A brief history guide of BBC records

The BBC first started broadcasting radio programmes during November 1922, however, in those days broadcasts went out live and nothing was recorded.

As time passed, the BBC started to record shows in high quality for broadcast outside of the UK. The BBC Recorded Programmes Library was set up in 1936 just for this reason.

The BBC shipped out discs to radio stations around the world subject to very strict contracts. These normally allowed them to broadcast the discs for a licenced period (usually 2 - 3 years with an expiry date printed on the disc label) and required the discs to be destroyed or returned to the BBC on expiry. It seems not all were destroyed and some have now become part of collectors libraries instead, like mine.

Note that the costs of administering this service would paid for by the UK Foreign Office, rather than the BBC licence fee. Also note that although the BBC Recorded Programme Library name still existed, the name of the department had change to the BBC Transcription Service. This name changed again to the BBC Transcription Services later on as well.

The original recordings were made on shellac 12 inch 78 RPM discs or acetates and normally allowed for around six minutes of recordings. The main issue with this is that the overseas stations required a DJ to switch discs every time that side had completed. A typical programme would last around 27 minutes in total, meaning a total of 5 switches of side. The next side would typically be on a different disc where the label would show the order to play them in by stating Side 1 of 6 for the first side, if you flipped this over it might say Side 4 of 6. Side 2 (possibly Side 5 on the reverse) and 3 (possibly Side 6 on the reverse) would be on different discs, and so on. DJs would have two record players side-by-side and would set up the next disc ready to cue when the previous disc finished if that change didn't require an advert.

I don't have any of the original ones of these in my collection but they continued to be issued after the switches described below. The picture and link associated with this section takes you to the oldest example I have which comes from 1950s, but I don't know what year this was printed. I also have some BBC sound effects 78s and a BBC Engineering disc in this format.

These were not issued to the public and it is not known how many were originally produced, but probably had a maximum of 100 printed.

Following the initial success for selling programmes abroad, the BBC then followed other countries by using the large 16 inch disc format from 1947.

These had the advantage that they were better quality discs and allowed for up to 10 minutes of programme time per side. This meant the DJ would only require two changes per 27 minutes of programming.

Although the quality of these discs was better, they had issues with keeping the speed of the programme the same throughout its length. To try to compensate for this, one side would be recorded from outside to in (as we are used to these days), but the other side might be recorded inside to out. The idea here was this programmes speed would be similar when switching to the next side.

I have a few of these in my collection and the picture and link associated with this section takes you to the menu containing them all.

These were not issued to the public and it is not known how many were originally produced, but probably had a maximum of 100 printed.

By the mid 1950s, improvements had continued and the cost of vinyl meant that disc sizes were reduced to 10 inch records. These discs allowed for slightly longer recording times of up to 15 minutes, so DJs only needed to switch once.

I have seen some discs have the second half on the same disc, allowing the overseas station to have an advert break inbetween the sides. This significantly reduced the costs of sending these abroad as one 27 minute slot rather than being on two 16 inch discs now only needed one 10 inch.

I have a couple of these in my collection, but it is unknown how many were printed in this size. The image associated with this section takes you to the list I have. Note that I also know about a couple of BBC Engineering discs of this size, but these are not currently in my collection.

These were not issued to the public and it is not known how many were originally produced, but probably had a maximum of 100 printed.

The next stage is 12 inch records. This became the standard size as in the later 1950s, record makers had all agreed to standardise the size, how record groves worked as well as the needle to play them.

The vinyl size although larger, now allowed for up to 27 minutes to be recorded on each size. This allowed the BBC to record either two shows on one disc, or if a show lasted nearly an hour, have all of it on one disc. Again, this significantly reduced costs.

I have many of these in my collection. The image associated with this section takes you to the first style of 12 inch records. Note that later on, the BBC started using CN prefixed catalogue numbers which is recorded in its own section on this website.

These were not issued to the public, but had a maximum of 100 printed.

Occasionally the BBC also issued 7 inch discs from the 1950s.

The content of these tended to be inserts for broadcasters to allow listeners to hear what shows will be coming soon.

I have a couple of these in my collection. The image associated with this section takes you to the 7 inch records listing. Note that I also have a couple of BBC Engineering discs of this size in my collection.

These were not issued to the public, but had a maximum of 100 printed.

