Rare Record Labels Vinyl Record Collector's Information Guide #vinylrecords

Rare VINYL record Labels and their companies

These pages of lists Rare Record labels for each record label their is a short description and detailed information on the albums released by these labels can be found on separate web-pages.

This webpage provides a comprehensive list of independent record labels and their companies that are known for producing rare vinyl records. The page features over 80 labels, including notable ones such as Blue Note, Stax, and Sun Records, and includes brief histories of each label, their genres, and their notable artists. Additionally, the page provides information on how to identify rare vinyl records and the importance of preserving vinyl records. The website is a valuable resource for vinyl collectors and music enthusiasts who are interested in rare vinyl records and the independent labels that produce them.

Gramophone (Vinyl) Recording Music Labels Producers

Accord

Accord Records was probable a French sub-label of Noise International and released album of the Swiss Thrash metal band: Celtic Frost

All The Manmen

All the Madmen Records was a record label started by The Mob in Yeovil, England before relocating to London. Profits from the band's "Let The Tribe Increase" LP were ploughed back into the label, which was then co-organised by members of the collective which published the "Kill Your Pet Puppy" zine.

AREITO

EGREM (Empresa de Grabaciones y Ediciones Musicales; Spanish for Enterprise of Recordings and Musical Editions) is the oldest Cuban record company. It comprises the EGREM label (as well as some sublabels), and the recording studio Estudio EGREM, and is located in Havana. It was founded in 1964 following the Cuban Revolution. It also become known as Areito as the 1960s started to come to a close.[1]

ATCO

These are some of the manufacturing plant codes used by the ATCO and can be helpful to determine the origin of records

The codes are:
AR = Allied Records, Los Angeles, CA
CP = Columbia Record Productions, Pitman, NJ CT = Columbia Record Productions, Terre Haute, IN LY = Shelly Products, Huntington Station, NY MO = Monarch Records, Los Angeles, CA PL = Plastic Products, Memphis, TN PR = Presswell Records, Ancora, NJ RI = Philips Recording Corp. (formerly Richmond Record Pressing and Mercury Record Manufacturing Company), Richmond, IN SP = Specialty Records, Olyphant, PA

Atom H-Records

"ATOM H" was a record company owned by "Major Records International" ( the same company who also owned AAARRG records and C&C Records ). At the end of the 1980s, between 1987 and 1991 they released a dozen vinyl records. Bands for which "ATOM H" released records are: Accu§er, Forced Entry, Protector, Rumble Militia and STS 8 Mission. Today these records released by "ATOM H" have an estimated value from 20€ to 30€, with the highest prices for Protector, Accu§er and Shah albums.

Axe Killer Records

Axe Killer Records was a French record label which produced records of the the Heavy Thrash Metal band: Axe Attack Dark Angel , Jack Starr , Znowhite

Bacilus Records

BACILLUS records was a sub-label of Bellaphon records. BACILLUS released several Krautrock and European progressive rock bands like: Omega and Nektar . In the late 90s BACILLUS was still producing vinyl records, bands include eg: Zar

Barking Pumpkin Records

Barking Pumpkin Records was a record label by Frank Zappa

Bearsville Records

The Bearsville records released albums from bands like LIAR

Bernett Records

Bernett Records is a French record company and released albums for heavy metal bands like Venom

Big Beat Records

Big Beat Records is a British record label and import distributor owned by Ace Records, specialising in garage rock and punk, like "The Cramps"

Black Dragon Records

Black Dragons produced records for Thrash and Speed Metal bands like: Anthem (Nippon) , CJSS , D.C. Lacroix , Ded Engine , Liege Lord , Mace , Manilla Road , Savage Grace.
Black Dragon Records, 31 Rue De Constaninople, 75008 Paris, France, Distribution New Rose Records
See also: High Dragon Records

Bonebreaker

Bonebreaker was a German record label during the 80s which released only a couple of albums, some of them include bands like: Chainsaw , Invader , Overdose

Brain Records

Brain Records was a German record label, which released many Krautrock bands like Jane , Gorilla , Klaus Schulze . Brain was formed by two formed by two ex-Ohr employees. The green Brains are partly to interest of collectors because of some great Krautrock presented on this label. The first release dates back to 1972. The Green label was replaced by a multicolour design in 1975.

