The Festival Label
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Festival Records 1952 to 1961 78s, 45s, EPs and LPs Compiled by Michael de Looper Big Three Publications Canberra 2007 / Rev. Nov. 2014 Festival Records, 1952–1961 © Copyright Big Three Publications 2007 ISBN xxxxxxxxxx Big Three Publications GPO Box 2155 Canberra ACT 2601 Australia Also available: The Australian W&G catalogue: a listing of all recorded output from 1955 to 1975 Contains references to over 3,500 singles, EPs and LPs released on the W&G record label during the 1950s, 60s and 70s, with details of dates, Australian artists and Top 40 entries. Many rare artists and singles. Essential for collectors and music historians. 52 pages. Australian EMI 45s and 12” singles, 1968 to 1979. Catalogue numbers 8301 to 12000 Early in 1968, EMI (Australia) consolidated the catalogue numbering for all their 45s into one series. This listing includes the EMI 45s and 12” singles issued between 1968 and the Thorn takeover of EMI in 1979—some 3,700 releases. Includes labels such as Apple, Albert Productions, Arista, Columbia, Decca, Deram, Harvest, London, Tamla Motown. 52 pages. 2 Festival Records, 1952–1961 Contents Introduction ................................................................................................................................................. 4 Acknowledgements .................................................................................................................................... 4 Label abbreviations..................................................................................................................................... 5 Dates and Top 10/40 positions ................................................................................................................. 5 A brief history.............................................................................................................................................. 6 1952–1958 Numerical issues ....................................................................................................................................... 10 Festival children’s 78s .............................................................................................................................. 37 Festival western 78s .................................................................................................................................. 37 Coral western 78s ...................................................................................................................................... 38 Westminister LPs ...................................................................................................................................... 39 1958–1961 The Festival label ...................................................................................................................................... 42 The Coral label .......................................................................................................................................... 56 The Brunswick label ................................................................................................................................. 60 The Metronome label ............................................................................................................................... 61 The Top Rank label ................................................................................................................................... 62 The Rex label.............................................................................................................................................. 67 The Leedon label ....................................................................................................................................... 69 The Teen label............................................................................................................................................ 72 The Vox label ............................................................................................................................................. 73 The Vocalion label..................................................................................................................................... 75 The Concert-Disc label ............................................................................................................................. 76 The Everest label ....................................................................................................................................... 77 The Impulse label...................................................................................................................................... 77 3 Festival Records, 1952–1961 Introduction With Festival Records recently celebrating its 50th anniversary, it seems appropriate at this time to produce this compendium listing the company’s earliest releases. This booklet documents commercially available records issued during Festival’s first ten years—between its founding in 1952 and up to 1961, when the U.S. conglomerate ABC-Paramount partly took over the company, and a new consolidated numbering system commenced. Festival owes much to Les Welch and Ken Taylor, two A&R managers who guided the company through the early vulnerable years, and who began to establish a roster of artists that would revolutionise the Australian music scene. Robert Iredale, record engineer par excellance, also deserves accolades. But perhaps more still is owed to Lee Gordon, the pioneering entrepreneur who, in 1954, began to bring in American artists on package tours, culminating in the Bill Haley tour in January 1957, and who established the Leedon record label. The rise of rock and roll swept all before it, and Festival also climbed aboard the bandwagon, which by this time more closely resembled a runaway train. The years in question cover Festival’s rise from a small independent label, mostly licensing releases from overseas, to its becoming one of Australia’s major entertainment players. It documents the birth of Australian rock and roll, beginning, of course, with the inimitable Johnny O’Keefe. During this time, Col Joye, Dig Richards, The Delltones, Lonnie Lee and Johnny Rebb passed through Festival’s doors. But Festival Records was not just about Australian rock and roll—many other musical styles, including jazz, classical, easy listening, sacred, musicals and film soundtracks, as well as many other stellar overseas artists also found their way into Festival’s ever expanding catalogue. There’s a lot of musical history here! It is hoped that this listing will aid collectors and music historians. Inevitably there are some missing entries, but it is more than likely that most of these releases were cancelled. In any event, should the reader find mistakes or additions, please do not hesitate to get in touch. Michael de Looper November 2007 / November 2014 Acknowledgements This work would not have been possible without the assistance of several other devoted record collectors and discographers, namely, Peter Burgis, Danny Daniels, Ross Laird, Brett Leslie, Jack Mitchell, Ron Smith and Mike Sutcliffe. To you go my thanks. Again, love and thanks to Christy, and also Christian, Michael Jr. and Marina. 4 Festival Records, 1952–1961 Label abbreviations Prefix Label/Type Size Speed FM Manhattan single play 10" 78 EPM Manhattan or Festival EP 10" 78 FS Festival single play 10" 78 CS Coral single play 10" 78 BS Brunswick single play 10" 78 DW, DWA Festival Western single play 10" 78 CCl, DCl Festival Children's single play 10" 78 CW Coral Western single play 10" 78 SP45 Festival single play 7" 45 CSP45 Coral single play 7" 45 BSP45 Brunswick single play 7" 45 XP45 Festival EP 7" 45 CXP45 Coral EP 7" 45 BXP45 Brunswick EP 7" 45 MXP45 Metronome EP 7" 45 FM, LM, LMD, LMO, LMR, LMS Manhattan/Festival LP 10" 33 CFR, CFR10, FR10, FGL10 Festival LP 10" 33 C10 Coral LP 10" 33 B10 Brunswick LP 10" 33 M10 Metronome LP 10" 33 WAL, WL Westminister classical LP 10”/12" 33 CFR12, FR12, FGL12 Festival LP 12" 33 C12 Coral LP 12" 33 B12 Brunswick LP 12" 33 Dates and Top 10/40 positions Approximate release dates are given throughout the listing. Releases making the Top 10 or Top 40 are also indicated. As a reference, I have used David Kent’s Australian Chart Book (1940– 1969). 5 Festival Records, 1952–1961 A brief history 1952 June Paul Cullen’s Mainguard Pty. Ltd., a merchant banking company based in Sydney, takes over an industrial group. Most of this acquisition is dissolved or disposed of, but Casper Engineering, a record pressing company located in Redfern, is retained. The assets include two rare 10” shellac record presses. Two staff are given the task of establishing a record company. October Microgroove (Australia) Pty. Ltd. is established. Douglas Hull and John Dulhunty are the first Directors. Festival Records comes into being, and is first known as ‘Manhattan’. Dulhunty hires young sound engineer Robert Iredale, who suggests Les Welch as A&R manager and talent scout. November Les Welch signs as Festival's first Musical Director. November First issues: Westminister WAL-302, a three LP set of Puccini’s ‘Tosca’ and Manhattan FM 1019 'Meet Mr Callaghan/When I fall in love' by Les Welch. December Secretary and Acting Sales Manager C.H. Beavis announces that Festival Records will press and market the U.S. Westminister classical catalogue. 1953 March Production starts at the new Gladesville plant, a converted picture theatre with 10 presses. The plant has 12 staff, with 5 more in