K-Tel night today, I must be having a pretty decent collection of these, need to group them together in my cupboard.
Album Trivia: K-Tel records are very famous for being cheap low quality pressings. These are essentially compilation albums from the Canadian FMCG company K-Tel International. Their founder, Philip Kives who was essentially a salesman, figured out a method wherein he would license only the hit singles from the big bands and singers of the time and then include as many as he can on a single LP, usually 10 per side. In order to make maximum use of the real-estate on each side, K-Tel resorted to low-bass EQ and fading. Another trick was also in creating the playlist. Artists and Music companies used these records for slipping in some of their un-successful singles as well, in order to obtain royalties. Hence the USP of K-Tel was not based on the track name but the name of the singer or band, featured on the record
These records sold in their millions as they were only about $3-$4 a piece and music listeners did not have to pay for additional songs on an album which they did not like (as only hits featured). The common tag-line on K-tel records was - 20 Hits/20 Stars, 20 Greatest Hits, 20 Track Dance Parade and so on. The format was so successful that many others copied it including big names like Polydor, EMI, HMV, Arcade Records and so on. We had our share of these K-Tel rip offs in India as well, 20 Super Disco, Super Disco Buster, Its My Discotheque, etc were some of the Indian versions of these K-Tel records.
Note: These records are mostly given away or sold at very low prices in the Indian market, however these records if in good condition, are very collectable. Their covers are bright and exciting and if played with decent equipment, don't sound that bad after all. So next time you come across a K-tel, Arcade, Polydor, EMI or any other compilation record of this variety, don't just look past it
