A&M RECORDS, LTD.

LABELS, LINERS AND SLEEVE HISTORY

In today's age of compact discs and digital downloads, album and single labels and sleeves seem quaint and company packaging and identification have been reduced to fine print and tiny graphics. In the vinyl age, the label started as the primary souce of information and the the record label logo and name were the central design elements on the generic single sleeve. Album liners might promote other recordings or special offers from the company.

The labels placed on vinyl albums and 45s and the record company's generic sleeves and album liners are important for both serious and casual record collectors for a number of reasons. Labels, liners and sleeves can contain information that helps collectors determine the release date, the edition of a record and its value on the market. For collectible records, the edition is a major determinant of its value. When A&M reprinted its albums and singles after a change in its label design, the reprints always carried the latest label and are always less desirable than the original printing. Let's look at the relevance of the labels, liners and sleeves.

45 Sleeves. Until the 1980s, picture sleeves were reserved for well-known, better-selling artists. This was because picture sleeves were more expensive to produce. New artists or those signed only to record singles had their work issued in generic record company sleeves. The sleeve functioned to advertise the record company with its use of a large company logo or memorable design.

45 Labels. The label advertised the single. The information on the label may be the only credit information that is available to the public. Beyond the title, songwriters, the artist's name and record company logo, three important credits may be included: the producer, the arranger and the engineer. Each of them can be as collectible as the artist. Collectors may also extend their interest to include the records that artists created when they filled the role of producer, arrangers or songwriter.

Because singles were usually printed only once, the record company logo variations can help identify the year of release. This is especially useful if there is no copyright or print date on the label.

Album Labels. The design of the label on the vinyl helps identify an original album from a reprint. Collectors with a sharp eye will notice differences in printing techniques, color variations, and even the company that pressed the recording because of the location of the raised vinyl ring under the label.

Album Liners. The record company's inner sleeves for albums often help to date the album in two ways. First, the sleeves may have been printed with information about other recent releases. Second, some companies like A&M Records placed codes on their inner sleeves which helps determine the period for an album release.

A&M RECORDS, LTD. 12-INCH SINGLE LABELS

Herb Alpert: Rise Herb Alpert: Rise A&M Disco 12-inch single label from 1979 Herb Alpert: Rise Herb Alpert: Rise Big Pig: Hungry Town Big Pig: Hungry Town Big Pig: Hungry Town Big Pig: Hungry Town Dare: Real Love Dare: Real Love Promotional 12-inch single label from 1991 Dare: Real Love Dare: Real Love

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A&M RECORDS, LTD. CUSTOM LABELS

