Status Inactive Country of origin U.S. Date founded 1930 | Genre Pop, jazz Location New York City Defunct 1932 | |
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Parent company Durium Products Corporation Founder Durium Products Corporation | ||
An introduction to the paper and resin hit of the week records 1930 to 1932
Hit of the Week was an American record label founded in 1930 that sold low-priced records made of Durium instead of the usual shellac.
Contents
History
Around 1930, several types of thin, flexible records made of various plastic formulations were introduced in Europe, such as the German Phonycord, French Pathé Cellodisc, and British Filmophone and Goodson records. In the U.S., Durium was used by Hit of the Week Records. Durium was a lightweight, synthetic resin. Audio fidelity was equal to or better than ordinary shellac records. Unusually, Hit of the Week records had a recording on one side only, an early record industry practice which other manufacturers had long since abandoned. As a consequence of being uncoated on the other side, they have a strong tendency to curl and now often require the use of a clip or weight around the turntable spindle to keep them sufficiently flat during play. Some releases had the performer's portrait printed on the uncoated paper side, or were imprinted there with advertising matter. They were issued in flimsy rice paper sleeves, few of which have survived.
A new issue featuring a current "hit" popular song was released every week. Unlike other records, they were sold at newsstands. Previous issues could be obtained by mail order. Retailing for 15 cents each, later raised to 20 cents, Hit of the Week records were by far the lowest-priced records at that time.
By the summer of 1930, up to half a million copies of each week's issue were produced. But as the Depression worsened, sales slumped. In March 1931 the company went into receivership and in May it was purchased by the Erwin, Wasey & Company advertising agency. A new format debuted in August, featuring two songs or dance tunes on each single-sided disc and a total playing time of about five minutes, but the label remained unprofitable. The final Hit of the Week issue was released in June 1932.
After the demise of the label, some limited use was made of smaller (often only four inches in diameter) records made of the same material, mostly for giveaway advertising novelties. Specimens of one of the most common advertising records, which invited the recipient to come see the new 1932 Chevrolet automobile, are usually found with a mailing label and postage on the uncoated back side.
Musicians who recorded for Hit of the Week records included Gene Austin, Duke Ellington and His Orchestra (under the pseudonym the Harlem Hot Chocolates), Ben Pollack, Eddie Cantor (on a special 25 cent "Durium De Luxe" issue), Morton Downey, and Rudy Vallée. Most of the records were performed by studio musicians in New York, led by Adrian Schubert, Bert Hirsch, Vincent Lopez, Don Voorhees, and Phil Spitalny. The vocalists who recorded with the studio bands included several popular radio singers of the period, such as Ralph Kirbery and Helen Rowland.