"Late" 78s - Made After The Golden Era

Just curious to find out how many post-1960 78s were released. These are the only ones I know of (kiddie records and budget records excluded):
R. Crumb - "Ducks Yas-Yas" (GoodTone)
R. Crumb - "River Blues" (Ordinary)
Randy Newman - (title unknown) - Reprise (promo only)
Leon Redbone - "Please Don't Talk About Me When I'm Gone" (Warner Bros.) (promo only)
Nitty Gritty Dirt Band - "Mr. Bojangles" (Liberty) (promo only)
These are the only domestic (U.S.) ones I can think of - I know Stiff Records in the U.K. issued at least one, and then there are the infamous Beatles 78s made in India...any others out there?

Back in the late 70's or early 80's, I was told there was supposed to be an ABBA record released in either Africa or India. Whether it did or not, I don't know for sure. I've never found any info on the net about it. If it was made, I'd say it was pirated, and not a Pollar records authorised disc. I have seen Abba pianola rolls, so I guess you never know.

They continued to make 78 rpm records for square dances well into the 1960s. The callers found them much easier to use than LPs. I have quite a few on the MacGregor label.

Also, the Library of Congress chose the 12" microgroove vinyl 78 as the best medium to survive over time, and is currently recording all irreplaceable material on this format.

Hi, in answer to your question, as far as I know one of the last 78s issued in the UK was "Rocking Goose" by Johnny and the Hurricanes issued around December 1960 on the London label. However, many countries continued to issue 78s up to about 1963/64 and possibly 1965. The latest issued 78 I have in my collection is "Playboy" by the Motown group The Marvelettes issued in the Phillipines on the Grand label and would have been around 1963. There are approximately 23 Beatles 78s which were only issued in India and the Phillipines. I have been told Decca had a factory in India in a town called Dum Dum. Apparently the reason 78s continued to be produced there was that a lot of the populace at the time had no electricity and the only way they could play music was by means of a wind-up gramophone. Not sure if this is true, but its a nice story and kind of makes sense. Numerous early 60s 78s were also issued in S. Africa on the Ridge and Renown labels to name but a couple, along with major labels such as Columbia, London, Top Rank, MGM etc. I have been told there are approximately 800 different Elvis 78s issued worldwide from countries such as Japan, Mexico, Pakistan, New Zealand, Brazil, Ireland etc. some of which are very rare and highly sought after. I do have some late issue US 78s, but not entirely sure when the last one was issued in the States. Perhas someone on this list could confirm. I hope this info is of some help.

Gary Young

Gary, that was very informative - thanks for the response. Here in the States, the latest known 78 (at least, one which actually charted) was "Money" by Barrett Strong on Anna - I know the UK did continue a little later in the 78 format. And I recall several years ago Rhino Records reissuing a few "oldies" in a 10" 78 RPM format for people who still owned 78 RPM jukeboxes (I remember some titles were never even issued on 78 in the first place and seemed a little ridiculous). I've seen the MacGregor discs around but had no idea they were issued that late into the 60's. I also didn't take into account the home-recording and recording-booth records cut on acetates and cardboard records - one I have is dated January 13, 1961, and who's to say how many 78 RPM homemade discs were cut well after that date.

I made some in the '70s.

Certainly the rarest "late 78" would have to be "Summertime" by "The Beatles Mit Wally", which the group recorded in a small studio during their Hamburg days (1960-1961). I've seen a picture of it in Allan Williams' (their first manager) autobiography. Only five copies of it were pressed - Williams' copy might be the only one still in existence.

After a long hiatus from the previous and wonderful Phonoland site, I am pleased to return with the announcement of having found THE ultimate late 78, which I am now preparing an article with label scan, to be presented as "The Last 78 RPM." Collectors around the world that have read my various articles and posts over the years over the net have known of my late 78 quest, always coming close but never actually arriving at my destination---until now: there it sits on my Dual 1009 turntable. I had been looking in the Philippines, where I had found the only known Motown 78 rpm of The Marvelettes-"Way Over There/Silly Boy" on Tamla Records label, pressed by Dyna Products. However, I was looking in the wrong country and the wrong time/decade. How's that for a 78 rpm teaser? Thanks, Nipper---no, you are not on it, you had just been sadly eliminated but your essence is still there. All The Last 78 RPM Best, Angelo/Andromeda International Records androintl@earthlink.net "Angelo Alexander Sings Bessie Smith" (TRI-001) TripJazz/Andromeda International Records

