First Year of Stereo Records
This page is dedicated to the three enterprising visionaries who brought high-fidelity stereophonic music into the home: Emory Cook of Cook Laboratories; C.E. (Ched) Smiley of Livingston Electronic Corp. and Sidney Frey of Audio Fidelity Inc.
The first time the public heard true high fidelity stereophonic sound was in a movie theatre and that story can be found on this page: First Year of Stereophonic Motion Pictures. The dawn of Hi-Fi music in the home began with the release of mono pre-recorded music on reel to reel tape by Recording Associates in 1950. The full story can be found on this page, Binaural or Bust.
This article will document the first year of stereo vinyl beginning with the Westrex demonstration at the AES convention on October 11, 1957 through December 31, 1958. Please note that I will only list the first stereo releases from each label. Most labels issued new stereo albums every month and many of those subsequent releases can be found in the mid-month checklists beginning on July 12, 1958.
Over the years, many people have assumed the initial stereo disc releases from each label could be determined by referencing catalog numbers. That is not the case. When stereo records went into production in the summer of 1958, the labels selected their most popular mono titles for most of their inaugural stereo releases. Therefore, an album that was initially released in mono in 1956 may not have appeared on stereo vinyl until 1959 or 1960.
In order to make this listing as complete and accurate as possible, I have done original research and the data on this page was compiled from documented primary sources. The information was found in Billboard, Cash Box, Audio Magazine, Saturday Review, High Fidelity, HiFi & Music Review, Magnetic Film & Tape Recording, Variety, Complete Catalogue of Stereo Music, Schwann Long Playing Record Catalog and assorted vintage newspapers.
THE FIRST YEAR OF STEREO RECORDS
by Bob Furmanek
March 12, 1955: London Records preparing stereo discs.
March 1955: Roland Gelatt reports in High Fidelity.
April 12 - 16, 1957: Connoisseur stereo discs are heard at the London Audio Fair.
June 24, 1957: RCA Victor makes their first disc announcement.
July 1957: Irving M. Fried reports on the Connoisseur demonstration in High Fidelity.
August 1957: Roland Gelatt reports on the Connoisseur demonstration in High Fidelity.
October 7 - 12, 1957: The New York High Fidelity Show is held at the Trade Show Building. Stereo discs are not publicly exhibited at the event but both London and Westrex have demonstrations at other locations.
The Arthur Haddy London test disc has segments from these four stereo recordings:
SXL 2002 - Beethoven: CONCERTO NO. 5, OP. 73 (EMPEROR)
SXL 2005 - Dvořák: SYMPHONY NO. 5
SXL 2017 - Stravinsky: THE FIREBIRD
LXT 5389-90 - Wagner: DIE WALKURE - Act 3; Act 2
The Westrex Stereodisk System is heard publicly for the first time on October 11, 1957 at the Audio Engineering Society convention in the Trade Show Building. Pressed on that first 45-45 stereo disc is a Capitol tape that was released in July 1957; INTRO TO STEREO.
That disc is released commercially by Capitol on August 18, 1958 as THE STEREO DISC.
The audio starts at 1:26.
November 13, 1957 (date in matrix): 500 copies of the first Stereodisc (AFLP 1872) are made for Sidney Frey. Side one contains six tracks from AFLP 1851 and side two is AFLP 1843.
December 9, 1957
December 13, 1957: The Audio Fidelity test disc is first heard publicly in New York.
December 16, 1957
December 23, 1957
December 30, 1957
January 13, 1958 - Fairchild cartridge introduced.
February 14 - 16, 1958: Audio Fidelity distributes the first Stereodiscs to exhibitors in San Francisco.
February 15, 1958: Audio Fidelity to release four Stereodisc albums.
February 24, 1958 - Fairchild begins production of first cartridge.
Please note: Nearly all of the covers pictured below are the original 1958 pressings. Many labels initially used mono covers with stickers indicating a stereo album. Others, such as Warner Bros. and World Pacific, used baggies with stereo text. As you can imagine, those copies are quite rare today.
March 1958: Audio Fidelity releases the first four stereo albums and ships 10,000 copies of:
AFSD 1830/5830: Johnny Puleo and his Harmonica Gang volume 1
AFSD 1835/5835: Bullring! La Fiesta Brava volume 4
AFSD 1843/5843: Railroad - The Sounds of a Vanishing Era
AFSD 1851/5851: Marching Along with the Dukes of Dixieland volume 3
The initial 10,000 discs used a mono cover with a gold Stereodisc sticker physically attached to the front. Once new covers were ready for the second pressings, the revised Stereodisc stickers (which included the respective album numbers) were part of the artwork. If you'd like to find the first copies, look for this sticker.
