Little Golden Records

0.01 MB·English

by  Gerard Arthus

Little Golden Records:

The Little Golden Records were orchestrated by Mitch Miller and featured the
Sand Piper Singers. As their popularity increased more stars of the times became
involved including Roy Rogers and Dale Evans, Art Carney, Shari Lewis, Bing
Crosby, Danny Kaye, Captain Kangaroo, and many others.

The early numbered records had a regular title and a Disney. There is no real
way to tell a first edition other than by dating. The original sleeves of records 1-
12 were 6 3/4 in x 8 in. and opened to show a description. There was a yellow 78
rpm record in a slot on the right. These records were released in 1948 and
showed a bout 3/4 of the yellow circle showing information about the record.

The sleeve format changed in 1949. They measured 7 1/2in x 6 3/4 in and the
opening for the record was at the top. Record color was still yellow and they
were 78's. Yellow circle on the sleeve describing the record was still present but
lines were added. The pictures on the sleeves were basic with a solid background
with several characters or pictures from the little golden book on them.

The original titles had just a number, the Disney Title had a D before the number.

Between 1949 and 1950's the record sleeve graphics were improved and covered
most of the sleeve. Between 1950-1951 an 'R' was added to the numbers of the
regular series and the Disney series 'RD'. In 1952 the yellow label on the sleeve
was replaced with a 3in logo and in 1954 it was reduced to a quarter size.

In 1956, Extended play records were released and contained Three Little Golden
Records on one record. The prefix was 'EP' and Golden Mother Goose was the
first produced and numbered EP317. They were yellow 45 rpms, and were
quickly changed to black. In 1956 the records were sold as yellow 78's and black
45's. The 45s normally had a banner down the right side saying it was a 45. The
78's were 6 in and the 45's 7 in.

After 1959, number prefixes were no longer used for regular records. The EPs
still contain the number prefix. The prefixes started being dropped around
number 471 and were completely gone by 490. The last numbered Little Golden
Record was #777 Row, Row, Row your Boat in 1964. After this time they were no
longer called Little Golden Records.

Here is a list of numbers and approximate release dates...

1 1948
25 1949
50 1950
100 1952
150 1954
200 1955
250 1955
300 1956
350 1957
400 1957
450 1958
500 1959
550 1959
600 1959
650 1960
675 1961
700 1962
750 1964