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Posted by: colonel snow Aug 19 2006, 07:47 PM

when you look in the lead out grooves of a LP you'll see a matrix number;
when you look in a recording sessions book you'll see that recordings got a matrix number;

I will explain what the matrix number means;
there is a year code

Year code

1955 – F
1956 – G
1957 – H
1958 – J
1959 – K
1960 – L
1961 – M
1962 – N
1963 – P
1964 – R
1965 – S
1966 – T
1967 – U
1968 – W
1969 – X
1970 – Z
1971 – A
1972 – B
1973 – C
1974 – D
1975 – E
1976 – F
1977 – G
1978 – H
1979 – J
1980 – K
1981 – L
1982 – M
1983 – N
1984 – O
1985 – P
1986 – R
1987 – S
1988 – T
1989 – U
1990 – V
1991 – W
1992 – Z
1993 – A
1994 – B
1995 – C
1996 – D
1997 – E
1998 – F
1999 – G
2000 – H
2001 – J
2002 – K
2003 – L

letter code:
P = popular
I = International
W = country and western

size and speed
A = master tape
K = 7 inch 45 rpm
L = 7 inch 33 1/3 rpm
R = 12 inch 33 1/3 rpm

Description
A = EP stereo
B = EP mono
M = mono
S = stereo

Studio
A 3 = filmcompany
A 4 = RCA Nashville
A 5 = not RCA studio

in 1963 the system changes
in the pre-1963 codes mean:
second character = 2 it indicates commercial popular music release
second character = 7 on singles it mean promo recording only
second character = 8 means promo only recording only
second character = Q means promo only compact 33 1/3 single


third character = P on single indicates song supplies by filmcompany
third character = P on LP indicates 12 inch 33 1/3 rpm 1956/1962

let us look now:
Heartbreak hotel got matrix G2 WB 0209
G = 1956
2 = commercial popular music
W = country & western (???)
B = EP mono (there is a EP release!!)

LP It happened at the worlds fair
matrix PPRM 2727/28 mono
matrix PPRS 2729/30 stereo

P = 1963
P = popular
R = 33 1/3 rpm
M = mono where S = stereo

the matrixnumbers from LP come after the last recording Relax (PPA3-2726)

P = 1963
P = popular
A3 = filmcompany

later on the sytem of matrix numbers has changed several times and when you're looking and comparing matrixnumbers you'll see that RCA doesn't always apply its own rules.
with this explanation I hope to make clear what matrix numbers means and you'll be surprised what is to be discovered

colonel snow

Posted by: stefan Aug 19 2006, 08:08 PM

I'm not into collecting vinyl myself, but I think that for the ones who do collect vinyl this is very interesting.
Thank you for posting this information [img]style_emoticons/default/thumbup.gif[/img]

Posted by: andy_m Aug 20 2006, 10:42 PM

Hi Colonel,
thanks mate for these great Infos.
This is all new to me. Now I understand more about Matrix Nr. on Vinyls [img]style_emoticons/default/cool2.gif[/img] [img]style_emoticons/default/cheers.gif[/img]

Posted by: colonel snow Aug 21 2006, 11:14 AM

when you compare matrix numbers you'll discover a lot:
one example>> the LP Girls girls girls got the matrix N2 PP 3293/94 (mono) and N2 3295/96 (stereo)

the song with the highest matrix is We're coming in loaded (N2 PB 3288)

this means matrix 3289 -3290 -3291 -3292 is missing; in the past there were rumours about missing songs from this session;
it could be that these matrix 3289-3290-3291-3292 is given to songs that were not recorded after all.

the second possiblity is that the matrix is for: Earth boy (movie version) - Plantation rock - Girls girls girls
(end title) - Mama. These 4 songs got a new matrix number when released for the first time (except Earth boy = unreleased).

several times a new matrix number was given to songs with an excisting matrix numbers (aug. 1969 when released on Collector's Gold).

as you see there are a lot of surprises

colonel snow

Posted by: colonel snow Aug 21 2006, 07:47 PM

I will reveal a "secret " with matrix numbers:

the closing theme with the 14-01-73 concert got matrix CPA5-4747;
Blue Hawaii got CPA5-4756;
Don't become excited about missing recordings because the 8 missing numbers were given to the double LP
(4 numbers) and the double quadro LP (4 numbers so the numbers are complete now.

colonel snow

Posted by: hounddogman Aug 21 2006, 08:07 PM

Very interesting matrix info! I knew some of it, but I must admit that, though I collect vinyl, I've never taken the time to dig further into it. Thanks for posting it Henk! [img]style_emoticons/default/thumbup.gif[/img]

Posted by: colonel snow Aug 21 2006, 09:11 PM

hello michael,

you can use your spare time now for research by digging in your vinyl collection.

colonel snow

Posted by: ChrisG- the younger Sep 14 2006, 02:40 PM

QUOTE (colonel snow @ Aug 19 2006, 08:47 PM)

Posted by: colonel snow Sep 14 2006, 05:16 PM

you'll be surprised what you discover.

colonel snow

Posted by: ChrisG- the younger Sep 15 2006, 11:10 AM

Agreed.

Posted by: colonel snow Sep 15 2006, 01:17 PM

this matrix numer story goes for US - releases; foreign countries use in most cases the same matrix.
when they re-released LP's and use their own system I have no idea what the matrix mean.

colonel snow

Posted by: ALAN May 10 2010, 12:47 PM

HI
More info in the ELVIS - UK book