Supraphon

Czech label (formerly Czechoslovakia until 1992) with focus on classical music.
Labelcode: LC 0358 / LC 00358
Submitters, please note: Feel free to ask questions regarding Supraphon here: http://www.discogs.com/group/1754 —> click “more” for additional details:

History
The “Supraphon” trademark has been registered since 1932, initially for a record player manufactured by Ultraphon a.s. In the 1930s and 1940s the label produced mainly export releases of classical music for Ultraphon. From the 1950s until early 1990s Supraphon was the main Czechoslovak record company, recording, manufacturing and distributing most of the Czechoslovak releases for the domestic market as well as for export (in collaboration with the Artia Prague export company), active in all genres including classical, pop, rock, jazz, folk music, spoken word, and even several experimental and scientifical releases.
In the 1990s until the early 2000s the label focused solely on classical releases (the pop/jazz catalog was bought by Bonton Music a.s., later owned by Sony Music / Bonton s.r.o.). Today Supraphon’s large archive of unique recordings consists of approx. 55000 pop/rock, 30000 classical, 8000 folk music, 5000 spoken word, and 3000 jazz tracks (including the Panton catalog).

Catalog numbers
The primary catalog number is always on the center labels, not on the sleeve. For example, earlier releases had both the mono and the stereo catalog# printed on the sleeve, and the same sleeve artwork was used for both versions. On the other hand, later represses may have had an updated numbering scheme printed on the sleeve, but still the original number on the labels.
—> How to: If there are both mono/stereo numbers on the sleeve, use only the actual one as found on the center labels and add the other one to the notes.
If the numbering scheme on sleeve and label differs, use the label as the primary catalog# and the sleeve as the secondary catalog# (see § 4.8.4. of the guidelines).
For mono releases, please always add “Mono” to the format. For stereo releases, always add “Stereo” if a mono version obviously exists. But since stereo LPs were not a Supraphon standard until ca. 1970 and stereo 7" not until ca. 1974, you may want to include the “Stereo” tag anyway in such cases, including later represses of these records.
Common catalog# schemes in the 1950s:
5####-M = mono 10" bakelite, 78 rpm (“standardní deska”)
*LPM ### = mono 10" LP (* sometimes with a random character prefix)
*LPV ### = mono 12" LP (* sometimes with a random character prefix)
Common catalog# schemes until ca. 1967 (domestic):
DM ##### = mono 10" LP (four or five digits)
DV ##### = mono 12" LP (four or five digits)
SM #### = stereo 10" LP
SV #### = stereo 12" LP (sometimes also 10")
0#### = mono 7" EP (three to five digits, depending on genre)
013### = mono 7" SP
ST 17### = stereo 7" EP
ST 18### = stereo 7" SP
Common catalog# schemes until ca. 1970 (Artia export):
SU* 1#### = mono 12" LP (* = random character)
SU* 2#### = mono 10" LP (* = random character)
SU* 3#### = mono 7" EP (* = random character)
SU* 4#### = mono 7" SP (* = random character)
SU* ST 5#### = stereo 12" LP (* = random character)
SU* ST 7#### = stereo 7" EP (* = random character)
SUE* #### = mono 7" EP (* = random character)
Common catalog# schemes ca. 1968–1978:
0 1# #### = mono 12" LP
0 2# #### = mono 10" LP
0 3# #### = mono 7" EP
0 4# #### = mono 7" SP
1 1# #### = stereo 12" LP
1 2# #### = stereo 10" LP
1 3# #### = stereo 7" EP
1 4# #### = stereo 7" SP
4 ## #### = quadraphonic
Common catalog# schemes ca. 1979–1987:
10## #### = mono (mostly represses only)
11## #### = stereo
12## #### = mono supralong (over 30 min. per side)
14## #### = quadraphonic
Common catalog# schemes after 1988:
1# ####-1 ### = LP
1# ####-2 ### = CD
1# ####-4 ### = MC
1# ####-7 ### = 7" SP/EP
The last three digits often appear “boxed” on the sleeve: [#|#|#]
Common catalog# schemes after 2000:
SU ####-#
SU ####-# ###

Note:
• “SP” stands for “Short Play” (“Krátký záznam”), not for “Single Play”.
• Multi-vinyl releases came with individual catalog# for each record, usually shortened on sleeve: For example: “1 13 1234” and “1 13 1235” became “1 13 1234-5”, or “1 13 1234-35”, or “1 13 1234/35” (or similar).
• There were scheme mismatches or discrepancies (label vs. sleeve) around 1967, 1978, and 1987.

