Long-Playing Records

Overview
The Long Playing Record was the second disc record format invented (other than Edison records, but they were irrelevant after 1929) in 1948 by Columbia Records. They were originally 10 inches in diameter, later changed to a standard size of 12 inches in the 1950s. They allowed for more than one song to be played on each side because the grooves were smaller and played at a slower speed of 33 1/3 rpm. These records where made of vinyl which was more durable than the shellac that most 78s were made of.

History
After their invention in 1949, most of the record labels were unsure of its potential. Until 1950 when they saw its potential. 78s ceased to be made in the U.S. after 1960. since its invention many techniques allowed for superior sound quality such to the extent that a recently made lp can do almost as much a CD can do sonically. This extent increased in the late 1950s with the invention of stereo. Lp records are still made to this day.

Significance To The Recording And Documentation Of Folk Music
Even though authentic commercial folk recordings released by major labels ceased to exist after 1943, a few record independent companies made lps of their folk performers. One such company was Folkways. Many folk 78s were re-released on lps, starting with The Anthology Of American Folk Music in 1952. Many other Independent Record Companies began to re-release 78s on lps. This continued to be done until the late 1980s, when the invention of the CD dominated the music market. Following the release of The Anthology Of American Folk Music, many of the performers on the album that were still alive were "Rediscovered" and got deals with various Record Labels releasing their own lps with the folk songs they knew. Folkways and most folk record labels have also re-released many of their folk compilations and albums from folk artists' second careers that were originally lps on CD and Cassette.

Related Articles

 * List Of Known Record Labels With Re-Issues Of Folk 78s
 * List Of Known Record Labels With Second Career Folk Albums
 * Master Tapes