In what year were 45 rpm singles first produced and what year was the last single released on 78 rpm?

Senior Moments

Once RCA Victor introduced the first 45 rpm phonographs, they knew the importance of having not just one 45 rpm record available, but a selection of different artists and styles from which buyers could choose. Thus, in February 1949, they mixed a little of everything in with the very first batch of 45s shipped to record stores. They arrived in a custom envelope labeled: "This Is Your Preview of the New RCA Victor 45 R.P.M. RECORD LINE!" Inside are seven singles, each of which is made using a different color plastic - each color representing seven different musical styles. The colors and the records are: cerise, or cherry red, for Blues and Rhythm ('That's All Right,' Big Boy Crudup, 50-0000); green for Country and Western ('Spanish Fandango,' Spade Cooley, 48-0027); sky-blue for International ('A Klein Melamedl,' Saul Meisels, 51-0000); midnight blue for Popular Classics ('The French Marching Song,' Al Goodman and His Orchestra, 52-0006); and black for Popular ('Because,' Dick Leibert, 47-2857). The remaining two in the series are: red for Red Seal Classical and yellow for Children's Entertainment. Unfortunately, we have yet to learn the artists and titles of this pair of discs. As the music industry's very first 45s, the preview envelope suggests: "Use these seven records as samples between now and March 31st, 1949, and for use with the forthcoming window and counter displays." The copywriters then wisely and amazingly foretell: "You may wish to hold them as collector's items - the first production run of a record that will set the pace for the entire industry!" Sat Dec 08 17:03:29 CST 2001 (To fix characters - McG) May 27 03, 10:06 AM

Senior Moments

I found the other bit: 1962 : EMI of Great Britain withdrew its last 78 RPM records from its catalog. In the US 78s had been out of sight since 1957. Sat Dec 08 17:08:17 CST 2001 Reposted to credit Senior Moments - McG) May 27 03, 10:08 AM

RoweVend

1949 for the first 45s. 78s were released in the US as late as 1960 by some independent labels. Titles such as Fannie Mae on the Fire Label and 1960 by Wilbert Harrison on the Fury label to name two. Some 78s were produced as late as 1968 in some countries, such as India. Every now and then a late 78 like this will turn up on Ebay. In addition to the info regarding the record set RCA sent out: They were not all the same. I have seen several of these sets, and while they did have a selection from each color group, the selections themselves were different in the sets. Mine has: green 48-0064 Rosalee Allen & Elton Brit; skyblue 51-0008 The Silver Bell Orch.; Midnight blue 52-0024 All Goodman & Orch.; black 47-2787 Tony Martin; yellow 47-0177 Turhan Bey with Henri Rene & Orch., and red 49-0318 The Firat Piano Quartet. The cerise is missing from my set. Jan 26 08, 7:23 PM