March 15, 1958: Counterpoint announces their first two releases.
CPST 555: Boccherini & Vivaldi Cello Concerti – Aldo Parisot (the stereo release is delayed until May)
CPST 556: Juanita Hall Sings the Blues (reviewed in Billboard on April 14)
March 1958: Fairchild Recording advertisement.
March 25, 1958: RIAA sets standards.
March 31, 1958: Majors hold back while independent labels rush to release product.
April 7, 1958: Magnavox is the first to offer stereo players.
April 9, 1958: Columbia and RCA battle over standards.
April 14, 1958: Audio Fidelity sales boom.
April 14, 1958: Westrex advertisement
April 19, 1958: Celestial Records announces stereo discs.
We can find no further reference to these Celestial albums in stereo.
If you have any additional information to confirm their release, please let us know.
April 21, 1958: Recording techniques.
April 26, 1958: Audio Fidelity public demonstration.
May 1, 1958: Urania releases five albums.
USD 1001: Saint-Saens Symphony No. 3 in C, Op. 78 (first title shipped in late April)
USD 1002: Offenbach's Gaite Parisienne
USD 1003: Strauss Sparkles in Hi Fi
USD 1004: La Boutique Fantasque
USD 1005: Society Dances to Milt Shaw and his Orchestra at the St. Regis
This June article from HiFi & Music Review was written in early May and
discusses the first six releases.
May 1958: Audio Fidelity releases four additional albums.
AFSD 5844 - Leon Berry at the Giant Wurlitzer Pipe Organ Volume 3
AFSD 5849 - Lionel - Lionel Hampton and his Orchestra
AFSD 5857 - Bagpipes and Drums - 9th Regiment Pipe Band
AFSD 5860 - On Bourbon Street with the Dukes of Dixieland Volume 4
Early May 1958: ABC-Paramount releases six albums.
ABCS 143: Strauss in Hi Fi - Ork Valentino
ABCS 218: Eydie Gorme Vamps the Roaring 20's
ABCS 219: More College Drinking Songs - The Blazers
ABCS 221: Heavenly Sounds in Hi Fi - Ferrante and Teicher
ABCS 222: World War II Songs in Hi Fi - Four Sergeants
ABCS 224: Hi Fi in an Oriental Garden - Cely Carrillo and others
ABCS 226: The New Billy Taylor Trio (initially announced but delayed)
May 1958: The first 10-inch stereo sampler is released.
May 1, 1958: Stereo Records releases six albums.
S7001: Music to Listen to Barney Kessel By
S7002: My Fair Lady - Shelly Manne and His Friends
S7003: Leroy Walks - Leroy Vinnegar Sextet
S7004: Pal Joey - Andre Previn and His Pals
S7005: Firehouse Five Plus Two Goes to Sea
S7006: Mendelssohn Quartet in E Flat
May 8, 1958: Hallmark releases nineteen albums.
HLG 500: Peer Gynt Suite #1/Cappriccio Italiane
HLG 501: Symphony #5 in E Minor
HLG 502: Symphony #6 in B Minor
HLG 503: Symphony #2 – Beethoven
HLG 504 – Wagner Overtures
HLG 505 – Mardi Gras
HLP 300 – The Eddy Duchin Story in Stereo
HLP 301 – The Name’s Haymes!
HLP 302 – The Tommy Dorsey Story in Stereo
HLP 303 – The Nation’s Big Hits
HLP 304 – Dance Time U.S.A
HLP 305 – Complete Dance Party
HLP 306 – Music from the Films
HLP 307 – Evening in Paris
HLP 308 – The Music of George Gershwin
HLP 309 – Stereo Moods
HLP 310 – Stereo Demonstration Record – Narrated by Del Sharbutt
HLP 311 – Dance Parade – Lenny Herman
HLP 312 – Dixieland Jazz in Stereo
May 12, 1958: Hi-Fi to release eight albums.
SR 602: Band with a Beat - Harry Zimmerman
SR 604: Jazz Erotica - Richie Kamuca and his Band
SR 606: Harp with a Beat - Verlye Mills and the Billy May Orchestra
SR 713: The Genius of George Wright
SR 715: George Wright's My Fair Lady
SR 804: The End on Bongos - Jack Burger and his Orchestra
SR 805: Jazz 'n' Razz Ma Tazz - Georgie and his Varsity Five
SR 806: Taboo - Arthur Lyman
May 12, 1958: Majors to release in the summer.
