Rare VINYL record Labels and their companies

AAARRG Record is a German record label found by Ralf Hubert aka Björn Eklund. Aaarrg was a division of Major Records International, see this page for detailed discography information

  Ralph "Ralf" Hubert - Producer, sound engineer, sound mixer and bass player with "Mekong Delta" has produced, engineered and mixed many heavy metal band's album. Some of these bands include: Brainfever, Steeler, Fact, Warlock, Living Death, Atlain, Stormwind, Darxon, Hunter, Lions Breed, Metal Sword, Overdose, Breaker, Mad Butchter, Carrie, Invader, Holy Moses, Siren, Target, Kreator, Sacred Chao. Being a producer and sound engineer he has been responsible (influencer) of the Teutonic Metal sound of the 1980s.

  As a musician" Ralph Hubert" using the alias "Björn Eklund" he played bass with the band "Mekong Delta" since 1985 , other bands he performed with are Schwarzarbeit and X-Mas Project.Ralph Hubert was also co-founder of "Aaarrg Records" in 1986.

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

In Europe the Atlantic records were manufactured by WEA GMBH. European manufactured Atlantic records can be recognized by the reference to WEA on the label or album cover. Export (or Import) releases typically have NO reference to WEA

In France Atlantic records from the 70s were released with Red/Pink label color

"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.

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

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)

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.

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

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.

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

  Axel Thubeauville (Essen, Germany) and owner of Metallian Music has been producing Hard Rock / Heavy Metal bands since 1983. Some of the groups include Brainfever, Living Death, Fact, Steeler, Warlock, Atlain, Breaker, Overdose, Mad Butcher, Carrie, Chainsaw, and many others. - Axel was also founder of the "Earthshaker Records". 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. Bands released on the Earthshaker records label include: Carrie. Steeler , Living Death, Steeltower, Atlain, Fact. Axel Thubeauville has been working often together with Ralph "Ralf" Hubert.

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

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

Evasion Disques was a French record label which released on folk/folklore music from Latin America and Swiss Talents

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
Good Life Recordings ED026 / Kortrijk, Belgium	SPIRIT OF YOUTH Colors That Bleed

Good Vibrations is a Belfast record label and store. Founded by Terri Hooley in the early 1970's, Good Vibrations started out in a small derelict building on Great Victoria Street, Belfast. It is now located on Winetavern Street, Belfast. Hooley's main objective in starting the company was to introduce punk bands from Northern Ireland to the rest of the United Kingdom, as he did not believe Northern groups were given enough attention. The label's first recording was for a local band called Rudi, a single called "Big Time". Hooley would later sign groups such as Victim, The Moondogs, The Shapes, Protex, The Outcasts, and The Undertones. Although the Undertones were to become the most famous of all these bands.

Good Vibrations hosted the first ever International Festival of Punk and New Wave at the Belfast Royal Ulster Hall over two nights in 1980 featuring almost the entire roster of the label's bands and other punk acts such as The Saints. Many listeners were brought to Belfast by the Good Vibrations DIY independence and Hooley's persistent determination and desire to see local music recognised nationally. Despite growing popularity, though, Good Vibrations filed bankruptcy in 1982, just as the first wave of British punk had officially died. Bands that had gone to London, such as Protex and Rudi, went back to Hooley – and Belfast. Hooley's friends later got him a shop called Vintage Records, Co. just around the corner from Good Vibrations.

Grunt mainly released records of "Jefferson Airplane" as well as all incarnations of Jefferson Airplane, like: Jefferson Airplane , Jefferson Starship and Starship

A complete overview of can be found here: "The Grunt Album Discography"

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.

KNSE is a Swiss record label, one of the records released by KNSE was: KONX Demos

KNSE has published (amongst others) the following vinyl records: KONX "Demos" , KONX "It's A Gun" , Markus Stauss Quartett "Neulich im Studio", Ueberfall "…in alle Ewigkeit", Ueberfall "Neuschnee", Trio Infernal "Zwischenspiel", The Cobblers "Sent Reeling".

Mausoleum was a Belgium Heavy Metal Record label which released records by bands like: Bloody Six , : Tyrant and Warhead

Metronome Records was a German record label, which released many Krautrock bands like Jane but also pop bands like Phil Carmen , Gianni Nannini

See also the Brain record label

" Music for Nations " 1983-2004 was a UK based record company who produced Thrash Metal bands like: Anthrax , Dearly Beheaded , Exodus, Metallica

See the complete Music for Nations page , for all records released by this company.

Mute Records is record label formed in 1978 by Daniel Miller primarily to release his own single, "T.V.O.D."/"Warm Leatherette", under the moniker The Normal.

Mute Records made a name for itself as the label that was willing to sign post-punk artists like Fad Gadget (Frank Tovey's pseudonym), Einstürzende Neubauten, Throbbing Gristle, and Cabaret Voltaire. Once electronic music hit the British charts from 1981 onwards, Mute signed artists like Depeche Mode, Nitzer Ebb, and Erasure that utilised new technology which would eventually redefine the sound of the dancefloor in the late 1980s and early 1990s.

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

Noise International as a division of Modern Musik. Noise International produced mainly German Metal bands and included Helloween, Tankard

The complete catalog of Noise Records is here

Nuclear Blast Records was a record label distributed by SPV and produced mainly Death Metal and Death Core bands, like Deathcore.

Complete record catalog of Nuclear Blast Records

Steamhammer (a division of SPV) released hardcore punk thrash metal music including Assassin, Destruction,Napalm

The complete Steam Hammer Record Catalogue is on this page

Underdof Records was a label created in 1980 by Dominique Lablin and Marc Zermatt. The label was distributed by Carrere records from 1980 till 1986 and by Vogue and New Rose in 1986.

Some of the bands with records on the Underdog label. include Mitch Ryder , Whitesnake, The Sparks

"Under One Flag" was a British Record label, specialized in Heavy Metal and Thrash Metal music. And released albums for some of Heavy Metal greatest bands like Bathory, Nuclear Assault, Onslaught, Possessed and others.

View a selection of the early "Under One Flag" vinyl releases 

Vibraton was probable a German record company producing budget albums with cheesy album covers.

Some of the albums released on Vibraton are
Peter Hepburn - All You Need is Love (Vibraton VB L 6017)
M. Opawsky "Die Ganze Welt is Himmelblau" Vibrato VB L 6020
"Let's Have a Party" Vibraton VB L 6022
Crying People Vibraton VB L 6021
Beat and Sweet Vibraton VB L 6023

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