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The labels are always a big problem for whoever buys original records and I think that it has happened to everyone to buy a certain LP with the conviction that it was the first edition, to than discover that, as a matter of fact, it is the second edition, if not the third.
In time, with the help of experienced friends, specialized guides and looking with your own eyes, finally you learn something.
Most collectors buy firstly the edition of the records that were stamped in the country of origin and usually the quotation refers to those (for example: Doors/USA, Beatles/UK).

In the following charts there is an indication and the principal criteria to try to get lost in a jungle of labels.
Naturally they will be updated and eventually any signal of errors will be welcome.






The first logo is usually called 'Guitar Player', the second 'Gold' or 'Tan', the third 'Red' and the fourth 'Butterfly'.
Problems come when Elektra changed logo because in some States the records were issued with the previous design. Anyway the series numbers can be useful.
With the 'Guitar Player' logo there are few interesting records:
TEAR DOWN THE WALL - EKS 7248 - 1965- e BLEECKER AND MACDOUGAL - EKS 7293 - 1965 both of Fred Neil and the first of Paul Butterfield Blues Band (EKS 7294 - 1965).
As Goldmine wrote, the first four Doors records have the 'Gold' label:
SAME - EKS 74007 (stereo) - EKL 4007 (mono) - 1967 -
STRANGE DAYS - EKS 74014 (stereo) - EKL 4014 (mono) - 1967 -
WAITING FOR THE SUN - EKS 74024 (stereo) - EKL 4024 (mono) - 1968 -
THE SOFT PARADE - EKS 75005 - 1969 - (I had some doubts because with the 7500 number serie should begin the 'Red' label, but than I saw in internet that it is Gold ).
The Red Label:
MORRISON HOTEL - EKS 75007 - 1970 -
The label changed in 'Butterfly' with:
ABSOLUTELY LIVE - EKS 2-9002 - 1970 - and
L.A. WOMAN - EKS 75011 - 1971 -

Some records with 'Gold Label' »









Original issues on Vertigo label are easy to recognize: until 1973 they have the famous 'spiral' or 'swirl' logo and on the vinyl, near the label, there is the matrix number printed and not written with a pen-nib. There is also a 3 figures number indicating the Country of origin. This label is one of the most counterfeited but with some attentions you can avoid to buy a counterfeit.
During the 1973 the 'Spiral' label changes in 'Spaceship' (designed, by the way, by Roger Dean).
Of course almost all Vertigo 'swirl' records are sought-after because of the beautiful covers (some are 'gimmix': Dr. Z, Tudor Lodge, Dr. Strangely Strange, just to mention some of them) and of the good music.

Some records with 'Swirl' label »









This famous german company issued many collectible rock records of german groups from 1972 since 1976. Original copies labels have written 'Metronome' under 'Brain' from the 1001 number until the 1055. From 1056 to 1089 the written 'Metronome' disappears and the colour is a light green. Some records have been reissued with a different label colour, with or without the original series number and a different cover. For example the original cover of Yatha Sidhra - A Meditation Mass has the cut-out, the second press does not have it.
Several records with this label are sought-after by the collectors: Gomorrha, Sperrmüll and Yatha Sidhra, to mention a few.

Some records on Brain Metronome »









This label is one of the most complicated because several records have been printed with different design until the Island had the 'Pink' logo, until the last series number whic is the ILPS 9135 (Cat Stevens' Tea For The Tillerman). Must say that nobody saw the ILPS 9134 Nick Drake's Bryter Layter on Pink Label.
Mono pressing have 3 figures number (Mr. Fantasy by Traffic - MONO ILP 961 - STEREO ILPS 9061) and the first design is on the label from 1967 until the middle of 1969.
The second design had a short life: from september until the end of the year (Fairport Convention Unhalfbricking - ILPS 9102 - has this design).
The third design's life is also short: until november, 1970 (King Crimson In The Court Of The Crismon King - ILPS 9111 - has this design). As you can see the most collectible Island records were pressed in about four years with three different logos.
Problems ended with the fourth design, well known as 'Palm Tree' or 'Pink Rim until 1975.
Island also issued one serie called 'Help' with black label and the pink 'i' at the bottom and in this serie have been pressed, for example, Illusion by Renaissance, Robert Fripp No Pussyfooting and Earthbound of King Crimson.

Some records with Pink Label »









Capitol has the first logo, known as 'Rainbow Capitol' until 1970, after it changed in 'Green Capitol'. Of course there are two or three different 'Rainbow' labels (with or without the vertical inscription 'Long Playing - High Fidelity').
Usually problems come when the records are issued at the moment of the change of design, in these cases guides can be useful.
Many Capitol Records are collectible: Quicksilver Messenger Service, Steve Miller Band, Fred Neil, just to mention a few of them.

Some records with 'Rainbow Label' »









Columbia has at least three different designs:
The first, is called 'Six Eyes' and the first Bob Dylan album has this design: six white eyes with black background. There are some versions of this design (the Mono copies are different from the Stereo ones) and this records are ultra rare.
In 1965 the design changed to '360° Sound' wrote in black (for the Mono copies) or white (for the Stereo) with red background.
In 1970 another change: the background is red but the inscription is 'Columbia' gold colour, repeated six times.

Some records with '360° Sound' label »









English RCA with the logo 'Neon' in 1971 and 1972 printed eleven records of progressive rock with wonderful covers.
All this records are collectible and all have been counterfeited. Original covers have on the front the inscription 'Rca' and the Neon Logo. The inner bag is black and the background colour of the label is bright black. Counterfeited issues have the vinyl circles also on the labels.

Go to the catalog »









The Warner Bros. designs to consider are three: the fourth, called 'Burbank', was born in 1973 and the records with this logo are not much collectible.
The first logo, Gold, was on the labels until the end of 1967 and it's the one on the first Grateful Dead album. Since 1968 Warner Bros. records have the second design, the W 7 (Van Morrison Astral Week and Moondance had this logo as Anthem Of The Sun, Aoxomoxoa and Live Dead of Grateful Dead).
The 'W 7' logo in 1970 changed to the third design: the 'Green' one until 1973.
Other designs are not important for collectors.

Some records with 'W 7 Green Label' »








We saw that also in Germany some 'Majors' issued several progressive rock records with sub-labels. Basf, with Pilz label, issued a score of records in two years. The covers are beautiful and some records 'cult': Popol Vuh, Flute & Voice, Virus and others, almost all collectable.
It's easy to recognize the original issues because the reissues (all made in 1982) tought like the original, have on the back cover 'Pop-Import' written.

Here is some recommended records »








Mainstream Label is one of the most sought-after by the collectors though the music is not so interesting, to say the truth.
The nicest records are: Art Of Lovin', Bohemian Vendetta and of course Big Brother & The Holding Company.
There are many counterfeited issues around , some very well done, that you must be very careful with the cardboard covers , which is thick and brown for the original records.
As usual on the records there is not date, so I think that the right sequence (if the number was in chronological serie) is the one as I put in the section.

Some Mainstream Records »