CLASSICAL Vinyl Label – DECCA

DECCA Records is a British record label established in 1929. Within years of its founding by former stockbroker Edward Lewis, Decca Records Ltd was the second largest record label in the world, calling itself “The Supreme Record Company”. The term “Decca” was never determined to signify a specific meaning or name, but some theories cite the opening musical notes of a Beethoven symphony: “D-E-C-C-A”. A cameo of Beethoven graced the British Decca label for many years.

Decca bought out the bankrupt UK branch of Brunswick Records in 1932, which added such stars as Bing Crosby and Al Jolson to its roster. Decca also bought out the Melotone and Edison Bell record companies. By 1939, Decca was the only record company in UK aside from EMI.

In 1970s, it was disastrous for Decca with lost of Artists gone and suffering big loss. As a result, the story of this empire was totally changed. PolyGram acquired the remains of Decca within days of Lewis’s death in January 1980. Today, Decca is a leading label for both classical music and Broadway scores; which is also a part of the Universal Music Group.

 

DECCA Labels DECCA Label – the earlist label, sliver font on black, called “Wide Band” NOTE: near to the edge at around 3mm distance; with a groove (called “Grooved”, at the 10 o’clock position written “ORIGINAL RECORDING BY” For wide band label, the clover is also a special one – called “BLUE BORDER BACK” (as shown above).  They are the earliest Decca stereo record with the highest value. DECCA Wide Band – early Label, sliver font on black – called “Wide Band”, with a groove 15mm away from the edge. At the 10 o’clock direction, the “ORIGINAL RECORDING BY” is printed. DECCA Wide Band Groove – 2nd label, with a phase “MADE IN ENGLAND BY” at the 10 o’clock position DECCA Wide Band Late Label, no groove in the Label, called “Wide Band Non-Grooved” DECCA 1st Label in box-set, serial starts with SET, purple background and sliver fonts DECCA box set 2nd Label, without small words “Made in England” near the bottom DECCA box set (Narrow Band) Label DECCA Wide Band 10″, 1st pressing Label, sliver fonts on blue background, at the 10 o’clock position with “ORIGINAL RECORDING BY”, and the serial starts with SWL DECCA 45 RPM, 7″ Mono Label, serial starts with CEP, Dark Green Sliver Font DECCA 45 RPM, 7″ Stereo Label, serial starts with SEC, Dark Green Sliver Font DECCA (Narrow Band) Label, with ” MADE IN ENGLAND” printed at the 11o’clock direction for those UK pressing DECCA BB Label, sliver fonts on red. This series was in the 1970s using in several different recordings. DECCA HEAD series Label, sliver font on red, for those recordings in the 20th century DECCA Digital Recording – 1st Label, serial starts with SXDL DECCA Digital Recording – 2nd Label, sliver background with blue fonts, serial starts with number as (XXX XXX-1), like CD serial no DECCA “The World of” series – 1st label, a Re-Issue series DECCA “The World of” series – 2nd Label DECCA phase 4 stereo Label DECCA phase 4 stereo box set label, sliver font on purple DECCA mono Label, serial starts with LXT, orange with sliver font DECCA Eclipse series – 1st Label DECCA Eclipse series – 2nd Label DECCA Ace of Diamonds Label, a series of Re-Issue, early Label in this series with “FULL FREQUENCY RANGE RECORDING” printed on the top DECCA Ace of Diamonds Late Label DECCA Ace of Clubs Label, MONO recordings DECCA Dutch Labels DECCA (Dutch) Narrow Band Label, at the direction of 7 o’clock written “MADE IN HOLLAND” DECCA (Dutch) Sliver Label DECCA (Dutch) Red Label, which is under the OEM by Philips. The label design is very similar to the Philips one. DECCA US Label DECCA (USA) – 1st mono label DECCA (USA) – 1st Label of SAMPLE COPY DECCA (USA) – 2nd mono label DECCA (USA) – 1st stereo label DECCA (USA) – STEREOPHONIC Promo label