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This label guide covers album labels by MGM Records from their first LP offerings in 1950 until the company merged with Liberty/UA in 1982. The early MGM label styles are recognized as classic designs.
  | This original MGM label appeared on original pressings of all MGM ten-inch LP's (numbered E-501 through E-559 and, basically, E-85 through about E-322) and of early twelve-inch LP's (from E-3000 in 1953 through about E-3774 in 1959). This first label style was yellow and black, with "LONG PLAYING" and "MICROGROOVE" at the top. The yellow label continued to be used after the advent of stereo LP's in 1958. After about album SE-3774 in 1959, MGM began to phase in their new label (see below), but the old style cover logo continued to be used until after album E-3867 the following year. |
  | MGM's classic black label was introduced first in 1959, on or about album SE-3775. That label style continued until approximately January, 1968, and about album SE-4529. At some point, early in the black label run, the rim print was fixed to read that the company was "a division of Metro-Goldwyn-Meyer." |
 | By 1968, MGM was changing. Some faltering sales may have prompted the change to the new blue and gold label, which began appearing on LP covers and in advertising in late 1967. Slick labels with "STEREO" in thin print continued to be used through about album SE-4830 in 1972. Record clubs also continued to use this style, at least as late as 1976. |
 
| In 1972, MGM sold out to Polygram, which had formed due to the merger of Polydor and Phonogram. Within a few years, MGM Records was releasing only movie soundtracks and reissues of previous MGM material. The new labels have "STEREO" in round print, have the gold replaced by a beige/yellow color, and list an address on Sunset Boulevard. This label style began at approximately SE-4831 and continued through the last MGM LP. In 1974, MGM's album prefix began to align itself more with what Polydor was doing with other US releases. In 1976, after the release of That's Entertainment, Vol. 2, the rim print changed again to mention "Polydor Incorporated" as the manufacturer. The last LP of which I am aware is a Connie Francis reissue, MGB 1-5412, from 1982. After that point, MGM was absorbed into MGM/UA, whose records were pressed by EMI. Therefore, MGM Records ceased to exist as a separate entity. |
For far more detailed information about MGM Records, including their subsidiary labels (such as Metro) and labels distributed by MGM (such as Kama Sutra and Verve), visit Both Sides Now.
© 2003 Frank Daniels