Disc (magazine)
Encyclopedia
Disc was a weekly British popular music magazine, published between 1958 and 1975, when it was incorporated into Record Mirror
. It was also known for periods as Disc Weekly (1964–1966) and Disc and Music Echo (1966–1972).
It first published on 8 February 1958, and gained a reputation for its emphasis on pop music
as reflected in the music charts, in comparison with its more music-industry focused rivals Melody Maker
and New Musical Express. Its pop music charts were based on its own sample of shops, initially no more than 25 in number, but expanding to about 100 by the mid-1960s. It was renamed Disc Weekly between 5 December 1964 and 16 April 1966.
In 1966, it was incorporated with Music Echo magazine, which had itself previously taken over Mersey Beat. The new magazine was known as Disc and Music Echo (with the name "Disc" shown more prominently on the masthead), from 23 April 1966. Unlike the other weekly magazines of the time, it featured colour photos on its front and back pages. According to journalist Jon Savage
, it featured "bang-up-to-the-minute news stories on the front page, race-track-style chart rundowns ... a contentious readers' postbag... and incisive singles reviews by the great Penny Valentine
". In June 1966, it was the first magazine to feature, in colour, the notorious Beatles "butcher" cover for the U.S. album Yesterday and Today
, under the headline "Beatles: What a Carve-up".
Contributors to the magazine included Jack Good
in the early 1960s and, later in the decade, John Peel
. It dropped the name Music Echo from its title in 1972, and continued to be published until 30 August 1975, when it merged with Record Mirror.
Record Mirror
Record Mirror was a British weekly pop music newspaper, founded by Isadore Green and featured, news articles, interviews, record charts, record reviews, concert reviews, letters from readers and photographs. The paper became respected by both mainstream pop music fans and serious record collectors...
. It was also known for periods as Disc Weekly (1964–1966) and Disc and Music Echo (1966–1972).
It first published on 8 February 1958, and gained a reputation for its emphasis on pop music
Pop music
Pop music is usually understood to be commercially recorded music, often oriented toward a youth market, usually consisting of relatively short, simple songs utilizing technological innovations to produce new variations on existing themes.- Definitions :David Hatch and Stephen Millward define pop...
as reflected in the music charts, in comparison with its more music-industry focused rivals Melody Maker
Melody Maker
Melody Maker, published in the United Kingdom, was, according to its publisher IPC Media, the world's oldest weekly music newspaper. It was founded in 1926 as a magazine targeted at musicians; in 2000 it was merged into "long-standing rival" New Musical Express.-1950s–1960s:Originally the Melody...
and New Musical Express. Its pop music charts were based on its own sample of shops, initially no more than 25 in number, but expanding to about 100 by the mid-1960s. It was renamed Disc Weekly between 5 December 1964 and 16 April 1966.
In 1966, it was incorporated with Music Echo magazine, which had itself previously taken over Mersey Beat. The new magazine was known as Disc and Music Echo (with the name "Disc" shown more prominently on the masthead), from 23 April 1966. Unlike the other weekly magazines of the time, it featured colour photos on its front and back pages. According to journalist Jon Savage
Jon Savage
Jon Savage , real name Jonathon Sage, is a Cambridge-educated writer, broadcaster and music journalist, best known for his award winning history of the Sex Pistols and punk music, England's Dreaming, published in 1991.-Career:...
, it featured "bang-up-to-the-minute news stories on the front page, race-track-style chart rundowns ... a contentious readers' postbag... and incisive singles reviews by the great Penny Valentine
Penny Valentine
Penelope Ann Valentine was a British music journalist, rock critic, and occasional television personality....
". In June 1966, it was the first magazine to feature, in colour, the notorious Beatles "butcher" cover for the U.S. album Yesterday and Today
Yesterday and Today
Yesterday and Today is the ninth Capitol release by The Beatles and the eleventh overall American release. It was issued only in the United States and Canada...
, under the headline "Beatles: What a Carve-up".
Contributors to the magazine included Jack Good
Jack Good (producer)
Jack Good is a pioneering former TV television producer, musical theatre producer, record producer, musician and painter of icons.-Career:...
in the early 1960s and, later in the decade, John Peel
John Peel
John Robert Parker Ravenscroft, OBE , known professionally as John Peel, was an English disc jockey, radio presenter, record producer and journalist. He was the longest-serving of the original BBC Radio 1 DJs, broadcasting regularly from 1967 until his death in 2004...
. It dropped the name Music Echo from its title in 1972, and continued to be published until 30 August 1975, when it merged with Record Mirror.