Getting The Music & More Information & Getting Us
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Labels
The most informative source on the record labels themselves is Charlie Gillett's The Sound Of The City (Subtitle: The Rise Of Rock And Roll).
Discographies
Discographies (lists of songs recorded by an artist) are rare; most discographies include only the CD's or LP's. Fewer still identify the label information associated with the recording. There are many individual artist sites on the Web, with discography information ranging from none to excellent. Some individual CD's ("greatest hits" or other compilations), particularly those from Rhino Records and Bear Family, or those from a single independent label like Chess or Specialty, include the single's label details. Record price Guides (e.g. Goldmine, Propes) typically are limited to 45 RPM records, and to the Pop-Rock genre, and typically to 1975 and earlier.
Two notable exceptions (books)
KAY AND JOHNNY'S MUSIUM® SUBSCRIPTION SERVICE IS THE ONLY SOURCE OF DISCOGRAPHIES OF SINGLES.
Charts
The authority on Billboard record chart data is Joel Whitburn's Record Research. For the 5-10% of released single records popular enough to chart on Billboard, excellent detail is available in comprehensive books, by genre (pop, country, adult contemporary, R&B). Typically organized by artist, each song's information includes the date (to the specific Monday) the record first charted, number of weeks charted, record label identifier, and highest charted position.
Other chart (Hit Parade, British, Variety, Cash Box) data is much rarer.
Buying CD's or Downloads
Besides being gouged by the age old LP technique, (buying a premium priced compilation for one or two singles, or songs you otherwise want to have), CD's offer a few other bumps in the road because they came along so much later than the songs they capture:
The same is true of cassettes.
As the source of most Online Downloads is CD's/LP's, expect the same frustrations. Of course, the single download is cheaper, but is it the original?
A word about re-mixing from the original recording tapes for the CD medium. Re-mixing is an art, although it's primary intention is to capture the original sound for the digital medium. Alternative re-mixes of the same vintage song are rare. Kay And Johnny's do not intend to critique or rate the re-mix. If you don't want the vinyl, the re-mix is the original. With that qualification,
KAY AND JOHNNY'S MUSIUM® SUBSCRIPTION SERVICE WILL PROVIDE, OR POINT YOU TO, ONLY THE ORIGINALS.
"Greatest Hits" Compilations
The "truth" is all over the map. There are label-specific and artist-specific compilations that are excellent, and there are lots of lies.
If it's a relative bargain, or doesn't mention a record label, expect mostly LP cuts, and no reference to which LP.
KAY AND JOHNNY'S MUSIUM® SUBSCRIPTION SERVICE WILL PROVIDE, OR POINT YOU TO, THE BEST COMPILATIONS (ARTIST, LABEL, GENRE) OF THESE SINGLES.
Buying Vinyl
Much safer if you have the label information, and don't have to rely on bootlegs. LP's content potholes have been mentioned above. The principal issue is quality (new vs. used, age and condition). Availability is a constant quest.
KAY AND JOHNNY'S MUSIUM® SUBSCRIPTION SERVICE WILL POINT YOU TO REPUTABLE SOURCES OF VINYL (LP, 45, 78) FOR THE SONGS YOU SELECT, AS THEY BECOME KNOWN. WE EXPECT TO ALLOW SOURCES OF VINYL TO REGISTER WITH OUR DATABASE.
What's Next For Kay & Johnny's
Why 1935-1985?
1935
1985
Contact Us
Please send us your requests and comments. We will not provide information to others on our visitors or customers.
Every database is missing data; ours is no exception. Help
us, and we'll give you credit for the input. We need the record label and
number (label identifier) along with the artist and titles; date information is
helpful, but the typical record can be fit into the existing dates for the
label.
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