The original 1st issues of the releases up to 1056 have the word "metronome" under the logo. The later series are a bit brighter coloured and do not have "metronome". With this design some of the first series are reissued. Most of the releases have gatefold sleeves.

Brain also produced some Germany Heavy/Speed Metal bands like: Accept

See also the Metronome record label

Bronze Records

Bronze records was founded by the former Vertigo: Gerry Bron. Bronze released and produced albums by bands like: Manfred Mann's Earth Band, Uriah Heep, Tempest, Osibisa, Motorhead, Hawkind,

Camel Records

Camel Records was most likely a German record labels and released albums in the eighties for bands like: Sacrifice

Cargo Records

Record label from San Francisco, recording bands like Headfirst

Caroline Records

Caroline Records was an American record company which distributed the album " Surfin Mod"

Carrere

Carrere Records was a French record label specialized in Euro Disco, but also released some heavy metal bands in France in particular the NWOBHM band: Saxon One of the most succesful performers on the Carrere label was Sheila B. Devotion

Century Media Records

Century Media Records was a German record label producing death metal records for bands like Morgoth

Celluloid

Celluloid was probable a French record label which amongst Jamaica: Reggae, Dub also produced Metal records by Trust

Century Media Records

Century Media Records was a very small record label managed by Robert Kampf, lead singer of the Techno Thrash metal : Despair band

Clay Records

Clay records was a French or UK record label distributed by Pinnacle. Clay produced bands like: Demon

Cobra Records

Canadian record label focused on Death Metal with bands like: Agent Steel , Death and Deathrow , Living Death , Running Wild

Columbia Records

Columbia records was the "Columbia" label used for production and distribution of records in the USA.
Outside the USA the records were distributed under the CBS logo.

In 1955, Columbia introduced the "6 eye" label. There are six camera/eye logos on the label, and the "LP" logo is at the bottom. This label continued on all (mono) pressings until 1962.

In 1958, stereo was introduced, and so a stereo version of the "6 eye" label was created. The prefix for standard stereo LP's was CS.

The 6 eye were arranged in sets of three opposite each other, along the outer edge of the label, at "3 o'clock" and "9 o'clock" as it were. The logos look like LP discs that have been squashed into ovals with two sick figure feet coming out of the bottom. These logos are referred to as "eyes" because they sort of resemble eyes. The "pop" records were red white and black. When browsing LP's for sale, a record collector who sees an item listed as a "6-eye" naturally assumes that this record was made in the 1950's or early 1960's. These records typically have a catalog number consisting of two letters followed by four numbers

In 1962, Columbia switched to the "2 eye" label, which lasted in one form or another until 1970. The first variety (1962-1963) featured the words "Guaranteed High Fidelity" at the bottom for mono LP's and "360 Sound" twice around the word "STEREO" at the bottom for stereo LP's.

In Fall, 1963, arrows were added to the stereo logo.

In 1963, the print on both mono and stereo copies -- for mainstream and Masterworks albums -- was changed to white, which contrasted better with the red (or gray) label.

From the late '60's or early 1970's on, Columbia returned to a form of 6-eye style. This time the logos or eyes were repeated in a circle around the outside of the label (sometimes known as "ringarounds"), and in between each eye the word "Columbia" appeared. For pop records the background was red and the writing was also yellow (typically, though sometimes it was white or black). Most of these records have catalog numbers that consisted of a letter code followed by five numbers (eg: JC 35709)

Combat Records

Combat Records was an independent record label out of New York, which was home to some punk rock and heavy metal acts including Deathrow, Kreator, Megadeth, Possessed

Conquer the World Records

Conquer The World Records (often abbreviated to CTW) was a record label founded by Mike Warden in Detroit, Michigan. through out the years many of the bands that were signed to the label have gone on to complain about the label repressing the releases and withholding profits, however most have been due to conflicts resulting in assumptions. Many of the releases have been re-released on other labels and could be the reason for starting the rumors of reprints.

The first part of CTW's catalog consists of hardcore and emo releases, while the second are mostly compilations and audio books.

Conquer The World CTW 004

BLINDFOLD Restrain the Thought

Blindfold is a Hardcore band from Belgium. They were highly active in the underground hardcore scene around Kortrijk in the mid to late nineties (H-8000 scene). They played a blend of hardcore and emo with smart political and personal lyrics and lived a drug free lifestyle. Thus their music was aptly self-proclaimed Sober Mind Meditation . They toured Europe a few times, most notably being the tour with Congress and Liar called Steel Against Steel.

