Much more than just an object. It is part of our history and our culture.
There are some recurrences that caress the spirit, given that they bring to mind sensations and emotions that have never subsided. There are objects that belong to us more than others, with which we have shared moments of joy and anger, of pain and serenity. The single belongs to this magical category. It is his birthday, having been officially born on 10 January 1949. If I rewind the memory tape, I find myself a child. I must have been 4/5 years old, between the end of the 60s and the beginning of the 70s, and I remember that my dad had positioned the turntable on top of the television, therefore a correct procedure was needed before being able to start listening to the much desired song.
It was necessary to take a chair, position it exactly in correspondence with the turntable, climb on it, with the record firmly held in the hand, position it correctly on the device, grab the arm of the turntable and place that needle that created the magical effect of spreading notes around the house. famous music. Exciting. That little vinyl record spun 45 times in one minute, hence its name and contained two pieces, each lasting no more than 4 minutes. On the side 'TO'the most important song was engraved, on the side'BThere is some kind of filler, but often, once on the market, the least important song was the one that achieved the most success. Here are just a few examples:
ELVIS PRESLEY "Don't be cruel" / "HOUND DOG" (1956)
QUEEN "We Are The Champions" / "WE WILL ROCK YOU" (1977)
DOORS "You Make Me Real" / "ROAD HOUSE BLUES" (1970)
GLORIA GAYNOR "Substitute" / "I WILL SURVIVE" (1978)
ROLLING STONES "The Last Time" / "PLAY WITH FIRE" (1965)
POOH "In silence" / "LITTLE KATY" (1968)
FABRIZIO De ANDRE ' Waltz for a love / MARINELLA'S SONG (1964)
The History of 45 Laps
The birth of the single is linked to a story with uncertain, fascinating and, at the same time, intriguing outlines. In 45 the American record giant Columbia announced the birth of the 33 rpm which in a beat of wings sent the 78 rpm into retirement. The vinyl microgroove radically changed the music listening system, electrical appliances, specific pins were needed, and gave something that seemed incredible, the elimination of background noises. The disc could hold up to ten tracks, was convenient and cost-effective. For Columbia, a golden business is starting but, apparently, there is a huge problem, which incredibly has not been evaluated in the right way.
The record company did not register the patent and here is the Radio Corporation of America (Rca) took advantage of this. In January 1949, has patented a new format that comes from a 33 rpm rib. The single is born that changes the history of music and its use. It all looked like an arithmetic result: seventy-eight rounds less than thirty-three laps equal forty-five laps. A more economical and practical medium format that quickly becomes a consumer product that increases the demand for music.
45 turns. Young people and that revolutionary novelty
Young people are the first to grasp that this novelty will revolutionize their lives, even as regards the part dedicated to pure fun. The arrival of the disc player, Portable battery-powered turntable with turntable, allowing you to organize a party wherever you were. For those born in the twenty-first century who fiddle daily, and for hours, with computers, tablets and smartphones, all this may seem almost banal and not at all engaging, but for the generation of the 50s and 60s it was truly an epochal revolution. . It is the Ricordi house that starts producing the 45 rpm and the first records were those of Enzo Jannacci, Giorgio Gaber, Gino Paoli and Ornella Vanoni.
From that moment on, those little black discs with the hole in the center have become life companions. One listened to a record in the same religious silence that accompanied the reading of a book. There was no crazy frenzy of today, which leads you to burn everything in an instant and always leaves you with that sense of deep dissatisfaction. Then there was the pleasure of enjoying those four minutes of the song that we had placed on the plate and the tactile pleasure of enjoying the covers that housed those little jewels. We did the collection of records, but always having the utmost care not to ruin, not to wrinkle those covers. In fact, they were often small masterpieces of creative graphics, in a time when software, or computer programs so renowned today, were perhaps only being formed in the wonderful minds of Bill Gates o Steve Jobs.
And then HAPPY BIRTHDAY my dear 45 rpm. Thank you for the many emotions you made us experience, for the joy you gave us after each new purchase. Forgive us for the bad words that occasionally escaped when, by chance, we hit the arm and the needle scraped on the record, with the risk of scratching it. Above all, thank you for making us sick with music, dances and fun, kisses and hugs, smiles and tears. Thank you for helping us live our life better. Eternal gratitude.
Article written by Stefano Vori