Although 78 RPM discs had been made available to the public for a while, during the 1950s, radio stations had started broadcasting popular music and so record players were becoming common place in UK homes, this was helped by the vinyl standard as described earlier as people could use the same player and needle for all records produced after this time.

By the 1960s, this was much more common and the public were buying these records. Also by this time, foreign travel was becoming far more common. The BBC had been broadcasting language shows already (in fact they produced shows and records for other countries to learn English from the 1950s, you can see examples on this site), but due to the increased travel were now making shows which taught you how to speak them. Popular examples were German, Italian, and French amongst others.

To go with these shows, the BBC started making materials from 1963 for the public to purchase, this usually included a record or series or records and some printed material to help listeners and viewers (some were shows on the TV) allowing those who purchased them to follow along and practise before travelling. To begin with, you could only buy these direct from the BBC itself.

I have almost all of these in my collection. The image associated with this section takes you to a list of all the OP prefixed records catalogue, note that later additions were not just language shows.

Following the success of the language series, the BBC then considered releasing more general subjects as records based on the library of material stored in their archives.

Initial suggestions are that they initially tried a few recordings in 1967 which didn't have picture sleeves, the item related to this section is the first release without such a sleeve, but a generic BBC sleeve, some included an insert to give more details. This item was re-released later including a picture cover. The last record to be released in this series is dated 1991. The link takes you to the first page of the general releases and I have almost all of them in my collection.

The catalogue number for these starts with RE following by one or two letters (which indicates the price band) then between 1 and 3 numbers for most. The BBC also released these as cassettes (the catalogue number were completely different to start with but then followed a ZC one lettter and the same three numbers as the album.) Next were cartridges for your vehicle (the catalogue number for these were RCT then 4 numbers like the cassettes.) Lastly CD's were released from the mid 1980s (the catalogue number was normally BBCCD then the same number as the album. Note that these continued until 1996.)

The BBC also released other catalogues for albums, some examples - Gold Label, Super Beeb, and Roundabout. These all had their own catalogue numbers and had all died out by 1991 as well for vinyl.

Many BBC records, cassettes, and CDs were released abroad. At least one country in Africa, both Americas, Australisia, and Europe has released at least one BBC record - some are unique to that country. This is because the BBC has exported its programmes not just by the methods shown on this page, but also video content.

After the albums started in 1967, the BBC then considered releasing singles again based on the library of material stored in their archives.

Initial suggestions are that they initially were only going to release one in 1970 but unlike many of the older singles, this did have a picture cover. This item was re-released later with a different picture cover when the programme was repeated. More regular singles started to be released from 1971, though a couple of promotional singles also appeared in 1970. The last record to be released in this series is dated 1991. The link takes you to the first page of the singles releases and I have almost all of them in my collection.

The catalogue number for these starts with RESL following by between 1 and 3 numbers. A series of cassingles was released in the mid 1980s for a few releases (there catalogue number was ZRESL then the same three numbers as the single.) A similar series for CD singles was also released for a few entries (there catalogue number was CDS then the same three numbers as the single mostly.)

The BBC also released other catalogues for singles, some examples - BBC, and Super Beeb. These all had their own catalogue numbers and had all died out by 1991 as well for vinyl.

Like the albums, some countries have also released BBC singles locally - but not to the extent of the albums. These countries were mostly English speaking such as the North American countries and Australia / New Zealand.

Twelve inch singles again started with a one off in 1983, another in 1984, then more general ones from 1985.

The last record to be released in this series is dated 1990. The link takes you to the first page of the 12 inch singles releases and I have almost all of them in my collection.

The catalogue number for these starts with 12 RSL following by 3 numbers. These match the similar 7 inch single release number.

The BBC also released another catalogue for 12 inches, the BBC and a series of movies with books. These all had their own catalogue numbers and had all died out by 1991 as well for vinyl.

Only some countries have released BBC 12 inch singles locally. The only one I am currently aware of is Germany.

For the CDs not released to the public, the next stage is CD albums. The initial move to CDs started was in 1988 for the Radioplay releases and 1989 for the BBC Transcription releases. The latter says all new releases from 1991 would be disc based only.

I have the BBC Transcription release demo disc in my collection but haven't purchased many others as its much easier to copy discs than records. The image associated with this section takes you to the BBC Transcription releases section.

These were not issued to the public, but it is unknown how many were printed.