May 19, 1958: Concert-Disc releases their first album.
May 20, 1958: Stereo Fidelity releases twenty albums.
The original May 1958 pressings have the Stereo Fidelity logo in raised lettering on the front cover along with the sound spectrum chart in full color on the back cover. The later pressings dropped the embossed lettering and printed the chart in black and white.
SF 1600: Complete Minstrel Show
SF 1800: Rhapsody in Blue
SF 1900: Honeymoon in South America
SF 2000: Johann Strauss Waltzes
SF 2500: Honeymoon in Paris
SF 2600: Scheherazade
SF 2800: Around the World in 80 Days
SF 3000: Honeymoon in Manhattan
SF 3100: Let's Dance to Hits of the 30's and 40's
SF 3300: Pajama Game and Silk Stockings
SF 3400: Gay Nineties Waltzes
SF 4400: 101 Strings in a Night in the Tropics
SF 5000: 101 Strings Play Hit Songs from Pal Joey
SF 5100: Tchaikovsky's 1812 Overture
SF 5500: Safari
SF 5800: Blues
SF 6300: Depression
SF 6400: Bridal Bouquet
SF 6500: Hi Fi Band Concert
SF 77: South Pacific and Music Man
May 25, 1958: Omega Disc releases four albums.
Late May, 1958: Bel Canto releases two albums.
To promote the new release, Omega issued a 45 stereo sampler with segments from
"Destination Moon" and "Champagne Music for Dancing."
The first pressings for Bel Canto and Omega Disc are issued in a deluxe box.
May 26, 1958: World Wide releases five albums.
Late May: Montilla releases the first ten Latin albums.
May 30, 1958: Elektra releases a $2.98 sampler disc, SMP-4X.
Hallmark was first with a stereo demonstration disc (HLP 310) in their initial group
of stereo discs released on May 10, 1958.
May 31, 1958: Atlantic releases three albums.
June 1958: Advertisement for the Stereophonic Music Society in High Fidelity.
June 1958: Counterpoint releases six additional albums.
CPST 542 - HARP MUSIC - Zabaleta
CPST 545 - SMOKY MOUNTAIN BALLADS - Jeanie West
CPST 553 - BEETHOVEN Variations OP. 107 for Flute & Piano
CPST 558 - SOUNDS OF GENIUS - Marisa Regules
CPST 559 - BEETHOVEN Octet - New York Wind Ensemble
CPST 560 - FOLLOW THE DRINKING GOURD - Michel Larue
CPST 562 - PORTRAIT OF PEE WEE - Pee Wee Russell
June 1958: Vanguard releases nine albums.
June 1, 1958: Elektra releases three albums.
EKL 118 - THE NEW YORK JAZZ QUARTET GOES NATIVE
EKL 139 - THE ORIGINAL TRINIDAD STEEL BAND IN STEREO
EKL 201 - IN THE GLORYLAND - Ken Davern and his Salty Dogs
June 1958: Stereovox releases a $2.98 sampler disc, VST-1.
June 1, 1958: Pye issues the first stereo discs in London.
June 14, 1958: RCA Victor announces fifty-five Living Stereo albums. HI-FI FIEDLER is the first sent out for review in early July and the first group of twenty-three titles is released on August 4.
Mid-June 1958: Grand Award releases eight albums.
June 16, 1958: London announces demonstration disc, PS 100.
June 20, 1958: Westminster releases one album.
June 22, 1958: Cook releases three albums.
2064 SD: Masterpieces of the Theater - Willis Page and Orchestra
2070 SD: Rail Dynamics
2150 SD: The King of Organs - Bill Floyd
June 23, 1958: Bel Canto is the first to release four stereo singles.
June 25, 1958: Liberty releases four albums.
June 28, 1958: King announces their first release.
June 28, 1958: Riverside and Judson announce their first four releases.
June 28, 1958: Seeco announces promotional EP for their first four albums.
June 30, 1958: Sales are encouraging.
June 30, 1958: Bell Telephone Hour and Newport Jazz Festival in AM-FM stereo.
July 1958: Stereo Disc Roundup.
July 1, 1958: RCA Victor releases twenty-seven stereo EP's.
July 1958: Jubilee releases five albums.
July 1958: Rondo releases twelve albums.
