How many lives are hidden in a record? How many stories?
Stories of others, stories of our own.
Stories of others that became our own.

For the first time, ERT invites us to discover the fascinating history of Greek discography through a series of 12 documentary episodes.
A story spanning over 100 years.
From the birth of Greek discography to the present day.
From the era of the phonograph and the wandering “gramophone men” of the early 20th century, to the '60s, the “45 RPM records,” and the “jukeboxes”…
And from there, to the large vinyl records, the digital discs, and the internet.

Our guide on this journey is Haris Alexiou, the leading singer of her generation and one of the most beloved figures in the field of culture, who has left an indelible mark on Greek music and discography.

With the help of ERT's invaluable archive, as well as testimonies from people who lived through the golden years of Greek discography, the entire course of Greek song is sketched out as it was etched in the grooves of the records.

The documentary series "100 Years of Greek Discography" is a journey through time with all those who linked their lives to Greek discography and created, with inspiration and passion, the miracle of Greek music.

On this journey, we want you to be our fellow travelers.

The beloved Haris Alexiou, with the help of ERT's invaluable archive, takes us on a journey through the first 40 years of Greek discography. From the early 20th century to the Occupation.

At the dawn of the 20th century, the era of the phonograph begins. The first mobile sound recording units from the major foreign record companies travel to Constantinople, Smyrna, and other major Eastern ports, primarily recording Greek traditional songs and music.

During the same period, in America, the peak of the immigration wave leads to the flourishing of Greek-language discography.

In Greece, the 1920s are indelibly marked by the tragedy of the Asia Minor Catastrophe. Great maestros, instrumentalists, and singers from Asia Minor, uprooted from their homes, arrive in Greece, contributing decisively to shaping the musical and discographic landscape.

Alongside light music with waltzes, tangos, and serenades, the Smyrna-style song now enters to infuse the domestic discography with its melodies. This happens as Greek discography takes its first tentative steps with the establishment of the first branches of foreign record companies in Greece. Odeon – Parlophone and Columbia – His Master's Voice are the two major competing companies.

The 1930s bring the construction of the Columbia factory, the first record production plant in Greece, as well as Piraeus-style rembetiko, the dictatorship of Ioannis Metaxas with strict censorship, and, of course, radio—a surprising ally for the still-young Greek discography.

Discography also plays a key role in the heroic epic of 1940, with numerous records featuring patriotic and satirical songs. However, all this comes to an end with the entry of the Germans into Greece, when the Columbia factory shuts down to become a base for the technical support of aircraft engines and tanks. Greek discography falls silent.

In this episode, the people speaking are the following, in alphabetical order:

Stelios Giannakopoulos / Sound engineer, Columbia Studio
Akis Golfidis / Sound engineer
Glykeria / Singer
Foivos Delivorias / Singer-songwriter
Aristomenis Kaliviotis / Civil Engineer, collector, researcher
Giorgos Kontogiannis / Journalist
Konstantinos Kopanitsanos / Collector, researcher, musician
Mario / Singer
Makis Matsas / President of the Board, MINOS - EMI
Thanasis Papageorgiou / Director, actor
Sideris Printezis / Radio producer
Miranda Terzopoulou / Ethnologist, writer
Eleni Tsaligopoulou / Singer
Giorgos Tsampras / Journalist
Manolis Famelos / Singer-songwriter
Dimitris Chaliotis / Journalist, screenwriter
Giorgis Christodoulou / songwriter