I’m just a little curious. I’m part of the younger generation and while I was looking at my music collection, I started wondering about it after realizing that nowadays, singles (on CD and vinyl) are almost always printed for a short run, only a months to maybe a year or two. Were 7" and ‘45rpm singles widely available in print or was the production in those days always limited too?
Also, if you so happen to know, do soundtracks of motion pictures/movies stay in print like everyday albums or do they usually go out of print after a period of time?
i,m looking at the 45,s now,one is as late as 1988.dead kennedys,,they are always in style,they were printed or kept in stock for a long time,,years,of course what i have some sold 5000 tops,seven records were rare usually indie,,uk etc,i have a uk subs single,,45,,4 songs one side,,rare,,most movies the soundtracks are not the greatest sellers,it,s more of a collector market,they may only print for a short time..of course todays tech would spit them out fast,,i hope i helped,i tried,great question.thanks
Pressing quantities of 45s (and 78s and LPs) was always dependent primarily on demand. The longer a record stayed on the charts, the more copies were pressed within limits-many of the small independent labels lacked the resources to get enough product on the street even when they had a hit record. Even major (top ten) hits disappeared fairly quickly, which lead to the collectors market even in the 50’s, and the reissue business-the first Oldies But Goodies album came out in 1958.
the way i remember it the singles were only available for the time the song was released until it fell off the charts and stopped selling.
I miss the old records,there back but too over priced.
In the 80s a lot of 7"s must have stayed pressed as I could get them from mail order services and a local record shop. In 1986 I asked for Dead Kennedys’ California Uber Alles (1979) and was told that it would be back in stock next week!! The limited edition stuff seemed to begin when bands/record labels realised that this was a good way of selling stuff faster and getting it higher in the chart, particularly if they had a big, loyal following (Iron Maiden and Manic Street Preachers both used this ploy to get no 1 singles).