Hit of the Week Records
| Company type | Record label |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1930 |
| Defunct | 1932 |
Area served | United States |
| Products | Records made of Durium resin |
Hit of the Week was a United States-based record label established in 1930, known for producing affordable records composed of Durium, a synthetic resin, rather than the conventional shellac material.
History
In 1930, several European firms introduced thin and flexible records crafted from various plastic substances. In America, Hit of the Week embodied this innovation by manufacturing discs with a brown paper foundation coated in Durium. These records exhibited reduced sound quality and a noticeable low-frequency hum attributed to their textured surface. Distinctively, they were pressed single-sided—a rare approach largely discontinued by most producers since around 1910. The uncoated reverse side frequently led to warping, necessitating the use of clips or weights during playback. Certain editions displayed artist photographs or advertisements on the back and were packaged in delicate rice paper sleeves.
A new release featuring a current hit song was issued every week and retailed at newsstands; earlier editions could be obtained via mail order. Initially priced at 15 cents and later increased to 20 cents, these were the least expensive records available in the US market at that time.
The inaugural release debuted in February 1930. By mid-year, weekly output had climbed to approximately 500,000 copies. Nevertheless, sales diminished as the Great Depression progressed. The company entered receivership in March 1931 and was subsequently purchased by the advertising agency Erwin, Wasey & Company in May. In August of that year, a revised format was introduced featuring two songs on a single-sided disc with an approximate total playtime of five minutes; however, financial success remained out of reach. The label's final issue was distributed in June 1932.
Following the label’s closure, smaller Durium discs—often measuring four inches—were produced primarily as promotional items, including advertisements such as those for the 1932 Chevrolet automobile.
Prominent performers who recorded for Hit of the Week included Gene Austin, Duke Ellington and His Orchestra (under the pseudonym "Harlem Hot Chocolates"), Ben Pollack, Eddie Cantor (featured on a special "Durium De Luxe" edition), Morton Downey, and Rudy Vallée. Most musical arrangements were executed by New York studio musicians led by conductors Adrian Schubert, Bert Hirsch, Vincent Lopez, Don Voorhees, and Phil Spitalny. Jazz soloists such as Joe Venuti and Eddie Lang contributed instrumental performances. Vocalists included well-known radio artists like Ralph Kirbery and Helen Rowland.
In Britain, a comparable series was marketed under the Durium brand.
See also
Discographies
- Hit of the Week Discography, Hans Koert (Heinkenszand, The Netherlands) (1994–2007)
- Durium (GB) Discography, Hans Koert (Heinkenszand, The Netherlands) (1994–2007)
- Durium Advertisement and Custom Records Discography, Hans Koert (The Netherlands) (1994–2007)