A&M RECORDS
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 STOCK ALBUM LABELS
First presseing of a monaural copy of The Lonely Bull from Monarch Records.
Monaural copy of The Lonely Bull from Columbia Record's Santa Maria plant.
Stereo copy of The Lonely Bull from Columbia Record's Terre Haute plant.
First pressing of the album by Monarch Records. This is the monaural version.
First pressing of the stereo album by Monarch Records.
Monaural copy from Columbia Records Terre Haute plant. Sides are marked with Roman numerals.
First pressing of the stero version of the album from Monarch Records.
Monaural reprint of the album by Monarch Records.
Pressed by Columbia Records. The vinyl was stamped "Veronica & Phil." The CSG stood for HAECO (Holzer Audio Engineering Co.) stereo mixing process.
First album from Creed Taylor for A&M. This copy was pressed by Columbia with vinyl stamped "Van Gelder" for mastering engineer Rudy Van Gelder.
Columbia pressing. As part of the SP 3500 series, it features side markings printed with red ink.
Columbia pressing from 1973 with dark gold background. The album is one of the earliest A&M Records to use custom typography on the label.
Monarch pressing of one of the first A&M albums to feature the gold on silver halftone label background.
A Monarch printing of a quadrophonic stereo album.
First edition printing by RCA Records of the new stock label in 1987.
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A&M RECORDS PROMOTIONAL ALBUM LABELS
Monarch Records printing of one of the earliest white label promotional albums
Monarch Records pressing. CTI Records were LP 2XXX in their monaurual release and SP 3XXX in stereo.
Stereo promotional pressing by Monarch Records. All the albums mastered by Rudy Van Gelder are stamped "VAN GELDER" in the vinyl.
Monarch Records pressing of a HAECO-CSG album. HAECO's were mixed to play on either monaural or stereo equipment.
Columbia Records' Santa Maria Plant printed this early version of the redesigned promotional label.
Promotional label printed by Columbia Records' Pitman, NJ plant.
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A&M RECORDS CUSTOM ALBUM LABELS
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A&M RECORDS ALBUM LINERS
IH B
IH B liner for albums from 1963 to 1965
Front of IH 2 liner for albums from 1962 to 1965
Back of IH 2 liner for albums from 1962 to 1965
Front of IH 3 liner for albums from 1962 to 1966
Back of IH 3 liner for albums from 1962 to 1966
Front of IH 4 liner for albums from 1962-1967
Back of IH 4 liner for albums from 1962-1967
Liner for albums from 1962 to 1967
Liner IH 5 featured both A&M and CTI albums from 1965 to 1967
Front of liner featuring 20 A&M and CTI album covers from 1965 to 1967
Back of liner featuring 21 A&M album covers from 1962 to 1967
Front of IH 7 Pop liner
Back of IH 7 liner featuring pop albums from 1965 to 1969
Back of IH-7-NS liner featuring rock artists from 1967 to 1969
Front of custom liner for Herb Alpert & the Tijuana Brass Warm album
Back of custom liner for Herb Alpert & the Tijuana Brass Warm album
Front of one of the Preserve the Sound albums liners
Back of one of the Preserve the Sound albums liners
Front of one of the Preserve the Sound albums liners
Back of one of the Preserve the Sound albums liners
Front of one of the Preserve the Sound albums liners
Back of one of the Preserve the Sound albums liners
Front of Listen to Your World Liner
One of the backs to the Listen to Your World Liner
One of the backs to the Listen to Your World Liner
A&M Records and Ode Records combined liner (front)
A&M Records and Ode Records combined liner (back)
A&M Records and Ode Records combined liner (front)
A&M Records and Ode Records combined liner (back)
Front of album liner X72
Back of album liner X72
Foursider series album liner
Rainbow album liner design (front)
Rainbow album liner design (back)
Second rainbow album liner design (front)
Second rainbow album liner design (back)
Third rainbow album liner design (front)
Third rainbow album liner design (back)
First version of Man's Best Friend...Music album liner (front)
First version of Man's Best Friend...Music album liner (back)
Second version of Man's Best Friend...Music album liner (front)
Second version of Man's Best Friend...Music album liner (back)
Front of the Audio Master + series album liner
Back of the Audio Master + series album liner
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A&M RECORDS 7" STOCK SINGLE LABELS
Alpert and Moss released two singles on Carnival before learning the label name was taken. This is the first single, a vocal by Herb Alpert.
First printing of the first single from A&M Records
Reissue of the first A&M single
Creed Taylor's CTI Records was A&M's first distribution deal. This is a stock copy of the first single from the partnership from 1967.
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A&M RECORDS 7" PROMOTIONAL SINGLE LABELS
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A&M RECORDS 7" CUSTOM SINGLE LABELS
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A&M RECORDS 7" SLEEVES
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A&M RECORDS 12" STOCK SINGLE LABELS
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A&M RECORDS 12" PROMO SINGLE LABELS
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A&M RECORDS 12" CUSTOM SINGLE LABELS
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A&M RECORDS 12" SLEEVES
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A&M RECORDS LABELS
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A&M RECORDS LICENSE LABELS
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