Record Rarities from Bruce's Record Collection

Off The Record

the most hard to read record label?

Posted by Bruce on January 8, 2010 in Comments with No Comments


The title says it all for my first poll in the “off the record” blog

Most of these labels had an eye catching design, but it usually meant it would be at the expense of the legibitilty of the label

Before I get stuck into this poll, I have learned that scanning labels usually ended up making the labels lighter (and as a result easier to read.  I have now since learned to fix the colour balance)

the first (and oldest) label in the collection is the original His Masters Voice (HMV) label that was used from the 1940′s until the early 1960′s by EMI

the HMV label - 1940s until the early 1960's

the original label was a darker burgundy colour than this.

It’s actually more pronounced on 78′s from the 1940′s, as this label proves below

THE CARINIA COMPANY (1947-1987)

founded by Polish immigrants in 1947, and originally released recordings from Poland.  The company expanded it’s catalogue to include classical music and recordings from New Zealand based Viking Records and of course, Audio Fidelity

the Carinia Company

for nearly all of it’s LP releases this was the colour combo used (red and silver.  Although I have in my collection a version of this label in Black and Gold)

image number three comes from the Mercury Record catalogue.

Mercury Records - 1981

This label dates from around 1981, and yes it’s the single “Stars on 45″

PYE’S PLUM LABEL

the rarely seen Pye Plum Label

this one is a very rare label (as Pye did have offices in Australia in the 1950′s before the distribution was taken over by Astor).  when Astor took over the distribution, it would be released under Astor’s Gold Series.  So labels like these are rare.

While I’m at it, here is Pye’s successor, PRT (after the license was not renewed by Pye in 1980)

(note to self: never use black text on a red and green label design

Precision Records and Tapes - 1981-mid 80's

Late last year, I posted the label gallery of Hammard, and I noted about the “Aussie” label design. (in case you missed it, here it is:)

the Hammard 1980s label

New addition: I have decided to add this now as I forgot to add this in the original post.  Here is WEA’s Australian Label from the early 80′s

And finally, the record label of Hollywood studio MGM (this was used from the late 60′s until the mid 70′s when the label was merged with the Polydor catalogue (the Yin Yang seems OK, but was a little bit too dark-ish.))

the Australian release of the MGM label

this is the final list.  Are any of these labels seem to be a little bit hard to read, or can you think of something I may have missed?  If I have, post your suggestion in the comments below.

The poll is now open, and will remain open until 23:59 on New Years Eve 2010 (Australian Eastern Standard Time, 1:59 AM for the southern states (NSW, Vic., Tas.)

BTW, you can vote two labels if you so wish.

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