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Label Guide: Vanguard

This CVINYL.COM Label Guide is currently JUST A DRAFT

1. Label Variation
first Vanguard label (1953 - 1957) The very first Vanguard label already introduced the famous lancer logo that was kept alive ever since. The label was red with a wide silver perimeter and '33 1/3 long play' printed with the label name in a silver horizontal strip left of the spindle hole. This first version was used for 10" records in the early and mid-1950s.
2. Label Variation
second Vanguard label (1956 - 1957) The design was slightly changed for 12" LP records in the early VRS-9000 series. The rim text is now printed in silver on a red background with two silver circles enclosing it, and the text below the label name now says '33 1/3 long playing'.
3. Label Variation (Mono)
third Vanguard label, mono (1958 - 1963) The label design changed in the late 1950s with this maroon label. 'VANGUARD' was printed in wide block letters around the upper half of the label with the slogan 'RECORDINGS FOR THE CONNOISSEUR' printed below. The maroon label was used for mono releases, while stereo labels used a similar design with a black background and a new Stereolab logo that incorporated the lancer.
3. Label Variation (Stereo)
third Vanguard label, stereo (1958 - 1963) The label design changed in the late 1950s with this maroon label. 'VANGUARD' was printed in wide block letters around the upper half of the label with the slogan 'RECORDINGS FOR THE CONNOISSEUR' printed below. The maroon label was used for mono releases, while stereo labels used a similar design with a black background and a new Stereolab logo that incorporated the lancer.
4. Label Variation (I)
fourth Vanguard label (1963 - 1971) The most familiar 1960s Vanguard labels come in several variations. The 'VANGUARD' print and the 'RECORDINGS FOR THE CONNOISSEUR' slogan were combined to fill the upper half of the perimeter with the label name in bold at the top center. The lancer was moved to the bottom center. The principal colour of these labels was gold, but there are variations including a black version. The text 'STEREO' or 'STEREOLAB' in the bottom right quadrant indicates stereo pressings.
4. Label Variation (II)
fourth Vanguard label (1963 - 1971) The most familiar 1960s Vanguard labels come in several variations. The 'VANGUARD' print and the 'RECORDINGS FOR THE CONNOISSEUR' slogan were combined to fill the upper half of the perimeter with the label name in bold at the top center. The lancer was moved to the bottom center. The principal colour of these labels was gold, but there are variations including a black version. The text 'STEREO' or 'STEREOLAB' in the bottom right quadrant indicates stereo pressings.
4. Label Variation (III)
fourth Vanguard label (1963 - 1971) The most familiar 1960s Vanguard labels come in several variations. The 'VANGUARD' print and the 'RECORDINGS FOR THE CONNOISSEUR' slogan were combined to fill the upper half of the perimeter with the label name in bold at the top center. The lancer was moved to the bottom center. The principal colour of these labels was gold, but there are variations including a black version. The text 'STEREO' or 'STEREOLAB' in the bottom right quadrant indicates stereo pressings.
4. Label Variation (IV)
fourth Vanguard label (1963 - 1971) The most familiar 1960s Vanguard labels come in several variations. The 'VANGUARD' print and the 'RECORDINGS FOR THE CONNOISSEUR' slogan were combined to fill the upper half of the perimeter with the label name in bold at the top center. The lancer was moved to the bottom center. The principal colour of these labels was gold, but there are variations including a black version. The text 'STEREO' or 'STEREOLAB' in the bottom right quadrant indicates stereo pressings.
5. Label Variation
fifth Vanguard label (late 1960s) The original label for the Vanguard Everyman Series was bright yellow, but there are variations (which might all be reissues). For this series, the lancer logo has been replaced by a human head symbol at the bottom center.
6. Label Variation
sixth Vanguard label (late 1960s) This variation used the 1960s design with a picture background. It was issued with several Country Joe & The Fish albums, maybe other releases as well.
7. Label Variation
seventh Vanguard label (late 1960s) Another variation was this late 1960s Vanguard Apostolic label.
7. Label Variation (Inner)
Vanguard Apostolic inner sleeve (late 1960s) This is a detail from the inner sleeves that came with the Apostolic albums (here Larry Coryell).
8. Label Variation (I)
eighth Vanguard label (1970s) In the 1970s, Vanguard started using these wood grained labels for the both the regular and Everyman series. Most of the albums with this label design are reissues of earlier material.
8. Label Variation (II)
eighth Vanguard label (1970s) In the 1970s, Vanguard started using these wood grained labels for the both the regular and Everyman series. Most of the albums with this label design are reissues of earlier material.
9. Label Variation
ninth Vanguard label (early 1980s) Only very few albums were issued on this modern orange and yellow design from about 1981 to 1984.
10. Label Variation
tenth Vanguard label (mid 1980s) The Vanguard mid-line reissue label of the mid-1980s.
11. Label Variation
eleventh Vanguard label (late 1980s) After Vanguard Records was purchased by the Welk Group in 1986, this yellow label was used, noting that the label is now 'A Welk Record Group Company.'
1. UK Label Variation
first UK Vanguard label (late 1950s) In the United Kingdom, the first Vanguard label (mostly for 10" records) was blue with the PYE logo at the top center.
2. UK Label Variation
second UK Vanguard label (1960s) The standard black UK label of the 1960s.
3. UK Label Variation
third UK Vanguard label (late 1960s/early 1970s) The image shows a United Kingdom 1970 stereo gold label, again with the Pye logo that was not present on the previous design.
4. UK Label Variation
fourth UK Vanguard label (early 1970s) And this fourth variation shows a United Kingdom 1973 mono silver label. Distribution had changed from Pye to 'RCA Limited, Record Division, England' at that time.