Batch Search of Discogs using a Homemade Program

[RWC]

I've just created a customized Python program to read a list of
45 rpm artist;songs from a simple-text Input file and, after searching
the Discogs database, write to a simple-text Output file the following
for each artist;song: Year, Country, Label, Label-ID, Discogs ID.
The Discogs ID allows you to enter "r:<id>" in Discogs' search box.
The program will select the earliest yyyy (not mmm yyyy) that the
45rpm side was released in the US or UK (according to Discogs)
- it's the year info that I most want for my mp3s etc).

(how to use a program to access the database used by 45cat... is
not public knowledge as far as I'm aware)

SAMPLE

Input File (Roger's recent 1961 Instro faves):

Ace Cannon;Tuff
Al Caiola;Bonanza
B.Bumble & The Stingers;Bumble Boogie
Bill Black's Combo;Movin'
Dick Dale & The Del-Tones;Let's Go Trippin'
Duane Eddy;Theme From Dixie
Floyd Cramer;On The Rebound
Freddy King;Hide Away
Freddy King;San-Ho-Zay
Hank Levine;Image
Jack B. Nimble & The Quicks;Nut Rocker
Jimmy Elledge;Swanee River Rocket
Mr. Acker Bilk;Stranger On The Shore
Philip Upchurch Combo;You Can't Sit Down
Ray Charles;One Mint Julep
Sandy Nelson;Let There Be Drums
The Bel Airs;Mr. Moto
The Duals;Stick Shift
The Fireballs;Quite A Party
The Mar-Kets;Surfer's Stomp
The Mar-Keys;Last Night
The Mar-Keys;Night Before
The Shadows;The Frightened City
The Ventures;Ram-Bunk-Shush
Tim Whitsett & Imperials;Jive Harp

Output File

Ace Cannon - Tuff / Sittin' Tight, Year: 1961, US, Label: Hi 2040, ID:
3604682
Al Caiola - Bonanza, Year: 1960, UK, Label: London American Recordings
HLT 9325, ID: 7341698
B. Bumble & The Stingers - Bumble Boogie, Year: 1961, US, Label:
Rendezvous R-140, ID: 2545674
Bill Black's Combo - Movin' / Honky Train, Year: 1961, US, Label: Hi
2038, ID: 2836639
Dick Dale And The Del-Tones* - Let's Go Trippin' / Del-Tone Rock,
Year: 1961, US, Label: Deltone 5017, ID: 4131443
Duane Eddy - The Battle, Year: 1959, UK, Label: London HLW 9324, ID:
475260
Floyd Cramer - On The Rebound, Year: 1961, UK, Label: RCA RCA 1231,
ID: 584725
Freddy King* - Hide Away , Year: 1961, US, Label: Federal 12401, ID:
3366958
Freddy King* - See See Baby / San-Ho-Zay, Year: 1961, US, Label:
Federal 12428, ID: 3857984
Hank Levine And Orchestra* - Image - Part 1 / Image - Part 2, Year:
1961, UK, Label: His Master's Voice POP 947, ID: 3808836
Jack B. Nimble And The Quicks - (The Original) Nut Rocker / Never On
Sunday, Year: 1962, US, Label: Dot 16319, ID: 4285835
Jimmy Elledge - Send Me A Letter / Swanee River Rocket , Year: 1961,
US, Label: RCA Victor 47-7910, ID: 24048032
Mr. Acker Bilk* With The Leon Young String Chorale - Stranger On The
Shore, Year: 1961, UK, Label: Columbia DB 4750, ID: 5496595
Philip Upchurch Combo* - You Can't Sit Down, Year: 1961, US, Label:
Boyd UA-329, ID: 2416653
Ray Charles - One Mint Julep, Year: 1960, UK, Label: His Master's
Voice POP 862, ID: 5937984
Sandy Nelson - Let There Be Drums, Year: 1961, UK, Label: London HLP
9466, ID: 530579
The Bel Airs* - Mr. Moto / Little Brown Jug, Year: 1961, US, Label:
Arvee 5034, ID: 6928477
The Duals - Stick Shift / Cruising, Year: 1961, US, Label: Sue Inc.
745, ID: 1988039
The Fireballs - Quite A Party, Year: 1961, US, Label: Warwick M644,
ID: 1960429
The Mar-Kets* - Surfer's Stomp / Start, Year: 1961, US, Label: Union
501, ID: 3018344
Mar-Keys* - Last Night, Year: 1961, US, Label: Satellite S-107, ID:
871237
Mar-Keys* - Last Night / Night Before, Year: 1961, US, Label:
Satellite S-107, ID: 3632733
The Shadows - The Frightened City, Year: 1961, UK, Label: Columbia DB
4637, ID: 562874
The Ventures - Ram-Bunk-Shush / Lonely Heart, Year: 1960, US, Label:
Dolton No. 32, ID: 2477957
Tim Whitsett & The Imperials* - Jive Harp / Pipe Dreams, Year: 1961,
US, Label: Trebco 701, ID: 4523022