Crammed Discs

Crammed Discs is an independent record label whose output blends world music, rock, pop, and electronica. Based in Brussels, Belgium, Crammed was founded in 1980 by Marc Hollander of Aksak Maboul and has since released over 280 albums and 250 singles, working with artists from all over the world (from the Balkans to North and Central Africa, from South America to the Middle East as well as the more regular musical pastures of the US and Europe). Crammed Discs is run by Marc Hollander (A&R) with Hanna Gorjaczkowska (marketing, distribution & art direction) and Vincent Kenis (producer, director of the Congotronics Series).

Marc Hollander and Crammed Discs received the WOMEX award in 2004 at the World Music Expo international music trade fair, for being "one of the seminal players on the world music field." Crammed Discs won the WOMEX Top Label Award in 2007 and 2009.

Crammed Discs' latest signings include Chicago band Allá, folk-pop-cabaret act Lonely Drifter Karen (from Vienna and Barcelona), London-based Moroccan electronic artist U-cef, Congolese band Staff Benda Bilili, musician/composer/producer Mocky and US bands Akron/Family and Megafaun, which are handled by Crammed in Europe.

Crammed Discs CRAM 035

KARL BISCUIT Regrets Eternels

Crammed Discs CRAM 055

MINIMAL COMPACT - The Figure One Cuts

Devil's Records

Devil's Records produced records for French Speed and Thrash Metal bands like: ADX, Attentat Rock, Sortilege, Vulcain

Devil's Game Records

Devils Game was a division of SPV Gmbh and recorded albums for the German Thrash Metal Band: Sodom. Actually the first album of Devil's Game with catalog no DG 001 was Sodom's In The Sign of Evil

Discreet Records

Discreet Records was a sub-label of Warner Bros and released (amongst others) albums by Frank Zappa

Dream Records

Dream Records was probable a French record company, which released records for bands like : Excess

Durium

Durium Records was a Italian record label (Durium-Fremus Ediz Music) which produced Metal records for bands like: Vanadium

EARACHE RECORDS

"Earache Records" is an independent record label based in Nottingham, England and New York, United States. It helped to pioneer extreme metal by releasing many of the earliest grindcore and death metal records between 1988 and 1994, including bands like "Napalm Death"

Earthshaker Records

Earthshaker records was a German label formed by renowned Metal-scenester Axel Thubeauville . He also co-founded Aaarrg Records with Ralf Hubert and later formed his own Shark Records. Various old Earthshaker releases are now being re-released by Alex' new label Rusty Diamond.

Axel Thubeauville is a pioneering music producer and record company owner who played a crucial role in shaping the Hard Rock and Heavy Metal scene. As the founder of Metallian Music, Earthshaker Records, Aaarrg Records, and Shark Records, he launched numerous legendary bands. His dedication to underground metal remains unmatched. Learn more in his biography.

Ralph "Ralf" Hubert – Record Producer, Sound Engineer, Musician

He is the guy who can make a mid-budget German metal band sound like it had a plan all along. Read more...

Ralph "Ralf" Hubert is the kind of German studio hawk who makes a band sound sharper than they actually are (a compliment). Back in Sep-Nov 1984 I can place him behind the desk at Sound-Partner Studio in Kirchhellen, engineering Stormwind sessions with that clean, metallic bite. From 1985 onward he stepped out from the control room as bassist, writer and guiding hand in Mekong Delta, where precision riffing and surgical low-end are the whole religion. Across the late 1980s and beyond, his name keeps popping up in metal credits-usually where the drums are tight and the guitars stop flapping. Producer, engineer, musician: the link between sweaty rehearsal rooms and the cold, exacting final mix.

