10 Very Difficult Questions about Record Labels

Answer: Capitol dome logo

The Capitol dome logo is at the bottom of the labels on the B-sides with sliced apple. In 1971, Apple re-released all the Beatles' Capitol singles from 'I Want To Hold Your Hand' in 1964 to 'Lady Madonna' in 1968. Originals of these re-releases have black stars on the 'whole apple' A-sides. A red apple was only known to be used once, and that was for the 'Let It Be' album in 1970.

Answer: Bell

This rather cheap method of labeling was used on Bell's parent label and its many 60's subsidiaries (Amy, Mala, Sphere Sound, DynoVoice, NewVoice, reissue label Flashback, Musicland U.S.A. and others), although the records were also released with paper labels.

By the early 70's, Bell consisted of a completely new lineup of subsidiaries (Page One, Carousel, Rocky Road, and Big Tree), its parent label changed from dark blue to silver with new logo, and finally discontinued its ink-pressing method (although the first several singles released on the silver Bell label can be found in this format).

Answer: Sundi

Sundi, which yielded Mercy's big 1969 hit "Love (Can Make You Happy)", was a short lived sub of another Philadelphia label, Jamie/Guyden. Only two singles were released on the Winchester label (both by The Tymes, who already had a string of hits on the parent Parkway label), Lucky Eleven included Grand Funk-predecessors Terry Knight & The Pack, and The New Colony Six's debut album on Sentar, "Breakthrough", goes for $500 near mint!

Answer: Grooves

Rookie record collectors beware! Records with bright purple Gordy labels are made from styrene (cheaper and wears out quicker) and records with dark purple labels are genuine vinyl.

Answer: Motown

Bobby Darin signed with Motown in 1970 and had his last Hot 100 hit on the label with "Happy" in February 1973. Before then, he switch from Atco to Capitol in 1962, returned to Atlantic in 1965, and created his own short-lived Direction label in 1968

Answer: Dramatics

The single was "I Just Wanna Dance With You/I've Got A Schoolboy Crush On You" on ABC 12460. Shortly after this release, MCA Records absorbed the ABC label and all its subsidiaries and kept most of its roster, including the four groups listed in this question.

Answer: Dolphin

Changed right after the first single, The Fleetwoods' #1 hit "Come Softly To Me" (Dolphin/Dolton 1)

Answer: MGM

Only three albums, two on Cameo and one on Parkway, were released under the MGM arm, including The Ohio Express' debut LP "Beg, Borrow and Steal"

Answer: Columbia

This was entirely a project of Dean Torrence's in 1967, one year after Jan's car accident. It was first privately released as by Jan & Dean on their own J&D label in Los Angeles. Columbia only got as far as a stereo acetate of the LP (CS-9461) and a single ("Yellow Balloon"/"Taste Of Rain") before Jan rejected the project. J&D copies of the album are now worth $300 while the one and only found Columbia stereo acetate goes for $4000! The album was finally released to the public by oldies reissue label Sundazed as a double-LP package, including all the original mono album tracks plus bonus sessions and outtakes.

Answer: Capitol

Many variations of the Starline label exist: green swirl, black and silver, red with white star, olive green with either target or dome logos, light blue, purple, and black with colorband around outer perimeter