Supraphon
The
supraphon name first appeared in early 20th century in germany, but it was
never used there as a label. In czechoslovakia the supraphon trademark has
been registered since 1932, initially for a record player. The supraphon logo
lion with lyre was registered in 1949. From the 1950s until the early 1990s
supraphon was the main czechoslovak record label, as well as licensee and
distributor of foreign releases for the domestic market. The label is active
in all genres, including classical, pop, rock, jazz, folk music, spoken word,
and even several experimental and scientifical releases.
From 1994 until 2003 the label was focused mainly on classical releases.
Its old pop/jazz catalog was bought and owned by bonton music a.s. 1994-1998,
and by sony music/bonton s.r.o. 1998-2003, and released on the bonton label
during that time.
Today supraphon’s large archive of unique recordings consists of approx.
55000 pop/rock, 30000 classical, 8000 folk music, 5000 spoken word, and 3000
jazz tracks, including the panton catalog, as well as the bonton 1990-1997
catalog.
Unique releases:
Please be aware that many well selling supraphon vinyl records were repressed
several times, some of them even for over three decades. Each version is usually
distinguishable by several factors, see examples below. When submitting a
release, please make sure to include as many technical details as possible,
preferably also readable cover images and all center label scans for easy
identification, because unique versions may often differ in small printed
details.
Catalog numbers:
The primary catalog number is always on the center labels, not on the sleeve.
For example, earlier releases had both the mono and the stereo catalog# printed
on the sleeve, and the same sleeve artwork was used for both versions. On
the other hand, later represses may have had an updated numbering scheme printed
on the sleeve, but still the original number on the labels.
How to:
If there are both mono/stereo numbers on the sleeve, use only the actual one
as found on the center labels and add the other one to the notes.
If the numbering scheme on sleeve and label differs, use the label as the
primary catalog# and the sleeve as the secondary catalog# (see RSG §4.8.4.).
For mono releases, please always add mono to the format. For stereo releases,
always add stereo if a mono or quadraphonic pressing provably exists.
Common catalog# schemes in the 1950s:
5####-M=mono 10" bakelite, 78 rpm (standardní deska)
*LPM ###=mono 10" LP (* sometimes with a random character prefix)
*LPV ###=mono 12" LP (* sometimes with a random character prefix)
Common catalog# schemes until ca. 1967 (domestic):
DM #####=mono 10" LP (four or five digits)
DV #####=mono 12" LP (four or five digits)
SM ####=stereo 10" LP
SV ####=stereo 12" LP (sometimes also 10")
0####=mono 7" EP (three to five digits, depending on genre)
01####=mono 7" SP
ST 17###=stereo 7" EP
ST 18###=stereo 7" SP
FO ###/###=mono DIN A5 single-sided postcard (1st#: matrix no., 2nd#: photo
no.)
Common catalog# schemes until ca. 1970 (artia export):
SUE* ####=mono 7" EP, until ca. 1960 (*=random character)
SU* 1####=mono 12" LP (*=random character)
SU* 2####=mono 10" LP (*=random character)
SU* 3####=mono 7" EP (*=random character)
SU* 4####=mono 7" SP (*=random character)
SU* ST 5####=stereo 12" LP (*=random character)
SU* ST 7####=stereo 7" EP (*=random character)
5# ###=stereo 12" LP, 1970s and 1980s artia represses/reissues of 1960s
releases (usually only on sleeve)
Note: you may want to add exported by – artia company credit for all
releases with these catalog# schemes, even if artia is uncredited on the release.
Common catalog# schemes ca. 1968-1978:
0 1# ####=mono 12" LP
0 2# ####=mono 10" LP
0 3# ####=mono 7" EP
0 4# ####=mono 7" SP
1 1# ####=stereo 12" LP
1 2# ####=stereo 10" LP
1 3# ####=stereo 7" EP
1 4# ####=stereo 7" SP
4 ## ####=quadraphonic
Common catalog# schemes ca. 1979-1987:
10## ####=mono (mostly represses only)
11## ####=stereo
12## ####=mono supralong (over 30 min. per side)
14## ####=quadraphonic
Common catalog# schemes after 1988:
1# ####-1 ###=LP
1# ####-2 ###=CD
1# ####-4 ###=MC
1# ####-7 ###=7" SP/EP
First two digits can be 10, 11, 12 or 16
Last three digits often appear boxed on sleeve: [#|#|#]
Common catalog# schemes after 1995:
SU ####-#
SU ####-# ###
Digits after dash
• 1st number=medium format
1=LP, 2=CD, 4=MC, 7=7" SP/EP, 9=DVD
• 2nd number=music style
0=orchestral, 1=instrumental chamber, 2=vocal, 3=pop/rock, 4=folk, 5=jazz,
6=operatic, 7=stage & screen recordings 9=miscellaneous
• 3rd number=recording format
0=analogue mono, 1=analogue stereo, 3=digital stereo
• 4th number=number of media
1 to 9=number of discs, 0=set of ten or more discs
Also note:
• SP stands for short play (krátký záznam), not
for single play.
