Supraphon

Across 11 tagged in-scope masters

History
The “Supraphon” name first appeared in early 20th century in Germany, but it was never used there as a label. In Czechoslovakia the “Supraphon” trademark has been registered since 1932, initially for a record player. The Supraphon logo “Lion with Lyre” was registered in 1949. From the 1950s until the early 1990s Supraphon was the main Czechoslovak record label, as well as licensee and distributor of foreign releases for the domestic market. The label is active in all genres, including classical, pop, rock, jazz, folk music, spoken word, and even several experimental and scientifical releases.
From 1994 until 2003 the label was focused mainly on classical releases.
Its old pop/jazz catalog was bought and owned by Bonton Music a.s. 1994–1998, and by Sony Music / Bonton s.r.o. 1998–2003, and released on the Bonton label during that time.
Today Supraphon’s large archive of unique recordings consists of approx. 55000 pop/rock, 30000 classical, 8000 folk music, 5000 spoken word, and 3000 jazz tracks, including the Panton catalog, as well as the Bonton 1990–1997 catalog.

Unique releases
Please be aware that many well selling Supraphon vinyl records were repressed several times, some of them even for over three decades. Each version is usually distinguishable by several factors, see examples below. When submitting a release, please make sure to include as many technical details as possible, preferably also readable cover images and all center label scans for easy identification, because unique versions may often differ in small printed details.

Catalog numbers
The primary catalog number is always on the center labels, not on the sleeve. For example, earlier releases had both the mono and the stereo catalog# printed on the sleeve, and the same sleeve artwork was used for both versions. On the other hand, later represses may have had an updated numbering scheme printed on the sleeve, but still the original number on the labels.
—> How to: If there are both mono/stereo numbers on the sleeve, use only the actual one as found on the center labels and add the other one to the notes.
If the numbering scheme on sleeve and label differs, use the label as the primary catalog# and the sleeve as the secondary catalog# (see [g4.8.4.]).
For mono releases, please always add “Mono” to the format. For stereo releases, always add “Stereo” if a mono or quadraphonic pressing provably exists.
Common catalog# schemes in the 1950s:
5####-M = mono 10" bakelite, 78 rpm (“standardní deska”)
*LPM ### = mono 10" LP (* sometimes with a random character prefix)
*LPV ### = mono 12" LP (* sometimes with a random character prefix)
Common catalog# schemes until ca. 1967 (domestic):
DM ##### = mono 10" LP (four or five digits)
DV ##### = mono 12" LP (four or five digits)
SM #### = stereo 10" LP
SV #### = stereo 12" LP (sometimes also 10")
0#### = mono 7" EP (three to five digits, depending on genre)
01#### = mono 7" SP
ST 17### = stereo 7" EP
ST 18### = stereo 7" SP
FO ###/### = mono DIN A5 single-sided postcard (1st#: matrix no., 2nd#: photo no.)
Common catalog# schemes until ca. 1970 (Artia export):
SUE* #### = mono 7" EP, until ca. 1960 (* = random character)
SU* 1#### = mono 12" LP (* = random character)
SU* 2#### = mono 10" LP (* = random character)
SU* 3#### = mono 7" EP (* = random character)
SU* 4#### = mono 7" SP (* = random character)
SU* ST 5#### = stereo 12" LP (* = random character)
SU* ST 7#### = stereo 7" EP (* = random character)
5# ### = stereo 12" LP, 1970s and 1980s Artia represses/reissues of 1960s releases (usually only on sleeve)
Note: you may want to add “Exported By – Artia” company credit for all releases with these catalog# schemes, even if Artia is uncredited on the release.
Common catalog# schemes ca. 1968–1978:
0 1# #### = mono 12" LP
0 2# #### = mono 10" LP
0 3# #### = mono 7" EP
0 4# #### = mono 7" SP
1 1# #### = stereo 12" LP
1 2# #### = stereo 10" LP
1 3# #### = stereo 7" EP
1 4# #### = stereo 7" SP
2 ## #### = mono supralong (over 30 min. per side for LP, over 20 min. per side for 10")
4 ## #### = quadraphonic
Common catalog# schemes ca. 1979–1987:
10## #### = mono (mostly represses only)
11## #### = stereo
12## #### = mono supralong (over 30 min. per side)
14## #### = quadraphonic
Common catalog# schemes after 1988:
1# ####-1 ### = LP
1# ####-2 ### = CD
1# ####-4 ### = MC
1# ####-7 ### = 7" SP/EP
First two digits can be 10, 11, 12 or 16
Last three digits often appear “boxed” on sleeve: [#|#|#]
Common catalog# schemes after 1995:
SU ####-#
SU ####-# ###

Digits after dash
• 1st number = medium format
   1 = LP, 2 = CD, 4 = MC, 7 = 7" SP/EP, 9 = DVD
• 2nd number = music style
   0 = orchestral, 1 = instrumental chamber, 2 = vocal, 3 = pop/rock, 4 = folk, 5 = jazz, 6 = operatic, 7 = stage & screen recordings 9 = miscellaneous
• 3rd number = recording format
   0 = analogue mono, 1 = analogue stereo, 3 = digital stereo
• 4th number = number of media
   1 to 9 = number of discs, 0 = set of ten or more discs

Also note:
• “SP” stands for “Short Play” (“Krátký záznam”), not for “Single Play”.
• Multi-vinyl releases came with individual catalog# for each record, usually shortened on sleeve.
   Example: “1 13 1234” and “1 13 1235” became “1 13 1234-5”, or “1 13 1234-35”, or “1 13 1234/35” (or similar).
• There were scheme mismatches or discrepancies (label vs. sleeve) around 1967, 1978, and 1987 during the scheme switch.

