[Ads-l] "Drop"

Mon May 22 18:23:34 UTC 2023

Thanks for examining the OED and sharing 1988 citations, Jesse. To
make up for my lack of diligence here is a pertinent 1986 citation for
"drop a single".

Date: Feb 16, 1986
Newspaper: Los Angeles Times
Newspaper location: Los Angeles, California
Article: DREDGING UP THE PURPLE PRINCE'S PAST
Author: Patrick Goldstein
Quote Page 80

[Begin excerpt – double check for typos]
As for the timing behind the record's release-coming just as Prince is
issuing a new album on Warners-Frances says it's strictly
coincidental. "We had no idea that Prince was going to drop a single
onto the world the week our record came out," he said. "He hasn't
exactly been talking to us every day about his plans."
[End excerpt]

Below is a fun metaphorical example of "drop a tune" from 1980.

Date: March 10, 1980
Newspaper: Daily News
Newspaper location: New York, New York
Article: John Denver, alone  and at home
Author: Bill Carlton
Quote Page 27

[Begin excerpt]
Putting out a record is like dropping a stone down a well and waiting
to hear a splash. A big hit creates a tidal wave that slaps you in the
face right away. Most records never make a ripple. But sometimes you
drop a tune like "Verde" down there and though it may take years to
hit the water, the faithful--and the patient--will eventually be
rewarded.
[End excerpt]

Below is an interesting "drop a record" in 1970. But the sense might
be "drop off a record" and not "release a musical recording".

Date: Sep 12, 1970:
Newspaper: Afro-American
Newspaper location: Baltimore, Maryland
Article: HOT ROD'S $ Billion Music
Author: Maurice (Hot Rod) Hulbert
Quote Page 17

[Begin excerpt]
BILLY LASLEY skirted through town just long enough to drop a record
that could really break in a hurry. The area of "Baltimore-Washington"
is noted by many in the music industry as one of the stronger
break-out areas for a record . Usually, I listen to a record more than
once before coming up with an opinion, which in itself is a rarity,
but, this record? . . . . One time on the turntable and I felt that it
has what it takes to move right into the "Master Blaster Family" of
hit records.
[End excerpt]

Garson

On Mon, May 22, 2023 at 1:18 PM Jesse Sheidlower <jester at panix.com> wrote:
>
> OED has two examples (one transitive, one intransitive) of this from May 1988:
>
> 1988 _Spin_ May 44/3 I think that I should be able to drop records when I want.
>
> 1988 _Spin_ May 45/1 Maybe after my album drops and I'm back on the road doing what I'm supposed to do in this world, I'll be happy.
>
> The OED entry is restricted to musical recordings, rather than the broader sense we're now discussing.
>
> Jesse Sheidlower
>
> On Mon, May 22, 2023 at 12:30:47PM -0400, ADSGarson O'Toole wrote:
> > Excellent citation, Bill. Here is an instance of "drop an album" from 1988.
> >
> > Date: Jun 8, 1988
> > Newspaper: USA TODAY
> > Newspaper location: McLean, Virginia
> > Article title: Run-D.M.C. fight their bad rap
> > Author: James T. Jones IV.
> > Page Number: 04D.
> >
> > [Begin excerpt]
> > "We were doing so many other things," Run says, "making a movie,
> > touring. And when we were ready to drop an album, we had trouble with
> > our record company."
> > [End excerpt]
> >
> > Below is "drop an album" with a very different meaning in 1987. Below
> > "drop an album" means stop promoting.
> >
> > Date: May 1, 1987
> > Periodical: Musician
> > Periodical location: Gloucester, UK
> > Article title: FACES: CROWDED HOUSE
> > Author: Charles M. Young
> > Issue 103,
> > Start Page 18, Quote Page 20
> >
> > [Begin excerpt]
> > "Success has kind of stunned me too," says Finn. "Capitol has been
> > just amazingly committed to the record. In Split Enz I saw just how
> > fast a record company can drop an album. If something doesn't go right
> > in the first few weeks, they think something's odd and they stop
> > working it.
> > [End excerpt]
> >
> > Garson
> >
> > On Mon, May 22, 2023 at 10:18 AM Bill Mullins <amcombill at hotmail.com> wrote:
> > >
> > > I probably first ran across this usage in reference to musicians "dropping" a new album, track, etc.
> > >
> > > 1994 NY Daily News 23 Feb 19/4
> > > Salt-n-Pepa just dropped a new album, which is all over the charts.
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > -----Original Message-----
> > > From: American Dialect Society <ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU> On Behalf Of Jonathan Lighter
> > > Sent: Monday, May 22, 2023 7:35 AM
> > > To: ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU
> > > Subject: "Drop"
> > >
> > > To release to the public; announce.
> > >
> > > I've been seeing and hearing this a whole lot in the past few months .
> > >
> > > <goog_1644883552>
> > > https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/walmart-deals-dyson-samsung-191003952.html :
> > >
> > > Walmart just dropped 50+ incredible early Memorial Day deals, starting at $8.
> > >
> > > Old people will think this means Walmart rescinded those deals, but they'd be wrong.
> > >
> > > JL
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > ------------------------------------------------------------
> > > The American Dialect Society - http://www.americandialect.org
> >
> > ------------------------------------------------------------
> > The American Dialect Society - http://www.americandialect.org
>
> ------------------------------------------------------------
> The American Dialect Society - http://www.americandialect.org

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