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It's worth remembering that the original reason for having mono and stereo releases was because a stereo record player cartridge allowed the stylus to go up and down as well as side to side. If you played a stereo record with a mono cartridge you damaged the grooves. The other way round (stereo cartridge with mono records) was OK.

Stereo cartridges cost more (of course) and were only found in the early days on relatively expensive equipment (you needed a stereo amplifier and two loudspeakers which added to the cost). 45rpm singles cost six shillings and eight pence (about 33p, but someone will know what that would be really worth at today's values - probably several pounds). It was well into the seventies before the record manufacturers felt it was safe to issue only stereo singles.

RayL wrote:It's worth remembering that the original reason for having mono and stereo releases was because a stereo record player cartridge allowed the stylus to go up and down as well as side to side. If you played a stereo record with a mono cartridge you damaged the grooves. The other way round (stereo cartridge with mono records) was OK.

Stereo cartridges cost more (of course) and were only found in the early days on relatively expensive equipment (you needed a stereo amplifier and two loudspeakers which added to the cost). 45rpm singles cost six shillings and eight pence (about 33p, but someone will know what that would be really worth at today's values - probably several pounds). It was well into the seventies before the record manufacturers felt it was safe to issue only stereo singles.

There was also mono compatible stereo discs (called "gravure universelle" in France) with a mix limiting vertical stylus movements (bass in mono).

Didier