize for composition.

Despite his busy schedule, Duke Ellington never stopped trying new ideas. He would never give up on his dream, no matter how unlikely it was to come true. He continued touring with his band and supplemented his road revenues with songwriting royalties. But as the swing era waned, his band lost its place at the top of the business. Nonetheless, he continued to attempt new compositions and longer pieces.

Ellington began recording masters in the 1940s, when recording equipment and technology developed. He recorded the masters in the Columbia 30th Street Studio, which was converted from the Adams-Parkhurst Memorial Presbyterian Church. The studio was equipped with an Ampex 200 sound recorder and 3M-111 magnetic tape. The studio also featured a large control room measuring 8x14 feet.

Columbia Records Group on eBay - Seriously We Have Everything

If you love classic rock, you've probably heard of Columbia Records. The company's catalog includes AC/DC, Aerosmith, Julie Andrews, Louis Armstrong, Leonard Bernstein, Blue Oyster Cult, David Bowie, Cheap Trick, and Earth, Wind & Fire. And you may know someone who's got a record from the label. The company has produced some of the greatest recordings in the history of music, including "Purple Rain", "Rama", "Silverside", and "Suspended Souls."

Jason Isbell album wins on ebay

A rare copy of the critically acclaimed album, released in 1968, has fetched over $17,000 on eBay. It was released by a group called Street Fighting Man, and its cover features a photo of police officers standing over an injured protester. The album was released shortly after a riot at the Democratic National Convention. The album's cover was controversial, and the record label ordered its destruction. While many copies were destroyed, 18 were saved. One of them sold for $17,000 on eBay in 2011.

Elvis Presley pressing

A Columbia Records Group Elvis Presley pressing is a must-have item for any Elvis Presley collector. Presley was one of the most dynamic artists of the 1950s and was the top country artist of all time. He first entered the music business at age 14, when he was signed to Sun Records by businessman Sam Phillips. The deal was signed at a price of $35,000 to Sam Phillips, as well as a bonus of $5,000 for Presley to cover back royalties owed to him.

At this time, Sam Phillips was on the brink of bankruptcy and was desperate for money. He was owed money from his pressing plant and distributors were notoriously slow to pay him. Typically, the distributor would pay him with the returns of blues records that had no cash value. Sam Phillips had a young family to support and a disabled aunt living in Alabama.

Presley's contract with Sun Records lasted for three years, with an option to renew it. It also included a "long-term writing pact" with Hill and Range Publishing Company. RCA Victor was also awarded the rights to the songs recorded by Presley in exchange for a sum of $40,000 paid to Sun Records. The money included five unreleased songs and all five Sun pressings. In addition, the company was given the rights to "Mystery Train" until the end of 1955. In 1956, the Hill and Range Publishing Company acquired Sun Records' subsidiary Hi-Lo Music Incorporated and began publishing Elvis Presley's songs.

During the same year, a souvenir program announcing the new album with a large photo of Presley was released. The thirty-minute show was broadcast over the CBS radio network and was aired in several markets.

Bob Dylan's "Morrison Hotel"

"Morrison Hotel" continues the water theme established by Morrison in his previous albums. "Horse Latitudes," "Moonlight Drive," "Ship of Fools," and "Land Ho!" have all focused on the ocean, as did "Peace Frog" and "Land Ho!". Although Morrison was a Pisces, the album has a very positive and optimistic tone.

The art exhibit "In Session at the Columbia Records 30th Street Studio" opens July 18 in the Morrison Hotel Gallery. It features rare photos taken at the studios by Columbia Records staff photographer Don Huntstein in the 1950s and 1960s. Other notable figures photographed in this exhibition include Miles Davis and Bob Dylan. The exhibit also features pictures of Billie Holiday and Muhammad Ali, and there are also prints signed by Huntstein himself. The opening night preview is by invitation only.

The album's title track, "Morrison Hotel", is a rework of an early Morrison song "The Doors Are Open". Morrison penned the lyrics himself, though sometimes left the vocals to Manzarek. The lyrics were also inspired by two poems written by Jim in his notebook.

The music was not always the best. Morrison was dissatisfied and had plans to quit the group. But he was persuaded by Manzarek to stay for another six months. The album was a commercial success, but Morrison's health was failing, so he decided to take a break from performing.

The cover art was taken at the Morrison Hotel, which is located at 1246 South Hope Street. The security at the hotel would not allow photography in the hotel, so the Doors had to make the picture from across the street. The picture was taken with a telephoto lens.

Fab Four's "Don't Make My Baby Blue"

"Don't Make My Baby Blue" is one of the greatest songs of the 1960s. The song is from the Fab Four's debut album, The White Album, which was released in October 1963. This single peaked at No. 116 on the Billboard Bubbling Under Hot 100 chart. It has been a classic and a top forty hit for both the Beatles and Elvis.

What's Available at Columbia Records?