Retail price code suffix
The catalog number on the sleeve may have a retail price code suffix attached to it, for example “1 13 1234 H”. However, the suffix has been used very inconsequently and is not a part of the actual catalog number. Often the actual retail price was instead printed on the sleeve or on the center labels.
—> How to: Please do not include the price code suffix or the retail price with the actual catalog number. If present, you should add it to “Barcode and Other Identifiers” as: “Other (Retail price code)”.
Partial retail price code list:
c = Kčs ?,– (7" SP)
d = Kčs ?,– (7" SP)
e = Kčs 8,– (7" SP)
f = Kčs 9,– (7" SP)
g = Kčs 10,– (7" SP)
h = Kčs 12,– (7" SP)
cc = Kčs ??,– (7" EP)
dd = Kčs ??,– (7" EP)
ee = Kčs 16,– (7" EP)
ff = Kčs 18,– (7" EP)
gg = Kčs 20,– (7" EP)
hh = Kčs 24,– (7" EP)
C = Kčs ??,– (10"/12" LP)
D = Kčs ??,– (10"/12" LP)
E = Kčs ??,– (10"/12" LP)
F = Kčs 28,– (7"/10"/12" LP)
G = Kčs 36,– (10"/12" LP)
H = Kčs 44,– (12" LP)
QS = Kčs ??,– (12" LP quadraphonic)
X-F = Kčs 48,– (12" LP supralong)
ZA = Kčs 50,– (12" LP)
ZB = Kčs 60,– (12" LP)
ZD = Kčs 80,– (12" LP)
ZN = Kčs 120,– (12" LP)
CA = Kčs 52,– (Cassette)
CB = Kčs 58,– (Cassette)
CF = Kčs 62,– (Cassette)

Sound recording copyright ℗ date code
Sound recording copyright dates of records released ca. 1954–1964 are often identifiable by a Roman number printed on each label:
1954 = I.
1955 = II.
1956 = III.
1957 = IV.
1958 = V.
1959 = VI.
1960 = VII.
1961 = VIII.
1962 = IX.
1963 = X.
1964 = XI.
After 1964, most releases or reissues were usually labeled with an “unencrypted” Ⓟ year on the label.
—> How to: The highest Roman number on a release usually denotes the actual release year. Please also add the Roman number(s) to “Barcode and Other Identifiers” as: “Other (Sound recording copyright year code)”. (A readable scan of the center labels is always helpful as well.)

Manufacturing date code
Most Czechoslovak vinyl records pressed between ca. 1967 and 1992 include a three-digit code on the side A center label: ## # The first two digits represent the year, the third digit the half-year of the pressing. For example, a record with code “75 2” on the label has been manufactured in the 2nd half of 1975.
Even if the manufacturing date differs from the sound recording copyright (℗ year), it doesn’t necessarily mean that a record is a re-press. Some releases might have been held back for up to a few years for bureaucratic or political reasons, and the code simply denotes the time window when a vinyl left the manufacturing plant.
First pressings manufactured ca. 1969–1974 sometimes didn’t contain the manufacturing date code at all, in favor of the total duration time for each vinyl side.
Represses are usually identical to the original releases, apart from this code on the label as well as different stamper codes. (Some later represses may have an updated catalog# scheme on the sleeve though, see above.)
—> How to: Please always add the manufacturing date code to “Barcode and Other Identifiers” as: “Other (Manufacturing date code)”, because it is a very safe identifier of unique versions. However, before you submit a record as a unique release based on this code, please first check all previously submitted versions of the same release. Many submitters don’t include the manufacturing date code at all. In case of doubt please contact them in order to avoid duplicates. In most cases, later pressings are not “reissues”, they are represses. However, only add the “Repress” format tag if you are sure that yours is one.

Preprinted 7" record sleeves
Until the early 1990s, 7" records for the domestic market were usually distributed in preprinted sleeves: either in neutral company sleeves with the logo and random decorative graphic elements, or in picture sleeves with random illustrations/photos, or in dedicated picture sleeves for the more popular artists. Neutral sleeves with a center hole were usually blank, picture sleeves mostly had only the most basic short credits overprinted in low quality black letterpress, not always matching the actual credits on center labels.
The sleeve designs were used rather randomly, from time to time even illogically, depending on what the manufacturer had in stock at the time of the release. In many cases it is not possible to tell which version was the “original” release, since various designs might have been distributed simultaneously. That practice often caused confusing situations, particularly on “split” releases (see example).
—> How to: In any case, please always submit 7" releases based on the credits on the center labels, not solely on the outer sleeve! Particularly the © year on picture sleeves refers only to the design or photo, not to the actual release year. Please point out any discrepancies you might find (labels vs. sleeve) in the release notes. Also note that different neutral company sleeves without any credits don’t make a release unique yet. Any company sleeve might have been replaced by a previous owner or a reseller.