Label Guide: Capricorn
Capricorn Records was an independent record label, launched by Phil and Alan Walden, and Frank Fenter in 1969 in Georgia. The label was initially started with money from Atlantic Records and the first bunch of Capricorn albums were released on Atlantic's ATCO label with ATCO catalog numbers and Capricorn only getting a mention as a "Record Series." Among these releases were the first two albums for the Allman Brothers Band who later became Capricorn's most defining act.
Capricorn Records became a proper record label in 1971 with its own logo and a pink label design. The catalog numbers still had the Atlantic/ATCO SD prefix as the records continued to be distributed by Atlantic Records. That changed in 1972 when distribution was moved to Warner Bros. and Capricorn finally got its own numbering system, using the CP handle. The label was one of the primary Southern Rock labels of the 1970s with successful acts like The Allman Brothers Band, The Marshall Tucker Band, and Elvin Bishop.
With the break-up of the Allman Brothers in 1977, Capricorn went into financial trouble and Phil Walden moved distribution to PolyGram's Phonodisc, using a CPN handle for new releases. But the decline of the label was inevitable and Capricorn went bankrupt in October 1979.
The label was relaunched out of Nashville, Tennessee as a joint-venture with Warner Bros. in the early 1990s. This second incarnation lasted for about ten years until it eventually folded in 2002.
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1. Label Variation (I)
first Capricorn label (1971 - 1972)
The first pink label was used for the ATCO/Atlantic-distibuted releases with SD catalogue numbers.
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1. Label Variation (II)
first Capricorn label (1971 - 1972)
The first pink label was used for the ATCO/Atlantic-distibuted releases with SD catalogue numbers.
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2. Label Variation
second Capricorn label (1972 - 1974)
The beige/cream label with a marbled background was introduced when Capricorn distribution changed to Warner Bros. in 1972.
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3. Label Variation (I)
third Capricorn label (1974 - 1977)
In 1974, the label was changed to a darker tone, and a capricorn goat, facing to the right, was added to the background, replacing the marble texture of the previous label variation. The bottom rim text still reads 'MANUFACTURED BY WARNER BROS. RECORDS, INC.'
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3. Label Variation (II)
third Capricorn label (1974 - 1977)
In 1974, the label was changed to a darker tone, and a capricorn goat, facing to the right, was added to the background, replacing the marble texture of the previous label variation. The bottom rim text still reads 'MANUFACTURED BY WARNER BROS. RECORDS, INC.'
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4. Label Variation (I)
fourth Capricorn label (1977 - 1979)
Capricorn switched distribution to Phonodisc in late 1977 and this went along with another change of label design. The goat is now facing to the left. The bottom rim text has been changed to 'DISTRIBUTED BY PHONODISC, INC.'
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4. Label Variation (II)
fourth Capricorn label (1977 - 1979)