The Genesis of the Music CD: A Comprehensive Guide

The journey to the widespread adoption of the compact disc (CD) in the music industry as we know it today began with some groundbreaking moments. This article delves into the history of the first commercial music CD and the evolution of the CD format.

The First Compact Disc

The first commercial compact disc was released on October 1, 1982. However, the production of the first CD dates back to August 1982. Unlike popular belief, the first CD was a recording of Chopin waltzes performed by Claudio Arrau. This recording, Philips 400 025-2, featured a unique moment in music history when Arrau himself pressed the start button at the Philips factory in Germany. This pioneering session laid the foundation for the mass production of CDs.

Early Commercial CD's

A little over a month later, the first commercially available CD was released. However, its immediate popularity was somewhat limited. In Britain, where I reside, CDs were launched in 1983 with the release of ABBA's "The Singles: The First Ten Years". This marked the first time the public could purchase a CD. It was also the start of a significant shift in the music industry.

Classical and Popular Music on CD

Initially, most CD releases were classical albums. In fact, some of the early titles that went into commercial production at the new Philips factory included "Ravel's Bolero". The first popular music CD was ABBA's "The Visitors" (1981). However, certain albums like The Beatles' "Abbey Road" were pressed in limited quantities. For a short time, the Toshiba EMI pressing of "Abbey Road" and the Vertigo pressing of Def Leppard's "Pyromania" were available, along with a few other classical titles.

Concurrent Advancements: Record Streaming

Interestingly, while the CD was being developed, RCA Victor launched the long playing record (LP) capable of playing fifteen minutes per side at 33 1/3 rpm. Despite the potential, it was a commercial failure due to the high cost of records and players combined with the economic challenges of the Great Depression. This is a reminder of how technological advancements are often intertwined with market and societal factors.

The Second Attempt: Columbia Records (1948)

Seventeen years later, Columbia Records tried again. At a press conference in 1948, they unveiled an LP record set that featured packaged sets of 78 rpm records. This time, they also offered a cheap player designed for radio attachment and sold it with five LPs. The first recording in their catalogue was Mendelssohn's Violin Concerto performed by Nathan Milstein, conducted by Bruno Walter. This time, the LP was a commercial success, setting the stage for the future of music recording and playback.

In conclusion, the journey of the music CD was a culmination of many small yet significant steps in technology and market strategy. The first commercial music CD marked the beginning of a new era of music distribution, paving the way for the digital music revolution that followed.