Decca secrets’ give-away

 

A word about 'Pancake' pressings: 

In some cases as this Decca SXL edition, its very first pressing can't be deep grooved on the label. In case of 'edge groove’ it's the circular indentification about 1cm from the edge of the label. 

Apparently this groove was caused by the conversion of old 78rpm pressing plants to the production of 33rpm LPs - the groove coincides with the label position of old 78s. Sound wise these are stunning, real valve technology stuff.

 

However, these other very first pressings, (with the text 'original recording by' at eleven o'clock on the label, like the WBG SXL ED1 issues) were stamped with a groove 2-3mm in from the label edge. 

Known as the 'pancake' pressing these editions are more usually found in boxed sets, thought to be pressed on machines used by Decca for London pressings from 1958.

Thanking Saulo Zucchello 🥇🥇🥇