The "Bells of Britain" series
Vol. 1 - Bells of Britain - The Bells of Bristol (SD 127 - 7" EP)
Vol. 2 - The Loughborough Carillon (SDL 164)
Vol. 3 - Change Ringing from St. Mary Redcliffe, Bristol (SDL 243)
Only the above three records are included in the 'Bells of Britain' series. By the time the first handbell record was released, the first two records above were long out of print. Rhythm of the Bells (SDL 211) is not listed as being in this series because it was a contract pressing for The Central Council of Church Bell Ringers, the label crediting the release to this organisation rather than Saydisc (indeed, the only indications that this is a Saydisc-organised pressing is the SDL 211 catalogue number and the Orlake-style matrices).
A "mechanical music & bells" advertising insert with the 1976 release, Pipes, Barrels and Pins, SDLB 271, lists the following "THREE FULL PRICE LP's OF CHANGE RINGING AND HANDBELLS" (note that the insert could be from a later date, though the most recent LP included is the 1976 issue, SDL 274 - the inner sleeve is dated as leaving the pressing plant July 1978):
A "mechanical music & bells" advertising insert with the 1976 release, Pipes, Barrels and Pins, SDLB 271, lists the following "THREE FULL PRICE LP's OF CHANGE RINGING AND HANDBELLS" (note that the insert could be from a later date, though the most recent LP included is the 1976 issue, SDL 274 - the inner sleeve is dated as leaving the pressing plant July 1978):
Music by Sound In Brass Handbells (SDL 274)
Change Ringing from St. Mary Redcliffe, Bristol (SDL 243)
The Rhythm of the Bells (SDL 211)
The last LP on the above list is interesting because, as per the original "Bells of Britain" listing above, it was first pressed in 1970 as a limited edition contract pressing. However, it was subsequently given a full release in updated sleeve design, this time with Saydisc labels. The advertising insert, however, shows the original sleeve design. Perhaps a mistake or the redesign happened later? The last known re-notification to Music Master was May 1981, so presumably there was still stock on hand until then, although it was never again, as far as I can tell, advertised in any bell LP listings.
The first five in the following list were listed on SDL 289 to SDL 291 as "Other bell records available", so not quite a series, but at least still grouped. Four in Hand by the Grosmont Handbell Ringers (SDL 298) does not mention earlier bell albums and from that record on further bell records singularly fail to mention other bell records still on catalogue.
The first five in the following list were listed on SDL 289 to SDL 291 as "Other bell records available", so not quite a series, but at least still grouped. Four in Hand by the Grosmont Handbell Ringers (SDL 298) does not mention earlier bell albums and from that record on further bell records singularly fail to mention other bell records still on catalogue.
Change Ringing from St. Mary Redcliffe, Bristol (SDL 243)
Music by Sound In Brass Handbells (SDL 274)
Sound In Brass - Handbells in Harmony (SDL 289)
Bells of the Cotswolds (SDL 290)
The Sound of the Carillon (SDL 291)
The 1983 supplement to the main catalogue groups all bell records still on catalogue under the heading "Handbells & Tower Bells" but doesn't go so far as to call it a series (whilst the same catalogue explicitly states that the railway recordings are part of the ""Steam Heritage" Series"). Still, it is a grouping of like instruments, whilst some of the other groupings are not quite so easy to mentally grasp, e.g. "Wildlife, Chant, Brass", such is the outcome of a policy of releasing a wide-ranging repertoire of exotic and esoteric recordings!
Change Ringing from St. Mary Redcliffe, Bristol (CD-SDL 243)
Music by Sound In Brass Handbells (SDL 274)
Sound In Brass - Handbells in Harmony (SDL 289)
Bells of the Cotswolds (SDL 290)
The Sound of the Carillon (SDL 291)
Grosmont Handbell Ringers - Four in Hand (SDL 298)
Church Bells of Kent (SDL 302)
Launton Handbell Ringers - Modal Melodies (SDL 307)
Change Ringing Handbell Group - Change Ringing on Handbells (SDL 310)
Ringing Clear (SDL 333)
The Bells of London (SDL 337)
At some point between the release of CD-SDL 429 in 1998 and 2000/01, when Saydisc shut up shop for a few years, an advertising supplement was available advertising the "Saydisc Records Bell Series" that included the following CDs.
Change Ringing from St. Mary Redcliffe, Bristol (CD-SDL 243)
Bells of the Cotswolds (CD-SDL 290)
This is a CD-only compilation of SDL 290 and SD 127, listed above.
This is a CD-only compilation of SDL 290 and SD 127, listed above.
Church Bells of Kent (CD-SDL 302)
Change Ringing on Handbells (CD-SDL 310)
Ringing Clear (CD-SDL 333)
This is an updated version of the SDL 333, which was itself a compilation of SDL 274, SDL 289, SDL 298, and SDL 310, listed above, plus two extra tracks from SDL 310 and one from SDL 307.
This is an updated version of the SDL 333, which was itself a compilation of SDL 274, SDL 289, SDL 298, and SDL 310, listed above, plus two extra tracks from SDL 310 and one from SDL 307.
Church Bells of England (CD-SDL 378)
This is a CD-only compilation of tracks from SDL 243, SDL 290 and SDL 337, listed above.
This is a CD-only compilation of tracks from SDL 243, SDL 290 and SDL 337, listed above.
Carillons of Great Britain (CD-SDL 429)
This is a CD-only compilation of tracks from SDL 291, listed above, and SDL 341, Carillons of Scotland, plus 'Westminster' and 'Cambridge' chimes and a Cuckoo Clock recording from goodness knows which mechanical music release - I'll have to do a systematic hunt through!
This is a CD-only compilation of tracks from SDL 291, listed above, and SDL 341, Carillons of Scotland, plus 'Westminster' and 'Cambridge' chimes and a Cuckoo Clock recording from goodness knows which mechanical music release - I'll have to do a systematic hunt through!
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