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During the 1970's and early 1980's, albums on the EMI label were issued with either EMC pre-fixed or EMA pre-fixed catalogue numbers. Does anyone know when EMC was used and when EMA was used? The Shadows' "Rockin' With Curly Leads" has an EMA pre-fix, while "Specs Appeal" to "String Of Hits" all have an EMC pre-fix.

Ivo

C Leads, EMA:
EMA three months or so before that for Hank Marvin & John Farrar.

EMC, a month after C Leads: Cliff Take Me High.

EMC thereafter: Specs Appeal, Live Paris O., Tasty, HM Guitar Synd., String & Another String.

EMA/EMC were used on certain issues from Australia/NZ. When Change Of Address appeared on EMI in Australia it had the EMC prefix.

Best wishes
Malcolm C.

I could be wrong about this because it's going back a few years, but if my memory is correct, the EMC prefix was used for standard priced albums and EMA was used for the slightly more de-luxe albums, such as the ones with gate-fold sleeves, etc.

Of course it could have been the other way around, but I don't think so.

Was it really that long ago?

I hope this helps.

Pat.

It could be the reason behind them. The albums "Hank Marvin And John Farrar" and "Rockin' With Curly Leads" both have gatefold sleeves. Cliff's "Help It Along" and "I'm No Hero" both have EMA catalogue numbers, but I don't know if those albums have gatefold sleeves.

Gatefolds: yes, Pat's quite right. The two Cliffs are in this format. You can see the principle at work in the 70s if you compare the prefixes assigned to the various 70s albums from, say, Queen or Steve Harley and Cockney Rebel.

Malcolm C.