Historic Find The First Release Set of RCA 45's from 1949 - Colored Vinyl

$

104

You are bidding on a historic find: a sampler of the introduction of the first 45 RPM recordings from RCA, released in 1949. Included are five of the seven records , plus the outer envelope, which explains the "new" format. The envelope has a message on the flap, "DO NOT OPEN ENVELOPE UNTIL THE SPEAKER TELLS YOU"! Further instructions on the front of the envelope explain" Use these seven records as samples between now and March 31st, and for use with the forthcoming window and counter displays.  You may wish to hold them as collector's items - the first production run of a record that will set the pace for the entire industry".
The envelope is worn, but intact.  The records show some wear, averaging about VERY GOOD. 


Selections include:
Midnight Blue (Popular Classics): The Mounties/Pretty Things (from "New Moon") - Al Goodman and his Orchestra
Green (Country & Western): The Prisoner's Song/ Seven Years With The Wrong Woman - Eddy Arnold 
Cerise (Rhythm & Blues): I Found Out For Myself/My Heart Belongs To You - Arbee Stidham

Sky Blue (International Music): Louise/Valentine - Maurice Chevalier
Yellow (Children's): The Further Adventures of Tubby the Tuba (Parts 1 & 2) - Ray Middleton

In response to Columbia's recent 33-1/3 'long play,' or LP, vinyl record, RCA Victor unveiled the first 45-rpm, 7-inch version, as well as a phonograph that played the new invention. Once RCA Victor introduced the first 45 rpm phonographs, they knew the importance of having not just one 45 rpm record available, but a selection of different artists and styles from which buyers could choose. Thus, in February 1949, they mixed a little of everything in with the very first batch of 45s shipped to record stores. They arrived in this custom envelope labeled: This Is Your Preview of the New RCA Victor 45 R.P.M. RECORD LINE! Inside are seven singles, each of which is made using a different color plastic — each color representing seven different musical styles. This array of colors complicated the production process and the practice was soon discontinued. The color coding didn't catch on, but 45's certainly did. 

On this day ~ In 1949, RCA Victor introduced the 45 rpm record, which was designed as a rival to Columbia’s 33 1/3 rpm long-playing disc, introduced the previous year. The two systems directly competed with each other to replace 78 rpm records, bewildering consumers and causing a drop in record sales. By the end of 1949, all the major companies, except RCA, had committed themselves to the LP record, seemingly putting an end to the 45. Even RCA itself announced it would issue its classical library on 33 1/3 rpm discs. But RCA was not ready to admit the demise of the 45. The company spent $5 million publicizing 45 rpm as the preferred speed for popular music. The campaign worked. Buyers of non-classical records turned increasingly to the 45, so that by 1954, more than 200 million of them had been sold. And all the major companies now were producing both LP and 45 records.

This set is extremely hard-to-find. It is an amazing piece of history that would be great in any record collection or museum.