ST 501: Haydn, "Military" Symphony - Boston Festival Orchestra
ST 502: Barber, Adagio for Strings - Boston Festival Orchestra
ST 503: Flamenco Fiesta - Carlos Montoya & Group
ST 504: Wine Garden Music of Vienna - Anita Ast & Schrammel Orchestra
ST 505: The Organ in Stereo - Reginald Foort/Mosque, Richmond VA
ST 506: The Organ at Symphony Hall - Reginald Foort/Boston Symphony Hall
ST 507: Dixieland Clambake on Bourbon Street - Tony Almerico's Band
ST 508: Music of Around the World in 80 Days and My Fair Lady - Johnny Gregory & Orchestra
ST 509: Beethoven, Fifth Symphony - Boston Festival Orchestra
ST 510: Stereo Feast for Orchestra - Boston Festival Orchestra
ST 511: Big Band Latin Jazz - Willie Rodriguez and his Orchestra
ST 512: Horizontal and Upright - Red Camp with Rhythm
July 1958: Stereovox releases fourteen albums.
July 5, 1958: Coral releases their first album.
July 12, 1958
Early July 1958: Mercury releases twelve albums and stereo sampler SRD-1.
Early July 1958: Westminster releases fourteen albums.
July 7, 1958: Emory Cook releases stereo sampler.
July 12, 1958 - Morton Gould arranges for stereo.
July 14, 1958: Compatibility confusion.
July 17, 1958
July 21, 1958: Concert-Disc releases five additional albums.
CS 22: SOUND IN THE ROUND
CS 23: GIGI and MY FAIR LADY - The Radiant Velvet Orchestra
CS 24: DANCING AND DREAMING - The Jay Norman Quintet
CS 25: SYMPHONY OF THE AIR - The Famed Toscanini Orchestra
CS 26: THE OPPOSITE SIDES OF MIKE - Mike Simpson
July 27, 1958: The Miami News reports on compatibility issues.
July 28, 1958: Bert Parks' Bandstand broadcasts in AM-FM stereo.
July 28, 1958: Columbia releases twenty albums.
August 1958
August 1958: World Pacific releases four albums.
1001: THE GERRY MULLIGAN SONGBOOK
1002: THE SWING'S TO TV - Bud Shank and Bob Cooper
1003: SOUTH PACIFIC IN HI-FI - Chico Hamilton Quintet
1004: CHET BAKER & CREW
August 1958: Crown releases fifteen albums.
August 1958: Fiesta releases three albums.
August 1, 1958: Vanguard issues the first stereo album for children.
August 2, 1958: Stereo Fidelity releases a $1.98 sampler disc.
August 2, 1958: Epic announces their first nine albums.
August 4, 1958: RCA Victor releases their first twenty-three albums.
LSC 1934: Bartok's CONCERTO FOR ORCHESTRA - Chicago Symphony/Fritz Reiner
LSP 1656: COFFEE TIME - Morton Gould Orchestra
LSP 1659: THE TREMBLING OF A LEAF AND THE SOUND OF THE SEA - Ray Hartley
LSP 1665: THE MIGHTY WURLITZER AND THE ROARING HI-FI TWENTIES - Leonard Leigh
LSP 1692: DANCE MANIA - Tito Puente
LSP 1694: FIREWORKS - Billy Mure's Super-Sonic Guitars
LSP 1721: MUSIC FOR NON THINKERS - Guckenheimer Sour Kraut Band
August 5, 1958: London releases seventy-five albums.
August 7, 1958: Chillicothe Gazette on stereo samplers.
August 9, 1958
August 1958: RCA releases stereo sampler, SP-33-13.
August 11, 1958: Fantasy announces ten albums.
8001: DANCIN' WITH ANSON - Anson Weeks and his Orchestra
8002: DREAM ON...DANCE ON - Elliot Lawrence and his Orchestra
8003: MAS RITMO CALIENTE - Cal Tjader
8004: GOOD OLD DAYS - San Francisco Marching Band
8005: SEXTET - Cal Tjader and Stan Getz
8006: MEMORIES OF DANCIN' WITH ANSON - Anson Weeks and his Orchestra
8007: REUNION - Dave Brubeck
8008: FLAMENCO - Chinin De Triana
8009: Bartok: TWO PORTRAITS FOR ORCHESTRA - Little Symphony of San Francisco
8010: SPIRIT OF THE 20's - San Francisco Marching, Trotting & Walking Band
August 16, 1958: RCA Camden announces three albums.
