French 7" discography [152 official releases + 297 variations]
France is known for having produced some of the nicest EPs in the world from 1964 to 1967, when covers were thick, laminated, glossy, with flipbacks, sporting a thick titled spine.
This overvall is a rich but somewhat complicated discography due to a lot of reissues, and cross-references with Belgium and Holland.
Apart from a few promo issues, all releases came into picture sleeves (hard glossy covers until the mid-60's, then hard mat covers, followed by paper covers). The usual 45 has a large center hole.
For the sake of simplicity this discography has been split into periods as follows:
The Decca years [1964-1971]
- EPs - original EPs and their reissues.
- The Juke-box series - 60's promo-only pressings made for juke-boxes
- The 'Hit-Parade' series - originals (and reissues) singles [from 'Paint It, Black' onwards].
- The 'Golden Hit-Parade' series - reissues of the late 60's and early 70's
- The Antar series - promo giveaways from Antar gas stations in the early 70's.
- 'Special' issues - pressings that do not fit into the other categories (late issues and hybrid pressings).
- The 'Âge d'Or' series - 25 volumes collection from the mid-70's.
- The Abkco '7" Singles 1963-1966' box set - 18 x 7"s box from 2022.
The RSR / Warner years [1971-1977]
The RSR / EMI years [1978-1984]
The CBS / SONY years [1986-1992]
The Virgin years [1993-2006]
The Universal years [2008+]
