(splitting from MBS-8307)

Pre magnetic tape (and certainly pre digital!) recordings were identified by near-unique matrix numbers. Hence one way to identify a particular recording from before ~1950, whether it's on its original release, vinyl re-issue, CD, or download is by that original matrix number.

Many existing discographies relate recording information (artist(s), date, location, title(s) etc) to that matrix number. That original matrix was often pressed and released by different record companies under different catalogue numbers, with the original matrix number still being visible on the disc.

Many CD re-issues of older material identify recordings by their matrix numbers.

Hence it would be very useful if it was possible to store and view the Matrix Number for a recording. This is a valuable near-unique identifier that allows the re-release of the same original recording on multiple releases to be tracked. It also properly disambiguates different takes and re-recordings of substantially the "same" recording. It would also be useful to be able to search on Matrix Number.

Note: this is very different from the Matrix Numbers found on vinyl and CDs. On those formats, the matrix number is related to the format's mastering and release. It has nothing to do with the original recording, which would have been tape or digital. Whereas on older recordings, it's a property of the original recording, because cutting to wax WAS the original recording.