[RWC]

SAMPLE #2

Big Jay Mcneely;Big Jay's Hop;Vee Jay
Chuck Higgins;Chop Chop
Chuck Higgins;Wet Back Hop
Claude Cloud & His Thunderclaps;Cloudburst
Clifton Chenier;Boppin' The Rock
Clifton Chenier;Louisiana Stomp
Cliston Chanier;Rockin' Hop
Cliston Chanier;Rockin' The Bop
Count Basie;April In Paris
Ernie Freeman;Jivin' Around
Hal Singer;Hot Rod
Jackson Trio;Jingle Bell Hop
Joe Houston;Rockin' And Boppin'
K.C Douglass & Lumber Jacks;K.C Boogie
Little Walter;Roller Coaster
Little Walter;Thunder Bird
Lloyd Lambert;Heavy Sugar
Papa Lightfoot;Jumpin' With Jarvis
Red Prysock;Finger Tips
Red Prysock;Hand Clappin'
Red Prysock;Rock 'N Roll
Sonny Boy Williamson;Boppin' With Sonny
Warren (Tenor Sax) Luckey & Combo;Thunderbolt
Warren Luckey;Fish Bait
Warren Luckey;Paradise Rock

Output File

Big Jay Mcneely - Big Jay's Hop [Vee Jay VJ 142] - 1955
Chuck Higgins - Chop Chop [R And B RB-131] - 1955
Chuck Higgins - Wet Back Hop [Dootone 370] - 1955
Claude Cloud & His Thunderclaps - Cloudburst [MGM E281] - 1955
Clifton Chenier - Boppin' The Rock [Specialty SP-552] - 1955
Clifton Chenier - Louisiana Stomp [Imperial X5352] - 1954
Cliston Chanier - Rockin' Hop [Post X2016] - blank
Cliston Chanier - Rockin' The Bop [Post X2010] - 1954
Count Basie - April In Paris [Clef 89162X] - 1955
Ernie Freeman - Jivin' Around [Cash 1017] - 1955
Hal Singer - Hot Rod [Savoy 1179] - 1955
Jackson Trio - Jingle Bell Hop [Hollywood 1046] - 1955
Joe Houston - Rockin' And Boppin' [Cash 1018] - 1955
K.C Douglass & Lumber Jacks - K.C Boogie [Hollywood 1040] - 1955
Little Walter - Roller Coaster [Checker 817] - 1955
Little Walter - Thunder Bird [Checker 811] - 1955
Lloyd Lambert - Heavy Sugar [Specialty SP-553] - 1955
Papa Lightfoot - Jumpin' With Jarvis [Aladdin 330] - 1952
Red Prysock - Finger Tips [Mercury 70733] - 1955
Red Prysock - Hand Clappin' [Mercury 70674X] - 1955
Red Prysock - Rock 'N Roll [Mercury MG 20088] - 1955
Sonny Boy Williamson - Boppin' With Sonny [Ace 11] - 1956
Warren (Tenor Sax) Luckey & Combo - Thunderbolt [Beacon 10] - 1955
Warren Luckey - Fish Bait [Beacon 10] - 1955
Warren Luckey - Paradise Rock [Jay-Dee 809] - blank

[Roger]

Post by RWC
I've just created a customized Python program to read a list of
45 rpm artist;songs from a simple-text Input file and, after searching
the Discogs database, write to a simple-text Output file the following
for each artist;song: Year, Country, Label, Label-ID, Discogs ID.
The Discogs ID allows you to enter "r:<id>" in Discogs' search box.
The program will select the earliest yyyy (not mmm yyyy) that the
45rpm side was released in the US or UK (according to Discogs)
- it's the year info that I most want for my mp3s etc).
(how to use a program to access the database used by 45cat... is
not public knowledge as far as I'm aware)

I'm not quite sure of what you're trying to do here but there seems a
small lack of consistency since your program seems to be throwing up
some wrong and/or incomplete info.

Examples :-

Post by RWC
Output File
Al Caiola - Bonanza, Year: 1960, UK, Label: London American Recordings
HLT 9325, ID: 7341698

On ALL American recordings like the Caiola above the ORIGINAL US label
details must surely prevail over any other issue---therefore this should
read US, Label: United Artists UA302

Post by RWC
1961, UK, Label: His Master's Voice POP 947, ID: 3808836

US Label : Vogue International 112

Post by RWC
Jack B. Nimble And The Quicks - (The Original) Nut Rocker / Never On
Sunday, Year: 1962, US, Label: Dot 16319, ID: 4285835

US Label : Del Rio 2303 and reviewed in BB so very early in Jan 1962
that it really HAS to have been out in last week of December '61

Post by RWC
Ray Charles - One Mint Julep, Year: 1960, UK, Label: His Master's
Voice POP 862, ID: 5937984

US Label : Impulse A-2 "Genius + Soul = Jazz"(LP) Impulse 200 (45RPM
single) both released February 1961

