17 September 2026

On 17 September 1931, today 90 years ago RCA Victor Records demonstrated the first long-playing record, a 33 1/3 rpm recording in New York. The venture was doomed to fail, however, due to the high price of the record players, which started around $95 (about $1140 in today’s dollars) and wasn’t revived until 1948.

These 1931 records could hold up to 15 minutes of recording on each side. Unlike
the Columbia LP long-playing 33 1/3 records introduced in 1948, the groove size was
not a “microgroove” but was the same size as for the 78 RPM disc. However, grooves
were somewhat closer together than conventional 78s.

Most of these records were pressed on a new composition named RCA Vitrolac. The label was considered superior to the standard shellac material used in 78 RPM discs of the era. However, over time, Vitrolac proved to wear more rapidly than conventional shellac records, and it did not have a quieter surface.

Initially, the venture was doomed to fail however, due to the high price of the record players, which started around $95 (about $1140 in today’s dollars) and wasn’t revived
until 1948.