Mmmmmm...wellll....I don't know if "the last 78" is a definitive term for this. It could be said that there was a substantial break between the Tamla release and, say, the Randy Newman promo 78 or the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, both of which date to circa 1972. Then there were a few funky fits & spurts such as the R. Crumb discs (both again from the early 70s), the Leon Redbone promo, "Bueno" By Joe "King" Carrasco & The Crowns on the UK Stiff label circa 1980...and who knows what came later. Plus all the aforementioned titles from everyone else (thanks again). If you want to be picky, I do own a 78 recorded 1/13/61...but that was one of those "record your voice" booth records and I'm sure there were many more made after that as long as the 78 RPM machines were still in use. And recording machines were used in speech classes (I own a couple examples of these) so there may be even more 78s from the 1960s out there. These would DEFINITELY be correctly defined as "unique" - I have only ever come across one example of a homemade record for which more than one copy was cut (and that was TWO copies...big deal).

Record-changer wrote:...
Also, the Library of Congress chose the 12" microgroove vinyl 78 as the best medium to survive over time, and is currently recording all irreplaceable material on this format.

I remember this gem:Shellac, the Sound of the Future

I'd be very interested in reading about these 12" vinyl 78s. RC, please post a link or reference. I'd love to be able to brag about 78s still being "it"!

As far as a last 78, you can still get custom vinyl 78 rpm discs pressed here in the U.S.A. so it's going to be a while before a last one is made.

Regards,
J.

wand143 wrote::? Mmmmmm...wellll....I don't know if "the last 78" is a definitive term for this. It could be said that there was a substantial break between the Tamla release and, say, the Randy Newman promo 78 or the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, both of which date to circa 1972. Then there were a few funky fits & spurts such as the R. Crumb discs (both again from the early 70s), the Leon Redbone promo, "Bueno" By Joe "King" Carrasco & The Crowns on the UK Stiff label circa 1980...and who knows what came later.

Unfortunately, with the exception of The Marvelettes 78 rpm (i.e. see it at http://www.recordcollectorsguild.org/index.php), none of these titles qualify as a late 78 or the last 78. What qualifies as the last 78 are the following: 1) 78 rpm single is a commercial copy with an actual singles catalogue number, denoting that is was made for retail purposes; 2) the label is in color, not a white label; 3) the record is not a 1-off, promotional copy/not for sale, special pressing. The Last 78 rpm, which will be introduced to you shortly, meets all these requirements, therefore earning this most coveted honor in 78 rpm history. Nipper is wagging his tail!---All the 78 rpm best, Andromeda International Records androintl@earthlink.net

OK, I'll agree with the "last 78" definition based on those terms. The finds I had - particularly from the 1970s - were, like I said, basically fits and spurts and don't represent a "true" transition from 78 to 45 - just funky little experiments. That Dyna 78 IS cool...I can't argue with that! And it does make you wonder what else was released just before (or...drool,drool...AFTER) that catalog number. I don't see myself making any field trips to the Phillipines any time soon to find out. Somebody out there must know SOMEthing...

I FOUND A BEACH BOYS 78!!! AND IT'S AMERICAN, TOO!!!!
Okay, it's not THE Beach Boys from California but rather a trio who recorded for a Hawaiian label - my guess it was released well before 45s became more commonplace, so it's not really a "late" 78. Still it's a neat conversation piece and I did do a double-take when I spotted it!

If you are including promos in this 'last 78' discussion, then Robbie Williams' Millenium should probably get a mention. http://eil.com/shop/moreinfo.asp?catalogid=168979

Nice find! That is absolutely COOL! I love the way they made it look "vintage".
I have a "late 78" anecdote which I just remembered: a friend of mine (now deceased, unfortunately...the good ones always go too soon...) had a copy of "Wisconsin Wiggles" by R. Crumb on the Ordinary label (circa 1972 - made especially for a local record store chain). Since he didn't have a 78 turntable when he bought it, he decided to PLAY IT ON HIS GRANDMOTHER'S VICTROLA - well, you can imagine what happened to the surface of that vinyl disc! Fortunately he realized his mistake after only 30 seconds or so and only part of one side of the record got ruined (I'm assuming the needle hadn't been changed on a regular basis).