[Ads-l] "Drop"

[Ben Zimmer]

The first Spin cite in the OED from May 1988 was one I first shared here in
a 2011 thread (quoting Run of Run-DMC):

https://listserv.linguistlist.org/pipermail/ads-l/2011-March/107482.html

Garson's 1986 cite may be somewhat transitional, since it has "drop a
single onto the world" rather than plain "drop a single."

--bgz

On Mon, May 22, 2023 at 2:23 PM ADSGarson O'Toole <adsgarsonotoole at gmail.com>
wrote:

> 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
> > > >
>

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