Retail price code suffix
Catalog number on vinyl sleeves may have a retail price code suffix attached to it, for example “1 13 1234 H”. However, the suffix was applied inconsistently and it is not an integral part of the catalog number scheme. Often the actual retail price in Kčs was printed on sleeves or on center labels instead. The “clean” catalog number is usually printed on the sleeve spine and on center labels.
—> How to: Do not attach the price code suffix or the retail price to the catalog number string. If present, the code should be added to “Barcode and Other Identifiers” as: “Price Code”.
Partial retail price code list:
c = Kčs ?,– (7" SP)
d = Kčs ?,– (7" SP)
e = Kčs 8,– (7" SP)
f = Kčs 9,– (7" SP)
g = Kčs 10,– (7" SP)
h = Kčs 12,– (7" SP)
cc = Kčs ??,– (7" EP)
dd = Kčs ??,– (7" EP)
ee = Kčs 16,– (7" EP)
ff = Kčs 18,– (7" EP)
gg = Kčs 20,– (7" EP)
hh = Kčs 24,– (7" EP)
C = Kčs ??,– (10"/12" LP)
D = Kčs ??,– (10"/12" LP)
E = Kčs 20,– (10"/12" LP)
F = Kčs 28,– (7"/10"/12" LP)
G = Kčs 36,– (10"/12" LP)
H = Kčs 44,– (12" LP)
QS = Kčs ??,– (12" LP quadraphonic)
X-F = Kčs 48,– (12" LP supralong)
ZA = Kčs 50,– (12" LP)
ZB = Kčs 60,– (12" LP)
ZD = Kčs 80,– (12" LP)
ZN = Kčs 120,– (12" LP)
CA = Kčs 52,– (Cassette)
CB = Kčs 58,– (Cassette)
CF = Kčs 62,– (Cassette)
CG = Kčs 70,– (Cassette)

Manufacturing date code
Three-digit code “## #” on side A center label, present on most Czechoslovak vinyl records pressed between 1966 and 1992.
First 2 digits represent the year, 3rd digit the half-year of pressing.
Example: Code “75 2” means “manufactured 2nd half of 1975”.
Exceptions: Some first pressings and most Gramofonový Klub editions ca. 1969–1975 didn’t contain the date code at all, in favor of the total duration time for each vinyl side. The release year was then identical with the printed copyright year.
Represses are usually almost identical to the original releases, apart from the date code on label and different galvanoplasty codes (see profile Gramofonové Závody). Some later represses may have an updated catalog# scheme on the sleeve though, see above.
—> How to: Always add the date code to “Barcode and Other Identifiers” as “Other (Manufacturing date code): ## #” because it is a safe identifier of unique versions. The oldest known pressing should be the key release in a Master Releases, all subsequent pressings should be tagged as Repress.
If no date code is printed and there already exist other versions with a date code, please add “Other (Manufacturing date code): none”.
Also, represses or reissues of many classical albums originally released before 1967 remained without date code on 1970s and 1980s pressings; leave the Released field empty if in doubt.

Sound recording copyright ℗ date code
Sound recording copyright date codes were introduced in 1958 as Roman numbers printed on each label:
1954 = I.
1955 = II.
1956 = III.
1957 = IV.
1958 = V.
1959 = VI.
1960 = VII.
1961 = VIII.
1962 = IX.
1963 = X.
1964 = XI.
From 1965 on, new releases were usually tagged with an “unencrypted” ℗ year on labels.
—> How to: A release with Roman number codes must not have a release year before 1958. Starting with “V.” and higher, the highest Roman number on a release may usually denote the actual release year. Caution is required, however, e.g. for 7" releases which may have been pressed on 78 rpm records previously, or for subsequent represses of best-selling LPs. Please add the Roman number(s) to “Barcode and Other Identifiers” as: “Other (Sound recording copyright year code)”. (A readable scan of the center labels is always helpful as well)

Preprinted 7" record sleeves
Until the early 1990s, 7" records for the domestic market were usually distributed in preprinted sleeves: either in neutral company sleeves with the logo and random decorative graphic elements, or in picture sleeves with random illustrations/photos, or in dedicated picture sleeves for the more popular artists. Neutral sleeves with a center hole were usually blank, picture sleeves mostly had only the most basic short credits overprinted in low quality black letterpress, not always matching the actual credits on center labels.
The sleeve designs were used rather randomly, from time to time even illogically, depending on what the manufacturer had in stock at the time of the release. In many cases it is not possible to tell which version was the “original” release, since various designs might have been distributed simultaneously. That practice often caused confusing situations, particularly on “split” releases (see example).
—> How to: In any case, please always submit 7" releases based on the credits on the center labels, not solely on the outer sleeve! Particularly the © year on picture sleeves refers only to the design or photo, not to the actual release year. Please point out any discrepancies you might find (labels vs. sleeve) in the release notes. Also note that different neutral company sleeves without any credits don’t make a release unique yet. Any company sleeve might have been replaced by a previous owner or a reseller.