Bands released on the Earthshaker records label include: Carrie . Steeler , Living Death, Steeltower, Atlain, Fact ,

Ebony

Ebony was a British record label and one of the leading companies responsible fpr the promotion and produced records for heavy metal (NWOBHM) bands like: Blade Runner, Fast Kutz , Grim Reaper

Elektra / Asylum

These are some of the manufacturing plant codes used by the Elektra / Asylum and can be helpful to determine the origin of records

CSM = Columbia Record Productions, Santa Maria, CA CTH = Columbia Record Productions, Terre Haute, IN PRC = Philips Recording Corp., Richmond, IN PRC-W = Philips Recording Corp., Compton, CA ... the "W" presumably indicates West

Full details on Elektra "Master" Discography

Enigma Records

Enigma Records was a record company who produced records for Thrash Metal bands like: Death Angel and TSOL True Sounds of Liberty

Fania

Fania was a New York based record company, producing many Latin music genres in particular: Celia Cruz, Johnny Pacheco, Hector Lavoe, Ismael Miranda and of course: Fania All Stars

Good Life Recordings

Good Life Recordings is a record label based in Belgium. It was founded in 1996 by Edward Verhaeghe who had been the lead vocalist in Nations On Fire. The label specializes in metal metalcore/hardcore bands. It has released many highly significant bands of the second and third wave of hardcore, as well as the majority of the signed bands that are part of H8000.

Good Life Recordings GL 030

CULTURE Born of You

GWR Records

GWR Records was specialized in Thrash metal bands and released albums by bands like: Sacrilege B.C.

Hallelujah Records

One of the bands released on the Hallelujah Record label was the Swiss Psych/Acid Krautrock band: Brainticket The Swiss Hallelujah label also released some records by the Swiss bands: " Toad ", "Matterhorn Project"

Illegal Records

Illegal Records produced mainly Speed and Thrash metal albums for bands like: The Lords of The New Church

ISLAND Records

Island Records was formed to market and distribute Jamaican records in Britain. In the mid-60's Island began to expand with a handful of (white) British artists. By 1967 Island was at the centre of the progressive rock movement....

The ILP mono series:
The numbering is similar for the same music (ILP 962 is the mono release and ILPS 9062 is the stereo release). Note that some albums are remixed for their stereo release.

1967-1969	The first pink label: Solid pink label with a coloured eye at the left side (at 9'o clock) and the word island written at the bottom half in an open lettering type This design was in use from late 1967 until mid-1969. This design featured the word "island" in large, lower-case lettering along the bottom of the label with a distinctive orange and black circular logo (eye) dotting the 'i'.
1967-1969	The second pink label: Solid pink label with a black eye over the record's center hole and Island at the bottom of the label. Making the eye and the ilsland look like a large I This design was used from september 1969 until end 1969. The design is also known as the "black block" label. This design used the circular logo as on the first label, only now in black, dotting a large black 'i', with island written in it. The logo covered the spindle hole.
1969-1970	The third pink label: Solid pink label with a large I at 6 o'clock This design was in use from end 1969 and throughout 1970. The design featured a large, lower-case white 'i' beneath the spindle hole
1971-1975	The Palm Tree label: White cloudy background, with blue sky and yellow sun rays and island with one tree on the left at the botton of the label, pink rim This design was introduced in late 1970 and lasted for 5 years. It became known as the "white-based palm tree", the "pink rim" or the "sun-ray" design.
1975-1982	Orange background, a tree on the left, blue rim
1980-1986	Solid blue label with an I and small yellow sun, just below the center holw
1984-1986	White background , top of a palmtree at 10 o'clock, yellow-green-blue-red rim

Lizard Records

Lizard Records was a French Record label, which produced records of Speed Metal bands like: Blaspheme

LOGO

LOGO was a UK record label producing new wave bands like: Vardis , The Tourists with Ann Lennox)

Loony Tunes Records

Loony Tunes was a record label based in Scarborough, England, producing low-budget Punk music records for bands like: Active Minds

Megaforce Worldwide

Megaforce Records was one of the first record labels to specialize in heavy metal music and was instrumental in popularizing the genre during the 80s. The label was known for releasing albums by up-and-coming heavy metal bands that were often ignored by other record labels. Through its support and promotion of these artists, Megaforce Records helped establish heavy metal as a viable and important genre of music.

Metalworks

Metalworks focused on the release of Thrash Metal (division of UK AVM Label), and released albums from bands like ANIHILATED

Metal Blade Records

Metal Blade Records was a sub-label of Roadrunner Records, and produced thrash metal bands including: D.R.I., Hallow's Eve , Sacred Reich, Slayer. For a complete list of all LP albums released on Metal Blade Records, see the Roadrunner webpage

Metal Masters

Started out as Rock Machine but created the sublabel "Metal Masters" after their first release, was an OMEGA LP, bands released on the "Metal Masters" record label include: Accept , Cities, Diamond Hear , Mirage , Samson , Scorpions , Vardis , etc