August 18, 1958: Counterpoint releases $2.98 stereo sampler, CPST 2505.
August 18, 1958: Capitol releases fifteen albums.
August 18, 1958: Angel releases seven albums.
August 1958: Dot releases twelve albums.
August 18, 1958: Coral releases three additional albums.
August 25, 1958: Multiple labels issue stereo samplers.
Design/Stereo Spectrum DS-1
August 25, 1958: Audio Fidelity sues Stereo Fidelity.
September 1958: Westminster releases $2.98 sampler disc, WSS-1.
September 1958: Imperial releases twelve albums.
September 1958: Period Music Co. releases fifteen albums.
September 1958: Kapp releases sixteen albums.
September 1958: Cambridge releases one album.
1407x: MESSE SOLENNELLE - Jean Langlais - Cecilia Society of Boston
September 1958: Boston releases five albums.
BST 1001: THUILLE: Sextet in B Flat, Op. 6 - Jesus Maria Sanroma/The Boston Woodwind Quintet
BST 1002: MOZART: Horn Concertos No. 3 & 2, Vol. I - James Stagliano/Zimbler Sinfonietta
BST 1003: MOZART: Horn Concertos No. 1 & 4, Vol. II - James Stagliano/Zimbler Sinfonietta
BST 1004: DVORAK: Serenade in D minor, Op. 44 - Simon, Boston Woodwind Ensemble
BST 1005: The Boston Woodwind Quintet performing works of TELEMANN, REICHA and PISTON
September 6, 1958: Columbia releases $5.98 stereo sampler, SF-1.
September 6, 1958: Cameo releases three albums.
1001: DAVE GARROWAY'S ORCHESTRA
1004: ALONE TOGETHER - Dave Appell quintet
1005: DIZZY FINGERS - Bernie Leighton
September 6, 1958: Wurlitzer introduces the first stereo jukebox.
September 8, 1958: Stereo singles for jukeboxes.
September 8, 1958: MGM sends their first stereo single to radio stations.
September 1958: Brunswick releases one album.
September 8, 1958: Audiophile releases three albums.
September 10, 1958: Who's buying stereo records?
September 10, 1958: Lawrence Welk broadcasts in stereo.
Variety reviews the Lawrence Welk stereo premiere.
September 13, 1958
September 15, 1958: 101 Strings are the top sellers in stereo.
September 15, 1958: Stereo discs should be played loud.
September 20, 1958: Roulette releases six albums.
September 20, 1958: Mayfair announces twelve albums.
September 22, 1958: RCA announces stereo 45's.
September 22, 1958: RCA advertisement.
September 28, 1958: Grand Award releases $2.98 stereo sampler, GA 400.
September 28, 1958: Warner Bros. releases twelve albums.
October 1, 1958: Lawrence Welk broadcasts weekly on ABC TV in stereo.
October 1958: Stereo Fidelity advertisement in High Fidelity.
October 1, 1958: Tampa releases four albums.
TP 6: SEVEN WONDERS OF THE WORLD PLUS ONE - Rene Hall Orchestra
TP 7: THE HAPPY HARPSICHORD - William Donati
TP 8: LET'S GET ACQUAINTED WITH JAZZ - The Jimmy Rowles Sextet
TP 9: CHOPIN IN STEREOPHONIC SOUND - Dale Reubert
October 1958: Bel Canto releases stereo sampler: SR 1000.
October 1958: Audio Fidelity releases stereo sampler: AFSD 5890.
October 1958: Omega releases $5.98 stereo sampler, OSD-1.
October 1958: Stere-O-Craft releases ten stereo EP's.
They release a second group in November.
October 1958: International releases one album.
7777: THE MATING URGE sound track - Stanley Wilson
October 1958: Colpix releases one album.
October 1958: Sumco releases three albums.
001-2: CHICAGO SYMPHONIC BAND - Herman Clebanoff and James Neilson, Conductors
003: OKALAHOMA CITY UNIVERSITY SYMPHONIC BAND - James Neilson, Conductor
October 1958: Lyrichord releases three albums.
October 1958: Stereo Age releases two albums.
October 1958: Verve releases one album.
October 1958: Decca releases ten albums.
October 4, 1958: Design/Stereo Spectrum releases ten albums.
The first pressings are issued in a deluxe gatefold cover with a record cleaning cloth.
October 4, 1958: MGM releases ten albums.
October 5, 1958: Salt Lake Tribune on the best releases.
October 6, 1958: RCA Bluebird releases the first stereo album for moppets.