Albert Lee/Bryn Haworth Albert Lee/Bryn Haworth Custom album label from A&M Records, Ltd. in 1979 Albert Lee/Bryn Haworth Albert Lee/Bryn Haworth Albert Lee/Bryn Haworth Albert Lee/Bryn Haworth Custom album label from A&M Records, Ltd. in 1979 Albert Lee/Bryn Haworth Albert Lee/Bryn Haworth Squeeze: Bang Bang Squeeze: Bang Bang Custom 7-inch single label from A&M Records, Ltd. in 1978 Squeeze: Bang Bang Squeeze: Bang Bang The Dickies: Paranoid The Dickies: Paranoid Custom 7-inch single label from A&M Records, Ltd. in 1978 The Dickies: Paranoid The Dickies: Paranoid The Dickies: Eve of Destruction The Dickies: Eve of Destruction Custom 7-inch single label from A&M Records, Ltd. in 1978 The Dickies: Eve of Destruction The Dickies: Eve of Destruction Litle Nell: Fever Litle Nell: Fever Custom 7-inch single label from A&M Records, Ltd. in 1978 Litle Nell: Fever Litle Nell: Fever L.T.D. Funk A&Merica single label L.T.D. Funk A&Merica single label Label from the Funk A&Merica series of singles in 1978 L.T.D. Funk A&Merica single label L.T.D. Funk A&Merica single label Squeeze: Goodbye Girl Squeeze: Goodbye Girl Custom 7-inch single label from A&M Records, Ltd. in 1978 Squeeze: Goodbye Girl Squeeze: Goodbye Girl The Dickies: Silent Night The Dickies: Silent Night Custom 7-inch single label from A&M Records, Ltd. in 1979 The Dickies: Silent Night The Dickies: Silent Night Bobby Henry: Head Case Bobby Henry: Head Case Custom 7-inch single label from A&M Records, Ltd. in 1979 Bobby Henry: Head Case Bobby Henry: Head Case The Tubes: Prime Time The Tubes: Prime Time Custom 7-inch single label from A&M Records, Ltd. in 1979 The Tubes: Prime Time The Tubes: Prime Time The Tubes: Prime Time The Tubes: Prime Time Custom 7-inch single label from A&M Records, Ltd. in 1979 The Tubes: Prime Time The Tubes: Prime Time Squeeze: Up the Junction Squeeze: Up the Junction Custom 7-inch single label from A&M Records, Ltd. in 1979 Squeeze: Up the Junction Squeeze: Up the Junction L.T.D. Funk A&Merica single label L.T.D. Funk A&Merica single label Label from the Funk A&Merica series of singles in 1978 L.T.D. Funk A&Merica single label L.T.D. Funk A&Merica single label Suzy & the Red Stripes custom single label Suzy & the Red Stripes custom single label Label from the Suzy & the Red Stripes single in 1979 Suzy & the Red Stripes custom single label Suzy & the Red Stripes custom single label Elkie Brooks custom single label Elkie Brooks custom single label Label from Elkie Brooks in 1979 Elkie Brooks custom single label Elkie Brooks custom single label Expose: Teenage Girls Expose: Teenage Girls Custom 7-inch single label from A&M Records, Ltd. in 1979 Expose: Teenage Girls Expose: Teenage Girls The Dickies custom single label The Dickies custom single label Label from the Funk A&Merica series of singles in 1978 The Dickies custom single label The Dickies custom single label The Dickies custom single label The Dickies custom single label Label from the Funk A&Merica series of singles in 1978 The Dickies custom single label The Dickies custom single label Squeeze: Christmas Day Squeeze: Christmas Day Custom 7-inch single label from A&M Records, Ltd. in 1979 Squeeze: Christmas Day Squeeze: Christmas Day Yellow Magic Orchestra custom single label Yellow Magic Orchestra custom single label Label from Yellow Magic Orchestra in 1979 Yellow Magic Orchestra custom single label Yellow Magic Orchestra custom single label The Dickies: Fan Mail The Dickies: Fan Mail Custom 7-inch single label from A&M Records, Ltd. in 1979 The Dickies: Fan Mail The Dickies: Fan Mail Yellow Magic Orchestra: Behind the Mask Yellow Magic Orchestra: Behind the Mask Custom 7-inch single label from A&M Records, Ltd. in 1979 Yellow Magic Orchestra: Behind the Mask Yellow Magic Orchestra: Behind the Mask The Dickies custom single label The Dickies custom single label Label from The Dickies in 1980 The Dickies custom single label The Dickies custom single label 8th Day: Call Me Up 8th Day: Call Me Up Promotional label from the Funk A&Merica series of singles in 1983 8th Day: Call Me Up 8th Day: Call Me Up Klark Kent: Away from Home Klark Kent: Away from Home Custom 7-inch single label from A&M Records, Ltd. in 1980 Klark Kent: Away from Home Klark Kent: Away from Home Paul McCartney: Long Tall Sally Paul McCartney: Long Tall Sally Custom 7-inch single label from A&M Records, Ltd. in 1979 Paul McCartney: Long Tall Sally Paul McCartney: Long Tall Sally A Certain Ratio: The Big E A Certain Ratio: The Big E Custom 7-inch label from A&M Records, Ltd. in 1989 A Certain Ratio: The Big E A Certain Ratio: The Big E Milltown Brothers: Apple Green Milltown Brothers: Apple Green Custom 7-inch label from A&M Records, Ltd. in 1990 Milltown Brothers: Apple Green Milltown Brothers: Apple Green Therapy?: Teethgrinder Therapy?: Teethgrinder Custom 7-inch label from A&M Records, Ltd. in 1990 Therapy?: Teethgrinder Therapy?: Teethgrinder Therapy?: Face the Stranger EP Therapy?: Face the Stranger EP Custom 7-inch label from A&M Records, Ltd. in 1993 Therapy?: Face the Stranger EP Therapy?: Face the Stranger EP Therapy?: Face the Stranger EP Therapy?: Face the Stranger EP 7-inch label from A&M Records, Ltd. in 1993 Therapy?: Face the Stranger EP Therapy?: Face the Stranger EP Therapy?: Don't Stop Runnin' Therapy?: Don't Stop Runnin' 7-inch label from A&M Records, Ltd. in 1993 Therapy?: Don't Stop Runnin' Therapy?: Don't Stop Runnin' Dodgy: I Need Another Dodgy: I Need Another Custom 7-inch label from A&M Records, Ltd. in 1993 Dodgy: I Need Another Dodgy: I Need Another Therapy?: Opal Mantra Therapy?: Opal Mantra Custom 7-inch label from A&M Records, Ltd. in 1993 Therapy?: Opal Mantra Therapy?: Opal Mantra Therapy?: Opal Mantra Therapy?: Opal Mantra Custom 7-inch label from A&M Records, Ltd. in 1993 Therapy?: Opal Mantra Therapy?: Opal Mantra

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A&M RECORDS, LTD. TEST PRESSING LABELS

Carpenters: Close to You Carpenters: Close to You A&M Records 7-inch test pressing label from 1990 FIND FILE Carpenters: Close to You Carpenters: Close to You

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A&M RECORDS, LTD. PROMOTIONAL CASSETTE

Gin Blossoms: Congratulations I'm Sorry Gin Blossoms: Congratulations I'm Sorry A&M Records, Ltd. promotional cassette cover from 1996 Gin Blossoms: Congratulations I'm Sorry Gin Blossoms: Congratulations I'm Sorry Sting: The Soul Cages Sting: The Soul Cages A&M Records, Ltd. promotional cassette cover from 1991 Sting: The Soul Cages Sting: The Soul Cages Sting: Send Your Love Sting: Send Your Love CDR Acetate label from 2003 Sting: Send Your Love Sting: Send Your Love

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