The records are also made available on the 45 RPM format. The first singles on the 33 RPM speed include Della Reese, Andy and the Bey Sisters, the Ames Brothers, Boots Randolph, and Barry Martin. RCA Victor has shipped out the first Compact 33 singles to it’s dealers throughout the country. Repertoire will feature popular classics performed by favorite concert artists. RCA Victor believes taht the once profitable classical “singles” market on 78 RPM days can be built into an important segment of the business with the Compact 33. Rebuilding the “Red Seal Singles” Market on Compact 33 This pre-selling of Compact 33 will open new marketing vistas for both Popular and Classical music for the entire industry. West toothbrushes, supported by a far-reaching national advertising and promotional campaign. Over a million homes will be introduced to this exciting new kiing of record by a Special Compact 33 made for a promotional tie-in with Dr. RCA Victor starts 1961 with the all-important introduction of the Compact 33 single and double. Below are the couple of paragraphs that introduce the Compact 33 format.īasic to the growth of any industry is new product. RCA had quite a spread in this issue of Billboard where they introduce the Compact 33. RCA Victor announces the introduction of the Compact 33 record format.

Their disks generally sell when placed on display at the dealer level.

The new record should also be appealing to those who want to sample a new artist thru a single and then, if pleased, acquire a long playing record of that same artist.”Ĭolumbia Records has had some recent success using their Compact 33 for promotional programs, mailing stuffers, greeting cards, or specialy items. He also stated that “with the Compact 33, a market can be created for those who like pop music but do not wish to buy or cannot afford a 12-inch LP. The long-term outlook is the 33 RPM speed will eventually phase out the 45 RPM. George Marek, VP and GM of RCA Victor states the company will be going “all the way” meaning “all singles product will be issued simultaneously on the Compact 33 and 45. The Compact 33 single with two songs is offered at 98 cents and the Compact 33 double with four songs offered at $1.49. ROD LAUREN – Young and Warm and WonderfulĬompact 33s are to be offered in two forms. West promo is removed with Tunes for Teens. The same single was likely released later rather than simultaneously. Notice the residue on the side where a toothbrush was likely affixed. This compact 33 was issued with one side regular (monaural) and the other side in stereo. Dealers will be made available a 350 Compact 33 display. Media promotion through Life, Seventeen, Ingenue, Playbill, Ebony, Parent’s Magazine, and key newspaper markets. With an initial order in the million figure, the Highlighters wil be available at over 60,000 outlets at 84 cents which include an attached toothbrush. West, the world’s largest manufacturer of toothbrushes, will launch with at least 25 Compact 33’s in a Highlighter (one side monaural and the other stereo) featuring hot RCA Victor artists Sam Cooke, the Browns, Neil Sedaka and Rod Lauren.

The logic is that most record players offer a potential for playing 33 singles which didn’t exist until a year earlier.Ī promotion with Dr.

In 1960 was a lackluster year with 45 RPM single sales, so January 1961 the Compact 33 RPM will debut. This research is a basis for understanding the reason for the extreme values attached to artists such as Elvis Presley Compact 33 singles.īillboard Magazine, pp 1,2,22 by Paul Ackerman Where there were many large manufactures at that time that were also in the business of the Compact 33. The majority of this Compact 33 historical account is heavily weighted toward the RCA Victor product line. This has proven to be an interesting little research project as it was somewhat obvious that the Compact 33 format lasted for just over a year, but the reasons were not so clear, until now. Billboard magazine, compact 33, Elvis Presley, rca victorĪfter a little research, I have found several articles and advertisements that give a general indication as to the introduction to the the relatively quick demise of the Compact 33 format that RCA Victor records had introduced.

Old 33 rpm records