When i first got into northern soul, and started reading up about any and every topic i could find relating to NS, it became immediately apparent that one of the most fascinating things about it, (in mine and im sure many others opinions), was the variety of labels and record companies who have issued such great music.

The more digging and reading i did, the more i came to admire some of the label designs and unique styles of labels that were added to these great and often now expensive pieces of plastic. I've been fixated ever since!

Considering some of these record companies didnt have the financial resources of some of the big players, its even more impressive that they managed to produce such spell binding art work on the labels.

That got me to thinking, what is your favourite label? Not for the artists / music it produced, but for the art work?

Could be a rare label, a one off, could be mass produced......what's your favourite, and why?

If you own the record and have the abilty, load a scan too!

To kick things off, i've always loved the Capitol label.

It's not really a fancy design, but seeing those orange and yellow ying-yang esque swirls going round on a turn table is mesmerising.

Arron

  LilJimmyCrank said:

When i first got into northern soul, and started reading up about any and every topic i could find relating to NS, it became immediately apparent that one of the most fascinating things about it, (in mine and im sure many others opinions), was the variety of labels and record companies who have issued such great music.

The more digging and reading i did, the more i came to admire some of the label designs and unique styles of labels that were added to these great and often now expensive pieces of plastic. I've been fixated ever since!

Considering some of these record companies didnt have the financial resources of some of the big players, its even more impressive that they managed to produce such spell binding art work on the labels.

That got me to thinking, what is your favourite label? Not for the artists / music it produced, but for the art work?

Could

be a rare label, a one off, could be mass produced......what's your favourite, and why?

If you own the record and have the abilty, load a scan too!

To kick things off, i've always loved the Capitol label.

It's not really a fancy design, but seeing those orange and yellow ying-yang esque swirls going round on a turn table is mesmerising.

Arron

Loads of cool looking labels about, i like the 'Pzazz' label at the moment, the one on the 'Elevator song' Len Jewell - One on Manships at the moment:https://www.raresoulman.co.uk/auction/all-auction

I also like the really primitive labels, i have a Funk track and the label was obviously (badly) hand drawn then given directly to the printers - Probably a bedroom operation by some young hopeful on a very limited budget!

Ste.

Party time- The Four Perfections ....So cool!

Kev

I dig the 'USA' flag design label, especially when they come in the sleeves (very hard to get!). Not 100% Northern soul on the label though, some great garage bands too. As you know, when they did release Northern tunes, they are some of the most sought after 45s in the genre.

Like the "Sureshot" label design.

Tony

Here's a few of my faves....

This looks hand drawn

as does this one

] Just found this on ebay. Very colourfull

Edited May 22, 200915 yr by quinvy

Edited May 22, 200915 yr by hermanthegerman

  quinvy said:

Here's a few of my faves....

Lovin that frantic records label design, i'd never even heard of the label before

Nice post Quinvy, more scans peeps

Edited May 23, 200915 yr by LilJimmyCrank

  doog said:

THE ENCHANTMENTS "IN LOVE WITH YOUR DAUGHTER" WITH PICTURES OF THE BANDS HEADS ALL CHEERY LOOKING,REALLY UNUSUAL AND ALWAYS MAKES ME SMILE AS WELL

Think all of the FARO releases feature a picture of the Artist.

Tony

  tonyp said:

Think all of the FARO releases feature a picture of the Artist.

Tony

Barry White dont !

  soulsalmon said:

Barry White dont !

Bloody Nora,

Can tell you're on the mend

Anyway, I said I THINK.

Tony

  soulsalmon said:

Barry White dont !

there's a joke there about not being enough room on the label!

although of course really it's an earlier label design

To kick things off, i've always loved the Capitol label.

It's not really a fancy design, but seeing those orange and yellow ying-yang esque swirls going round on a turn table is mesmerising.

If you let the disc spin the look at the cartridge (not on the record but in the standby position) the record in your peripheral vision it changes colours.

Edited May 25, 200915 yr by davetay

  LilJimmyCrank said:

Lovin that frantic records label design, i'd never even heard of the label before

Just wait till you hear the record!

The Lovers is my favourite too but much prefer the demo.

You can tell just by looking at it that it is going to kick some serious soul butt!

  Prophonics 2029 said:

To kick things off, i've always loved the Capitol label.

It's not really a fancy design, but seeing those orange and yellow ying-yang esque swirls going round on a turn table is mesmerising.

If you let the disc spin the look at the cartridge (not on the record but in the standby position) the record in your peripheral vision it changes colours.

I thought magic mushrooms grew in August!!

Here's one.....Gives you wings.

I gotta agree with you on the capitol records...very nice indeed. For me the ARCTIC label and 1960's RCA demos do the trick...both very pretty.

i think this here is beautiful, tune is more funky than northern though..

  Thorsten Wegner said:

i think this here is beautiful, tune is more funky than northern though..

Keep the scans coming

I always remember first seeing Hype and thinking Wow what a great looking label.

Edited May 27, 200915 yr by Dave Turner

  LilJimmyCrank said:

Lovin that frantic records label design, i'd never even heard of the label before

Nice post Quinvy, more scans peeps

If you want scans there's about 4000 here: https://labelscans.anorakrecords.de/home.html

Enjoy

Andy

  Andy Mac said:

If you want scans there's about 4000 here: https://labelscans.anorakrecords.de/home.html

Enjoy

Andy

Thanks Andy, some nice scans on there.

Still interested to see people's favs

Tac-ful's easy on the eye

Reel records that released the Louis Curry tune have a similar design to the Capitol one, but imo it even looks better.

Don't know why, but I've always loved label designs with fish on 'em (Phil-LA, Tarpon etc.)