• Multi-vinyl releases came with individual catalog# for each record,
usually shortened on sleeve.
Example: 1 13 1234 and 1 13 1235 became 1 13 1234-5 or 1 13 1234-35 or 1 13
1234/35 (or similar).
• There were scheme mismatches or discrepancies (label vs. sleeve) around
1967, 1978, and 1987 during the scheme switch.
Retail price code suffix:
Catalog number on vinyl sleeves may have a retail price code suffix attached
to it, for example “1 13 1234 H”. However, the suffix was applied
inconsistently and it is not an integral part of the catalog number scheme.
Often the actual retail price in kcs was printed on sleeves or on center labels
instead. The clean catalog number is usually printed on the sleeve spine and
on center labels.
How to:
Do not attach the price code suffix or the retail price to the catalog number
string. If present, the code should be added to barcode and other identifiers
as: price code.
Partial retail price code list:
c=Kcs ?, - (7" SP)
d=Kcs ?, - (7" SP)
e=Kcs 8, - (7" SP)
f=Kcs 9, - (7" SP)
g=Kcs 10, - (7" SP)
h=Kcs 12, - (7" SP)
cc=Kcs ??, - (7" EP)
dd=Kcs ??, - (7" EP)
ee=Kcs 16, - (7" EP)
ff=Kcs 18, - (7" EP)
gg=Kcs 20, - (7" EP)
hh=Kcs 24, - (7" EP)
C=Kcs ??, - (10"/12" LP)
D=Kcs ??, - (10"/12" LP)
E=Kcs 20, - (10"/12" LP)
F=Kcs 28, - (7"/10"/12" LP)
G=Kcs 36, - (10"/12" LP)
H=Kcs 44, - (12" LP)
QS=Kcs ??, - (12" LP quadraphonic)
X-F=Kcs 48, - (12" LP supralong)
ZA=Kcs 50, - (12" LP)
ZB=Kcs 60, - (12" LP)
ZD=Kcs 80, - (12" LP)
ZN=Kcs 120, - (12" LP)
CA=Kcs 52, - (Cassette)
CB=Kcs 58, - (Cassette)
CF=Kcs 62, - (Cassette)
Manufacturing date code:
Three-digit code “## #” on side A center label, present on most
czechoslovak vinyl records pressed between 1966 and 1992.
First 2 digits represent the year, 3rd digit the half-year of pressing.
Example: code 75 2 means manufactured 2nd half of 1975.
Exceptions: Some first pressings and most gramofonový klub editions
ca. 1969-1975 didn’t contain the date code at all, in favor of the total
duration time for each vinyl side. The release year was then identical with
the printed copyright year.
Represses are usually almost identical to the original releases, apart from
the date code on label and different galvanoplasty codes (see profile gramofonové
závody). Some later represses may have an updated catalog# scheme on
the sleeve though, see above.
How to:
Always add the date code to barcode and other identifiers as other (manufacturing
date code): ## #” because it is a safe identifier of unique versions.
The oldest known pressing should be the key release in a master releases,
all subsequent pressings should be tagged as repress.
If no date code is printed and there already exist other versions with a date
code, please add other (manufacturing date code): none.
Also, represses or reissues of many classical albums originally released before
1967 remained without date code on 1970s and 1980s pressings; leave the released
field empty if in doubt.
Sound recording copyright? date code:
Sound recording copyright dates of records released ca. 1954-1964 are often
identifiable by a roman number printed on each label:
1954=I.
1955=II.
1956=III.
1957=IV.
1958=V.
1959=VI.
1960=VII.
1961=VIII.
1962=IX.
1963=X.
1964=XI.
After 1964, most releases or reissues were usually labeled with an unencrypted?
year on the label.
How to:
The
highest roman number on a release may usually denote the actual release year.
Caution is required, however, e.g. for 7" releases which may have been
pressed on 78 rpm records previously, or for subsequent represses of best-selling
LPs. Please add the roman number(s) to barcode and other identifiers as: other
(sound recording copyright year code).
Preprinted
7" record sleeves:
Until the early 1990s, 7" records for the domestic market were usually
distributed in preprinted sleeves: either in neutral company sleeves with
the logo and random decorative graphic elements, or in picture sleeves with
random illustrations/photos, or in dedicated picture sleeves for the more
popular artists. Neutral sleeves with a center hole were usually blank, picture
sleeves mostly had only the most basic short credits overprinted in low quality
black letterpress, not always matching the actual credits on center labels.
The sleeve designs were used rather randomly, from time to time even illogically,
depending on what the manufacturer had in stock at the time of the release.
In many cases it is not possible to tell which version was the original release,
since various designs might have been distributed simultaneously. That practice
often caused confusing situations, particularly on split releases (see example).
How to
In any case, please always submit 7" releases based on the credits on
the center labels, not solely on the outer sleeve! Particularly the ©
year on picture sleeves refers only to the design or photo, not to the actual
release year. Please point out any discrepancies you might find (labels vs.
sleeve) in the release notes. Also note that different neutral company sleeves
without any credits don’t make a release unique yet. Any company sleeve
might have been replaced by a previous owner or a reseller.