The 10" record...when did it come into existance?

[Matthew]

Always wondered, around what year did they start pressing these?

Thanks.

[jordandance]

aren't 78's 10 inches? IF so, EARLY!

[Matthew]

aren't 78's 10 inches? IF so, EARLY!

I was speaking of reggae. (Roots Archives)

[ton1]

If duplates have always been 10 inch records (i'm not sure of that), they are as old as the first recordings of ska so end of the 50s.

[Version Control]

I'm don't know my earliest Reggae one because I don't file my records by year, but in general 45rpm 10" discs have been around for a long time too. I remember getting Souvenir by OMD and that must have been around 25 years ago.

Maybe the (fairly) recent revival of the format goes hand-in-hand with the growth of online shopping (ie smaller and lighter than a 12" single so lower postage and packing costs).

[bmd]

yes 78rpms are ten inch! So yep, pretty early, late 1800s?
Originally one sided, I had some 78rpms with stamps of artwork on what would become the B side.

If you're talking 10" as a commercial thing playing at either 33/3 rpm and 45rpm have been around for a good long while too. Particularly as promo items to create a bit of a zing around a release or artist.

As far as ten inch popularity these days I feel that it's a recent'ish thing. Riding the back of some sort of strangely out of whack imagined association with 'Real' dubplates. In the last 3-4 years I've noticed that they've become more popular as a way to maximise profits... Trojan with their Dubplate specials (???) etc etc. A good ole 12" will always do and to my mind plays better, and sounds better... and anyway, if you want to produce a mass produced dubplate (if that isn't a misnoma) then please try, some ropey old acetate that'll go bad in 10 plays, with some aluminium that'll rot in the middle of it, eventually forcing that ropey old acetate off the surface anyway sounds like a great idea.....

[Matthew]

Thanks to everyone for all the replies.

I guess I needed to clarify.
I am specifically speaking of labeled roots/reggae releases on 10".

Nothing from the 1800's or dubplates...thanks.

[Version Control]

OK Matthew, here's your Starter For 10. It's the earliest one I can remember buying that was specifically a reggae release:

http://www.discogs.com/release/174274

"Branson, you're a pickle that's not welcome on my (Disco)Plate."

Priceless.

[wareika]

For general release (no dubplate or 78rpms) the 10" format appeared during the 80's (circa 83/84) on Channel One related labels (Hit Bound, JJ, J&L and so on).

I have the feeling that the real reason is more linked with the raise of oil price (first in late 70's and in recent years). If you consider that you can put the same extended tune either on a 10" or a 12" disc, the 10" format saved a lot oil. I did the calculation once and from memory with the same amount of vynil you press either 2 x 12" or 3 x 10"...


wareika

[ok]

Looking through my collection it seems most of the earliest 10" were around in the early part of the 80`s, between 80-83, and most seemed to have something to do with Channel Ones Hitbound & Cha Cha labels, there were a couple of dozen 10" on Studio One during that time and a number of labels in the UK like Onu Sound, Ariwa, Jah Shaka, Simba and so on used the format too.

The format was also used for a number of mini showcase albums including those on Wackies, Uptempo, Black Roots, Cultural Roots Showcase, Yellowmans Operation Radication, Philip Frasers Blood Of The Saint and the Twinkle Bros Love set on Virgin Records, just to name a few, the latter of which seems the earliest dated at 1978.

Generally it fell out of use by the mid 80`s until its `recent` return amongst producers on the UK dub scene going back to the early 90`s, so not so recent, but it has been a hugely popular format in the last 5 or so years both for UK dub releases and many revival releases too. It is a more Eurocentric format though and has`nt really made any sort of comeback out of Jamaica.

As a format there is nothing wrong with 10" vinyl, if song time is kept down you can get as heavy and loud a cut as a 12". Not really sure of thier use as a `promo` item, the humble 7" has always been quite adequate for that. Without doubt the similarity to a dubplate is a selling point, but also on a financial level its a better investment for the producer, as well as being smaller and lighter for storage and distribution purposes.