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Cinecord

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Cinecord records were made by British Homophone Ltd for The Cinecord Co. Ltd which was formed in August 1935, and based at 49, Whitfield Street, London W1. The company seems to have disappeared by November 1935. However, it wasn't until February 23, 1951 that the company was struck off the Companies Register.

The majority of the masters had already been issued on BH's Sterno label.  The records were not intended for sale to the general public, but, based on the announcement on a special Cinecord record, they were sold in cinemas for 9d each. It is not known if they were ONLY sold in Odeon group cinemas, or whether they did actually make it into general shops. They are not particularly scarce, and some of the Cinecord issues are easier to find then the equivalent Sternos; this late period of Sterno record can be very hard to find.

With the exceptions of the first 8 issues, the performers are anonymous on Cinecords. The catalogue started at O2 and only lasted a few issues, with O21 the highest known. The first one was labelled OD1 (i.e. Odeon) and was a special recording by Billy Merrin & his Commanders called
Round The Corner (at the Odeon). This was only available on Cinecord. Other bands heard on this label are directed by Syd Lipton, Charlie Kunz, Mantovani and Oscar Rabin. As it has never been reported, it may be that Cinecord number O13 was never issued.

There are also some organ solos recorded by land line from the Odeon Cinema, Haverstock Hill (despite some of the labels giving other cinema names) The organist on these 6 sides was Terence Casey. This information has been given to me by Wayne Ivany of The Cinema Organ Society Of Great Britain. The society has a website which can be found here.
There was a solitary 8" issue with no catalogue number (see bottom of page).

 Below is a listing of all Cinecords I have traced so far.  Any information about missing titles will be received gratefully!  All dance band titles are Foxtrots unless noted otherwise.

My thanks to Steve Walker for this information. Thanks also to Bill Dean-Myatt and Hectory Hill for some of the information on this page.

Page last updated on: May 20, 2024

Cat No. Matrix Title Film (where shown) Artist     (* = as shown on label) Original issue
OD1 S-4252
S-3086
Round The Corner 
Ranno De La Noche (Tango)
  Billy Merrin & his Commanders*
Mantovani and his Tipica Orchestra*
None
Sterno 1215
O2 SR-2021
SR-2022
Pop Goes Your Heart            
Happiness Ahead - selection
 Happiness Ahead
 Happiness Ahead
Organ of the Odeon, Wealdstone*
Organ of the Odeon, Haverstock Hill*
None
None
O3 SR-2017
SR-2019
You, Me And Love             
Gay Divorce - selection
 My Heart Is Calling
 The Day Givorce
Organ of the Odeon, Kingston-upon-Thames*
Organ of the Odeon, Worthing*
None
Sterno 1600
O4 SR-2018
SR-2020
My Heart Is Always Calling 
The Continental                
 My Heart Is Calling
 The Day Givorce
Organ of the Odeon, Kingston-upon-Thames*
Organ of the Odeon, Haverstock Hill*
None
None
O5 S-4123
S-4151
With Every Breath I Take       
June In January                    
 Here Is My Heart
 Here Is My Heart
 
Billy Merrin and his Commanders*
Billy Merrin and his Commanders*
Sterno 1555
Sterno 1583
O6 S-2248
S-2249
At The Bal Musette
The Valse Of The Gigolo
  Zigano's Accordeon Band*
Zigano's Accordeon Band*
Sterno 1014
Sterno 1014
O7 S-3843
S-4258
Speak Easy (cuban)
Rhythm Of The Rumba (Rumba)
  Walford Hyden and his Melodians*
Billy Merrin and his Commanders*
Sterno 1449
Sterno 1611
O8 S-4248
S-4251
Let Me Sing You To Sleep With A Love Song (wz)
Lookie Lookie Lookie Here Comes Cookie
  Billy Merrin and his Commanders*
Billy Merrin and his Commanders*
Sterno 1598
Sterno 1598
O9 S-4246
S-4249
The Words Are In My Heart (waltz)
I'm Going Shopping With You     
 Gold Diggers of 1935
 Gold Diggers of 1935
Billy Merrin and his Commanders
Billy Merrin and his Commanders
Sterno 1599
Sterno 1599
O10 S-4247
S-4250
Mr and Mrs Is The Name       
Flirtation Walk                      
 Flirtation Walk
 Flirtation Walk
 
Billy Merrin and his Commanders
Billy Merrin and his Commanders
Sterno 1597
Sterno 1597
O11 S-4266
S-4270
I've Told Every Little Star     
We Belong Together          
 Music in the Air
 Music in the Air
 
Syd Lipton's New Grosvenor House Band
Syd Lipton's New Grosvenor House Band
Sterno 1607
Sterno 1607
O12 S-4267
S-4268
Soon                                   
Down By The River               
 Mississippi
 Mississippi
 
Syd Lipton's New Grosvenor House Band
Syd Lipton's New Grosvenor House Band
Sterno 1606
Sterno 1606
O13          
O14 S-4063
S-4269
Smoke Gets In Your Eyes      
Lovely To Look At                  
 Roberta
 Roberta
 
Charlie Kunz's Casani Club Band
Syd Lipton's New Grosvenor House Band
Sterno 1528
Sterno 1608
O15 S-2528
S-2568
Black Eyes
March Of The Russian Hussars
  Jean Goulescu (violin solo)
Jean Goulescu (violin solo)
Sterno 1056
Sterno 1056
O16 S-4264
S-4272
Don't Ever Leave Me            
Why Was I Born?                  
 Sweet Adeline
 Sweet Adeline
 
Barbara Palmer (vocal with orch accmp)
Oscar Rabin & his Romany Band
Sterno France
Sterno 1608
O17 S-4206
S-4271
Your Head On My Shoulder  
All For A Shilling A Day    
 Kid Millions 
 Me And Marlborough
Billy Merrin & his Commanders
Syd Lipton's New Grosvenor House Band
Sterno 1588
Sterno 1609
O18 S-4280
S-4282
Love's Young Dream (Waltz)      
Jubilo                                        
 Little Colonel
 Little Colonel
 
Syd Lipton's New Grosvenor House Band
Syd Lipton's New Grosvenor House Band
Sterno 1605
Sterno 1605
O19 S-4275
S-4277
Look Up And Laugh         
Love Is Everywhere         
 Look Up And Laugh
 Look Up And Laugh
 
Syd Lipton's New Grosvenor House Band
Syd Lipton's New Grosvenor House Band
Sterno 1603
Sterno 1603
O20 S-4276
S-4279
Valparaiso (Rumba)             
Lovey Dovey                        
 Dance Band
 Dance Band
 
Syd Lipton's New Grosvenor House Band
Syd Lipton's New Grosvenor House Band
Sterno 1604
Sterno 1604
O21 S-4255
S-4256
Fare Thee Well, Annabelle 
Sweet Music                        
 Sweet Music
 Sweet Music
 
Billy Merrin & his Commanders
Billy Merrin & his Commanders
Sterno 1610
Sterno 1610

There was also at least one 8" Cinecord which I have; it has no catalogue number, but does have normal Plaza matrix numbers.

Cat Matrix Title Film Artists Original issue
  L-2065
L-2064
You, Me And Love                   
My Heart Is Always Calling You 
 My Heart is Calling
 My Heart is Calling
Mantovani's Tipica Orch, with Cavan O'Connor, vocal Plaza P-375
Plaza P-374