October 6, 1958: Columbia advertisement.
October 6, 1958: Everest releases ten albums.
October 11, 1958
October 13, 1958: Lawrence Welk leads in stereo.
Mid-October 1958: Argo releases five albums.
614: CHUBBY'S BACK - Chubby Jackson's Big Band
635: 2:38 AM - Ralph Sharon Quartet and Friend (Candido)
636: VOLUME 4 - Ahmad Jamal
637: LAST TRAIN FROM OVERBROOK - James Moody
638: PORTFOLIO - Ahmad Jamal
Mid-October 1958: Sacred releases seventeen albums.
October 18, 1958: Carlton releases six albums.
The first pressings are issued with raised velvet lettering on the word stereo.
October 20, 1958: RCA stereocasts.
October 21, 1958: NBC broadcasts George Gobel in Living Stereo and Living Color.
October 23, 1958: Variety review.
Late October 1958: United Artists releases eight albums.
October 25, 1958: Disneyland releases five albums and $4.98 sampler disc, STER-X 4000.
October 27, 1958: Stereo singles and EP's checklist.
October 30, 1958: RIAA defines stereo.
November 1, 1958: Seeburg introduces their stereo jukebox.
November 1958: Kandy releases one album.
815: ORGAN WITH A BEAT VOL. 1 - Don Johnson
November 1958: Monitor releases one album.
MPS 6001: Lucky Pierre - Roger Bourdin and his Orchestra
November 1958: Urania releases $2.98 sampler disc, SS-58.
November 1958: Halifax releases two albums.
STLP 301 and 302: STEREOPHONIC ORGAN HI-FI VOL. 1 and 2 - Jerry Mendelssohn
November 1, 1958: Gimmick stereo disks are the most popular.
November 1, 1958: Audio Fidelity at the New York Hi-Fi Show.
November 10, 1958: Dyer-Bennet releases one album.
DYBS 7000: BEETHOVEN SCOTTISH AND IRISH SONGS - Richard Dyer-Bennet
November 10, 1958: Aamco releases ten albums.
November 10, 1958: Lawrence Welk ratings boost from stereo.
November 12, 1958: Jubilee releases ten stereo singles.
November 15, 1958
November 16, 1958: Stereo Fidelity advertisement in Life Magazine.
November 22, 1958: MGM releases nine additional singles.
November 22, 1958: Rock-Ola introduces their stereo jukebox.
November 24, 1958: Columbia advertisement.
November 24, 1958: Savoy releases four singles.
November 29, 1958: AMI introduces a stereo jukebox attachment.
Late November 1958: Warner Bros. releases eighteen EP's.
December 1958: Roulette releases $2.98 sampler disc, SR-100.
December 1958: Stereo Age releases five additional albums.
December 1, 1958: Stereo phono sales.
December 1, 1958: Sunbeam releases one single.
December 1, 1958: Carousel releases one single.
December 6, 1958: Stereo-Gems releases six singles.
December 8, 1958: Advertising stereo.
December 8, 1958: ABC-Paramount releases eight singles and one EP.
December 13, 1958
Mid-December 1958: Challenge releases one album.
December 15, 1958: Counterpoint releases two singles.
December 15, 1958: Rondo-lette releases ten albums.
Mid-December 1958: Kandy releases their second album.
December 20, 1958: Stere-o-craft releases eight albums.
December 20, 1958: Fantasy releases $2.98 stereo sampler, FS 655
December 20, 1958: Stereo releases five singles.
December 22, 1958: Fiesta releases $2.98 stereo sampler, FLPS-1238.
December 22, 1958: Columbia recording Percy Faith's Orchestra.
December 29, 1958: Roulette releases ten singles.
Billboard: "Roulette Records has entered the stereo singles market. The label's first stereo singles release spotlights 10 disks, all taken from current Roulette stereo LP's.
The stereo singles, which retail for 98 cents, include sides by Jimmie Rodgers, Tyree Glenn, Joe Williams, Count Basie, Joe Newman and Marco Rizo. Basie is represented by three separate platters while Rodgers and Glenn each have two singles in the stereo release."
The following labels may have also released stereo singles in the last few months of 1958: Alhambra, Andex, Kapp, Keen, Omega, Orbit, Royal Roost, Seeburg and World Wide. If you can confirm their release
with primary documentation, let us know.
By the end of 1958, Stereo Fidelity placed ads announcing they were the top-selling stereo label.
If you have any additions or corrections to this data, please get in touch. Thank you very much!