Post by RWC
Sandy Nelson - Let There Be Drums, Year: 1961, UK, Label: London HLP
9466, ID: 530579

US label Imperial 5775

Post by RWC
The Duals - Stick Shift / Cruising, Year: 1961, US, Label: Sue Inc.
745, ID: 1988039

No this was on Star Revue 1031 first in May 196i then released on Sue

[RWC]

Post by Roger

Post by RWC
I've just created a customized Python program to read a list of
45 rpm artist;songs from a simple-text Input file and, after searching
the Discogs database, write to a simple-text Output file the following
for each artist;song: Year, Country, Label, Label-ID, Discogs ID.
The Discogs ID allows you to enter "r:<id>" in Discogs' search box.
The program will select the earliest yyyy (not mmm yyyy) that the
45rpm side was released in the US or UK (according to Discogs)
- it's the year info that I most want for my mp3s etc).
(how to use a program to access the database used by 45cat... is
not public knowledge as far as I'm aware)

I'm not quite sure of what you're trying to do here but there seems a
small lack of consistency since your program seems to be throwing up
some wrong and/or incomplete info.

True thanks for your feedback, Roger.

Post by Roger
Examples :-

Post by RWC
Output File
Al Caiola - Bonanza, Year: 1960, UK, Label: London American Recordings
HLT 9325, ID: 7341698

On ALL American recordings like the Caiola above the ORIGINAL US label
details must surely prevail over any other issue---therefore this should
read US, Label: United Artists UA302

If it was earlier released in Sweden or Japan I would inconsistently
agree but for now I'm prepared to accept earlier UK releases. The
program filters out any country that is not US or UK.

Post by Roger

Post by RWC
1961, UK, Label: His Master's Voice POP 947, ID: 3808836

US Label : Vogue International 112

At least the year is correct, which is the main thing.
It's easy for you, but to meet your policy requirements means having
to know the nationality of every label artist (which would become the
3rd bit of input data for every artist;song). However, I *might*
attempt this. (btw 'Hank' does suggests US - despite Hank Marvin :)

Post by Roger

Post by RWC
Jack B. Nimble And The Quicks - (The Original) Nut Rocker / Never On
Sunday, Year: 1962, US, Label: Dot 16319, ID: 4285835

US Label : Del Rio 2303 and reviewed in BB so very early in Jan 1962
that it really HAS to have been out in last week of December '61

Both Discogs and 45cat have it as 1962. It would be way to complex to
search Billboard and Cash Box for the date of a review. I've always
known that the year found might be wrong by 1 year but this
*occasional* error is not the end of the world for most folk and being
out by 1 year is better than having no year at all.

Post by Roger

Post by RWC
Ray Charles - One Mint Julep, Year: 1960, UK, Label: His Master's
Voice POP 862, ID: 5937984

US Label : Impulse A-2 "Genius + Soul = Jazz"(LP) Impulse 200 (45RPM
single) both released February 1961

See above

Post by Roger

Post by RWC
Sandy Nelson - Let There Be Drums, Year: 1961, UK, Label: London HLP
9466, ID: 530579

US label Imperial 5775

See above

Post by Roger

Post by RWC
The Duals - Stick Shift / Cruising, Year: 1961, US, Label: Sue Inc.
745, ID: 1988039

No this was on Star Revue 1031 first in May 196i then released on Sue

Unlike 45cat, Discogs practically never has the actual or approximate
month of release. I knew this would be an issue for some folk, but
again the correct year (+-1) is the main focal point.

Again, thanks Roger.

[RWC]

Post by RWC
I've just created a customized Python program to read a list of
45 rpm artist;songs from a simple-text Input file and, after searching
the Discogs database, write to a simple-text Output file the following
for each artist;song: Year, Country, Label, Label-ID, Discogs ID.
The Discogs ID allows you to enter "r:<id>" in Discogs' search box.
The program will select the earliest yyyy (not mmm yyyy) that the
45rpm side was released in the US or UK (according to Discogs)
- it's the year info that I most want for my mp3s etc).
(how to use a program to access the database used by 45cat... is
not public knowledge as far as I'm aware)

I'm not quite sure of what you're trying to do here?

"it's the year info that I most want for my mp3s etc"

I've revised the program to default to US releases if a country is not
specified as the 3rd parameter (as it would be for The Shadows, etc);
a label name is an optional 4th in cases where an earlier release is a
different recording on another label.

Below, I show the new Output that replaces the previous UK release
details (thanks for bringing this to my attention).

Al Caiola - Bonanza [United Artists UA 302] - 1961
Hank Levine - Image [ABC-Paramount 10256] - 1961
Ray Charles - One Mint Julep [Impulse! 200] - 1961
Sandy Nelson - Let There Be Drums [Imperial X577] - 1961

Vogue International 112 came out earlier but in the *same year*
as ABC-Paramount 10256, which in the circumstances is good enough
for moi :)