When you're looking for your next album, you may be wondering what's available at Columbia Records. The company has a wide selection of vinyl, CDs, and more. They also have a CD-ROM club, video games, and even music in formats that are no longer commercially available.

CD-ROM club

Columbia Records CD-ROM club is a subscription service that offers music and video titles to its members. The company has been around for nearly a century and boasts over 8.5 million members. The service started out as an experiment and has seen steady growth ever since. It was founded by an executive at CBS Records, a subsidiary of CBS. He named it Columbia Record Club to test the concept of marketing music through the mail. He offered new members a free monophonic record as a way to get their hands on some of the great music that Columbia Records was producing.

The CD format was also widely adopted by the music industry, and the company was one of the first companies to embrace it. The company has been offering subscriptions to music for over 30 years, and has expanded into other industries such as video games and DVDs. In addition to the CD-ROM club, Columbia Records also offers a Reel-to-Reel Club, which offers recordings for reel-to-reel players. The company is also one of the leading companies in data processing equipment, investing heavily in computers and other equipment. It also launched a Cassette Club four years later, targeting the 8-track market.

The company is not free of complaints. The BBB's rating of BMG/Columbia House was unsatisfactory in 2010. The company's customer service representatives did not respond to complaints filed against it. Complainants allege they have received unwanted merchandise, and have been billed for items they did not order. They also say that BMG/Columbia House does not provide live customer support.

In the pre-supercomputer age, it was easy to get away with cheating on the record club. People would register using a fake name and multiple addresses. These people could easily get away with scamming the record club by signing up with a false address and having the CDs sent to a conspirator's address. It was hard for detectives to catch them, but the fact is that everyone knew someone who did it.

In the mid-1960s, Les Wunderman took over the Columbia House record club's account. He is often considered the father of direct marketing. He was responsible for introducing the 1-800 telephone number, the subscription card, and the post-paid insert card. In addition, he invented the concept of the "12-for-a-penny" which allowed members to order records with little or no upfront cost.

Columbia Records CD-ROM club is the latest iteration of the original Columbia House music club. Its first membership fee was only one penny. However, today, the service has become a multi-billion-dollar business. Today, members can expect to receive music in a wide variety of genres and prices. The record club is owned by Sony and Time Warner.

While this service is a good way to get new music, it also has some drawbacks. The cost of shipping a single CD can be very high. Unless you can afford to buy an album at retail prices, it doesn't seem worth the cost. As a result, it's not a sustainable business model.

Video games

Columbia Records video games are available on Amazon.com, but there is one catch. The company uses negative option billing, which means that you will be automatically billed for your purchases until you cancel them. This practice has prompted many complaints from consumers. The Federal Trade Commission has published information to help protect consumers from these practices. The company is also attempting to collect unpaid purchases from its customers.

Music in formats no longer available on commercially available formats

If you're a fan of the old-time record label, you may want to consider purchasing the music that the company produced in formats no longer commercially available. In 1948, Columbia Records produced the first long-playing microgroove LP. This format quickly became the industry standard for commercial recordings and introduced a new unit of musical consumption.

Eventually, however, the eight-track tape fell out of vogue, and the compact cassette became the preferred format for consumers. After the rise of the compact cassette, the 8-track tape was largely obsolete, although Columbia continued to release new titles on the format until 1984. Another example of a company continuing to release product in formats no longer available on commercially available media is the release of select new titles on Floppy Disk. These discs are usually associated with data storage, but Columbia continued to release select new titles in the format until 1992.

Another early example of an innovative recording format was the 12-inch 33 1/3 RPM LP record, which Columbia Records introduced in the early 1930s. These records offered a combined playtime of 44 minutes on both sides. In the following decade, another company, RCA Victor, introduced the seven-inch 45 RPM EP record, which could store around six minutes of music on each side.

While physical formats such as vinyl and CDs were still popular, piracy began to affect sales. This led to the decline of record sales and the rise of other formats. The CD format soon eclipsed vinyl records. It was also the format used by automobile manufacturers to install CD players in their cars.

The long-playing vinyl discs produced by Columbia Records are a classic example of this technology. These records played at a speed of 33 1/3 rpm and were pressed onto flexible plastic discs that were 12 inches in diameter. However, they were a commercial failure, as consumer playback equipment wasn't compatible with them. Despite this failure, the company remained committed to developing its technology. By 1948, the company introduced a twelve-inch Long Play (LP) 33 1/3 rpm microgroove record.

In the 1950s, Capitol Records and RCA Victor began licensing their music for use in record clubs. However, the record clubs would not usually allow rival labels to promote their products. Consequently, the music from Columbia Records and RCA Victor was not available for sale through these record clubs.

After World War II, orchestral recordings of lesser-known works began to be produced in Europe. This allowed new companies to record less popular works at reduced costs. However, most popular standard works were duplicated by several companies. By the mid-1950s, the mass production of music started to become more affordable, allowing more people to enjoy the music they'd once have bought.