UK Pressing Plant Matrix Formats

In the 1950’s and 60’s, four main plants were responsible for most jazz LP UK pressings: Decca, Philips, EMI, and CBS-Oriole. Each has its own distinctive matrix code format which enables collectors not only to identify the pressing organisation and plant, but more importantly, differentiate an original pressing from a later reissue, in the absence of other clues of origin.

Though collectors sometimes describe the differences in words, online, very few have the technical proficiency to show you what they look like. Those that do often give you a close up of the engraving, which leaves out the many of the important tell-tale clues about size and location of the engraving in the run-out. The LJC all-in-one-view technique banishes all these problems, and offers a full screen view of the matrix code in situ, at high resolution, as you will see it in the real world. Impress your friends, at a glance, you too can be a matrix expert.

This is what the big four look like (click twice to view full screen at 1800 pixel):

 

DECCA: stamped in a straight line – usually letter VGMT followed by four-digit number, a “1” followed by a letter which is code for the identity of the mastering engineer. Example here is “B” – Ron Mason  as the mastering engineer, though often the recording engineer  differs – according to Tubby Hayes interviews,  Bert Steffens was their regular jazz recording engineer.

PHILIPS: also stamped, but in a crescent following the curve of the runout groove. The important part is the country code, preceded by a triangle, 420 indicating UK pressing, or 670 indicating Dutch pressing, other codes indicating other country of origin, rarely seen here.

EMI: stamped (or drilled) similar to Decca, but always in a curve following the runout groove. Generously spaced numbers and letters.

ORIOLE/CBS: stamped, generally a short very compactly-spaced  alpha numeric code with little or no additional information  beyond the matrix identifier.

AUDIO QUALITY

For what it’s worth , my hierarchy of audio quality, based on a few thousand records, award first place to Decca, who are in my view consistently the finest, closely followed by Philips. EMI are good but trailing a little. CBS Oriole is way down the list. When US Columbia  set up CBS to be their UK/European distribution arm, they purchased the Oriole label for their two record pressing plants, in Slough and Bucks. The plants main previous role was rapidly pressing very large volumes of cover versions of pop hits to get into stores like Woolworths, and by reputation their plant was largely worn out, and it was several years before they refurbished them.

In addition to the big four plants,  independents turn up, but generally they competed on price and offer lower standards.

In some respects the pressing plant is a given. Miles Davis mid to later 60’s UK releases are all pressed by CBS/Oriole, and are weak. Its not like you have a choice – it’s the only way they come. Though not exactly – the equivalent US Columbia two-eye pressings are significantly better – better mastered and better pressed. With Riverside, the earliest are Decca pressings, and re-pressing of early titles are Philips pressings.

With UK pressings of American recordings, you are also depending on the engineering skills of whoever transferred the US copy tape to its UK master and metalwork. With a few exceptions, the re-mastering is highly competent, and the quality of copy tape is not itself an issue. The resolution of tape transfers at high speed to a pretty good second generation copy. The problem is more how those tapes aged over the decades that followed. When offered an audiophile reissue (mastered from the original tapes !!!) those tapes often haven’t aged well, 1st or 2nd generation.

Fifties and early Sixties  American recordings issued in the US both in Mono and Stereo format, were often only released in the UK in Mono – a commercial judgement at the time. If you want stereo, you often have no choice but to look for a US seller and all the postage, customs, and general aggravation that can incur.