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Mimosa

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        Crystallate introduced their sixpenny Mimosa label in about 1921 as a replacement for the now hard-to-find "Little Popular". The Mimosa records were initially single-sided with a face number in an M-100 series. Subsequently, they started issuing double-faced records, still numbering each face with the face number, but not using a catalogue number to start with. All these have an orange-coloured label with the M-series number and the records were 5½"  in diameter and sold in Woolworth's stores. The lowest number seen to date is M-121 and the highest M-253.

The following year the more-familiar red-labelled P-series appeared, still 5½" and using the M-series number as a matrix (now prefixed W- rather than M-). All Mimosa records couple a copyrighted tune with one where the copyright has lapsed or was owned by Crystalate. The 5½" discs ran from P-1 in October 1922 to about P-240 in April 1926. The W- matrices continued in use on other labels such as Oliver and Kiddyphone.

Mimosa, meanwhile had introduced a 6" series starting, rather confusingly again at P-1 and probably being issued from January 1926 until about the Summer of 1928 by which time they reached P-227. The matrix series was in an E-100 range, and, again, they continued in use after Mimosa's replacement (by 7" Victory records) on Oliver & Kiddyphone records.

There are a handful of American issues on the 6" series, usually dubbed and edited from Items available in full on Crystalate's main Imperial label. These issues have a matrix number in an A-1 series.

The music available on Mimosa was unashamedly popular - after all they were aiming at a children's market. There were plenty of dance band recordings, mainly by bands directed by Stan Greening and Ronnie Munro but with a handful by Geoffrey Gelder and Hal Swain. In the early period, the bands appear to be either the Marlborough Band or Jones' Band, neither of whom appear to have recorded elsewhere. There are plenty of foreshortened Overtures and the like, usually played by military bands, also songs of all types and solo intrumental pieces.

Crystalate were very late in introducing Electrical recordings. None of the 5½ Mimosas are Electrically recorded, but the 6" ones are (at least on one side!) from about P-200 (when there was a spate of American dubs, probably because they were the only Electrical recordings available to them).

Label designs: 
The extent that each design was used is still being investigated, remembering that records can be found with more than one design if they remained in catalogue for long enough. Hence, it is the highest use of a design which is important here (if indeed it is important at all!)

Type 1: The orange background type was only used on the single-sided and the coupled M-series ones. 

Type 2: Used on the early 5½" records from P-1 to about P-216 (highest found to date)

Type 3: Used on the 5½" records to P-239 (highest known 5½"). Also used on the early 6" P-series from P-1 to P-97 (highest found so far).

Type 4: Used on the 6" P-series to P-167.

Type 5: Used on 6" P-series to P-207. Some will state "Electrical Recording" on the label, but these are usually the American recordings.

Type 6: Used on the last few 6" P-series to P-227 (highest known). Most new recordings on this label are labelled "Electric".

Mimosa-1.jpg (74963 bytes)
Type 1: Early single-sided style

Mimosa-2.jpg (76039 bytes)
Type 2: First P-series

Mimosa-3.jpg (99855 bytes)
Type 3: Later 5½ & early 6" type

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Type 4


Type 5

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Type 6

Discographer Arthur Badrock has been collecting details about Mimosa records for many years, but is reluctant to publish his information while there are so many gaps. As an attempt to flush out these missing items, here is a list. If you have any of these, do send the details to me to pass on to Arthur.

The information needed is:
    matrix number and take (if shown)
    song/tune title
    artist
    type (e.g. ballad, fox-trot etc)
    accompaniment  (e.g. piano or orchestra)
    Catalogue number.
    label type (see above) especially if out of the ranges I have mentioned.

So, Here is the list.....Email me if you have any of these                                        Last updated May 13, 2007

M-series: Any before M-121, M-123, M-131, M-135, M-139, M-143, M-146, M-148, M-149,M-151, M-156,
                M-162,  M-165, M-166, M-174, M-178 to M-182, M-185, M-186, M-187, M-189, M-190,
                M-193 to M-196, M-199 to M-204, M-212 to M-223.

5 ½”:  P-10, P-13, P-19, P-22 to P-27, P-38, P-39, P-43, P-51, P-52, P-54, P-55, P-76, P-81, P-84,         
   
         P-103, P-107, P-115, P-149, P-155, P-159, P-193, P-195, P-196, P-201 to P-203, P-232 
           and any higher than P-239.

6”:      P-3, P-7, P-9, P-15, P-17, P-18, P-40, P-56, P-59, P-60, P-70, P-86, P-88, P-92, P-93, P-94,
  
         P-96, P-100, P-102, P-118, P-126, P-140, P-143, P-150, P-154, P-158, P-165, P-182, 
          P-196, P-197, P-198, P-201, P-220, P-225 and any higher than P-227.

Note: Thank you to the following people who have e-mailed me with information about the missing items above. This is most useful and I'm very grateful;  
Maurice Holmes, Jayne Hughes, Matthew Chisholm, Charles Hippisley-Cox, Geoff Wiggin and Brian Farey.