American label MGM Records, or MGM (short for MGM Records 12th Anniversary Celebration Series
MGM Records is a division of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, Inc.
First release - Art Lund - Mam'selle / Sleepy Time Gal
In October 1958, they released their first stereo disks.
For all Unofficial / Bootleg releases, please use MGM Records (3).
Common variations: M-G-M, M. G. M, M.G.M., M⸝G⸝M, M·G·M
Key owners / parent companies: Polydor (1975—1982)
Current label owner according to GVL: Universal Music Entertainment GmbH (company not in Discogs).
Current re-issue rightsholders:
>>Soundtracks: CBS Special Products (1982—'86).
>>Pop and Country: Mercury Nashville
Distribution outside North America was via Electric & Musical Industries Ltd. (EMI) from August 1947 until the mid-1960s.
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Throughout its history, MGM used several format prefixes, center label designs, and typefaces that allow approximate dating of the releases.
CATALOG NO'S PREFIXES
US 45 RPM prefixes
K: 7" singles, 1949—Feb 1974
M: 7" singles, Feb '74—1976
X: 7" EPs
SK: Stereo 'Special Edition' 7" singles, 1959—??
KGC: Golden Circle 7" singles, 1956—??
LP prefixes
E: Mono LPs, 1953—approx. 1958
E/SE: "faux"/re-channeled Stereo LPs, 1958—?? (often in Mono jackets with an attached sticker)
SE: Stereo LPs, 1959—'74
CH: Mono Children's
CHS: Stereo Children's
Stereo LPs (since 1974)
M3
MG
MB
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METROLITE NON-BREAKABLE 78 RPM 10" singles
From circa 1947 till approx. 1956, M-G-M pressed some 78 RPM 10" records on a proprietary vinyl formulation called "Metrolite." (Around the time, many competing labels marketed similar types of "non-breakable" materials: Hank Williams With His Drifting Cowboys - Dear John / Cold, Cold Heart
Quick Reference
Format: Vinyl (in the "dropdown" list)
Size: 10"
Speed: 78 RPM
Free Text: Do Not include 'Metrolite'
In case both shellac and Metrolite/vinyl pressings exist, submit them separately (within the same Master Release).
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CENTER LABELS
1940-'59: 1st-generation—"black-on-yellow" with inverted M〜G〜M and "contoured" lion's head.
1959-'68: 2nd-generation—"silver-on-black" with rainbow M⸝G⸝M and full-colored "movie"-style lion's head.
1968-'82: 3rd-generation—"blue-and-gold" yin-yang with a blue MGM Records logo and black "modernized Leo" lion's head.
45 RPM Catalog Number, Date and Label Identification:
10000 through 12828 (1949–1959): Yellow label.
12829 and higher (1959 forward): Black label. MGM switched to a blue and yellow label somewhere around 14000 (1969), but we can't pinpoint the exact changeover number.
55000 series (1955–1956): Yellow label.
Numbers prior to the beginning of 45 production are reissues of material first issued on 78 rpms.
Bottom-rim text
Until approx. Oct 1960: M-G-M Records–A Division Of Loew's Incorporated–Made in U.S.A.
In 1952, Loew's Incorporated was required to divest itself of the MGM studio and "spin it off" into its own new company, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, Inc., as a result of the United States v. Paramount Pictures, Inc. Supreme Court ruling. Because of Loew's' elaborate corporate structure, however, the separation process didn't finalize until late 1959.
Oct '60—1971: M-G-M Records–A Division Of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, Inc.–Made in U.S.A.
The 'M-G-M' spelling later changed to M.G.M Records, and subsequently to MGM Records
May '72—approx. 1976 (after the PolyGram takeover): Manufactured by MGM Records, Inc., 7165 Sunset Boulevard, Hollywood, Calif. 90046
1976—1982: Manufactured And Marketed By Polydor Incorporated/810 Seventh Avenue/New York, N.Y. 10019
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TYPEFACES
Variations in the center label's text—publishers, impressum, catalog and matrix numbers, and songwriters/personnel. Identifiable features include:
✪ Name Variations—e.g. Burdon versus E. Burdon or Eric Burdon (conventions could differ with 2-3 songwriters, longer/unusual names, etc.)
✪ Outline—whether the text is regular or bold
✪ Vertical Alignment—numbers/symbols printed closer to the top, center, or bottom edge of the hole (particularly for 7" singles/EPs with a 1½" hub).
Pressing Plants
◆ No. 2
◇ Example
◇ Example
◇ No. 2
◇ No. 2
◇ Example
In some instances, one release could have multiple pressings, e.g. MGM's New Jersey "domestic" plant, H.V. Waddell, Midwest Record Pressings, and Reverse Producers Corp.
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HISTORY
The label's output was originally soundtrack recordings from MGM movies (featuring the likes of Connie Francis (who would be the longest-serving artist on the label, recording from 1957 until 1973 but still releasing albums until the label's demise).
By 1953, MGM Records was considered a major label alongside Kama Sutra Records.
By the late 1960s, the label was beginning to experience many internal and sales problems (the studio's unrealistic sales goals for the label in spite of large numbers of unsold LPs winding up in the cut-out bins; the colossal failure of the TRC (2).
Curb righted the label's fortunes by giving it a more family entertainment-oriented focus, with Johnny Bristol).
In May 1972, MGM's then-owner, hotel and real estate magnate Kirk Kerkorian sold the label to Mercury Nashville, respectively.
Labels distributed by MGM
For much of its history, MGM distributed a number of smaller labels, many of which only lasted a couple of releases. A few exceptions include ABC Records after a three-year period).