N.E.W Musidisc

N.E.W Musidisc was a French record company which released albums of Black/Death/Thrash Metal bands like: ACE , Exodus , Venom

New Renaissance Records

A Hardcore Thrash Metal Records Label started in 1985 with bands like Post Mortem and Wehrmacht (1987)

New Renaissance Records NRR LP Catalogue
NRR11	Post Mortem - Coroners Office
NRR16	Blood Feast - Kill for Pleasure
NRR50	Wehrmacht - Biermacht

RAVE-ON

Dutch Metal label formed in 1981 by Stefan Rooyackers from Aardschok magazine and Jacques Hustinx. Rave-on is known for producing the debut albums for Heavy Metal bands like: Sortilege , Mercyful Fate , H-Bomb , Evil .

Jacques Hustinx, a Dutch musician, producer, and co-founder of Rave-On Records, played a pivotal role in shaping the landscape of heavy metal music during the 1980s. Learn more about him

Reprise

Reprise Records
R/R9 6001-6199 Duotone colour label (pink/yellow) 1961-1966
R/RS 6200-6399 Duotone colour label (dark red/light red) 1966-1970
R/RS 6400-6484 Single colour label (orange/red) 1970-1973
R/R9 2000-2199 (Duotone colour label) 1961-1974

Rough Justice

Rough Justice released records of the Canadian metal band: Dead Brain Cells (DBC) and hardcore punk bands like: The Exploited , G.B.H

Scratch records

Scratch Records was a German company which produced heavy metal albums of bands like: Battlezone , Gravestone , Killer , Stormwitch , " Tokyo Blade" ,

Shark Records

Shark records was a German record company and a sub-label of the "US Metal Records". Shark records released records of the Thrash Metal Band: Sepultura See also Earthshaker Records

Viper Records

Viper Records was probable a sub-label of Roadrunner records and produced Thrash Metal bands like Razor

We Bite Records

Produced of punk , grunge and metal records, in particular bands like Attitude, Ludichrist,

WB 036 - Erosion - Mortal Agony
WB 062 - Death in Action - Just For Sake...
WB 083 - Into Another

Wild Rags Records

Heavy, Thrash Metal record label producing bands like Anialator, Bloodcum

Witchhunt Records

Witchhunt records was a Swiss record label based in Zurich and specialized in Death, Grind and Thrash Metal

ZTT Records

ZTT record label founded in 1983 by NME journalist Paul Morley, record producer Trevor Horn, producer/engineer Gary Langan and businesswoman Jill Sinclair. The majority of the creative team at ZTT had first assembled when Horn produced the acclaimed album "The Lexicon of Love" for New Romantic band ABC. The label's name was also printed as "Zang Tumb Tuum" and "Zang Tuum Tumb" on various releases. Some of the bands produced and released by ZTT are: Propaganda

ZYX Records

ZYX record was a German company releasing Disco music for bands like: Take Three ,and the Heavy Metal band : Vanadium

This website has the following sections:

Pop Music Photo Gallery - a photo gallery with a selection of rare and cult pop music. released on vinyl albums during the period 1980s until the early 1990s

Rock and Heavy Metal Music's Photo Gallery - a photo gallery of Rock Music albums (including all genres of Heavy Metal. Each album has high res photos of the album covers, inner sleeves and record label art, augmented with detailed background information

Record Price Guide - The Record Price Guide has general information on estimating the value or prices of records as well as detailed information on record collecting, topics covered include how to start with record collecting, maintenance and cleaning of records and many other valuable topics related to record collecting

EMI - Country Codes . The EMI Country Codes on the record's album covers or records labels may help you to determine the originating country of a particular record

Vinyl Glossary - New in record collectiing? This glossary will help you to decypher the various codes and acronyms used by record collectors

Market Codes - This list of Market of Marketing codes will help you to determine the country of origin for records.

Record Grading - The Record Grading page contains a detailed description of the most common method of grading your records

Rare Album Covers - This section list rare and hard to find album covers. And include album covers designed by famous artists, art-workers, and photographers. See album covers designed by Boris Vallejo, Soroyama Hajime, Julie Bell, HR Giger and many others.

Collectable Record Labels - Record companies released albums using various record labels. These web-pages describe a selection of rare and cult record labels, worthwhile to invest in

Rare VINYL record Labels and their companies

New Renaissance Records NRR LP Catalogue

This website has the following sections: