It was all kicking off in 1933. Adolf Hitler swept to power in Germany, it was the worst year of The Great Depression and the Loch Ness Monster was spotted for the first time. Oh, and in Bristol, two fledgling record labels rolled the dice on legal action that would ultimately benefit the music business to the tune of billions of pounds.

Decca was just four years old at the time and EMI just two (although parent The Gramophone Company ...