UPDATED: 

June 27,06 ~ July  30,06, ~ October 10 ,06, ~ Dec 03,06, ~ Sep 5,07,  ~ April 10,07 

Welcome to my guide of american Rock N' Roll Record companies from 1920 to 1990's. The following companies made record albums.  Produced and released in America during the years 1920 to 1990 This is not a list of record lables or recording companies. It is meant as a guide to companies that actually made record albums. All the companies listed released full length ( LP's) not just singles or demo's of artist. If you feel I have left a company out please send me a quick note so we can research the company and add it to the list. This list can never be 100% complete without your help. . If you find this list helpful, please rate the guide at the end of the listing. The following list excludes companies, that made record albums. Exclusively for other companies companies like:

1. BMG,
2. COLUMBIA HOUSE,
3. TRL MUSIC,
4. 660 ENTERTAINMENT.
5. Hallmark ent
6. Reveal Inc
7. Island Express ( Not part of Island Media U.S )

This list also only counts companies that produced. Records in the United States. Along with the following limitations.

• Produced at least 3000 records between 1920 and 1999
• Had at least one major artist signed to a legal contract
• Were memebers in ( ARA ) or ( URPC )
• Have been listed at some point with the Better Business or an association like Rotary Club.
• OR.... The United Recording Artist Association ( U.R.A.A )

The information for this list comes. From the following source's:

• Goldmine Price Guide 4th edition
• Tiffany's Guide to record albums 3rd edition
• Dubblin archives ( AKA ) the former John G McKnowen Archives ( 1930-1982 )
• T&M  price guide 2nd edition
• Rolling Stone Archives of record companies ( AKA ) the "Cream" archives paper archives stored in NewYork New-York and In Boston Mass,
• American Music Collectors, 2005
• A&M music archives 2006
• Columbia Records web site 2006
• Sira Records , Archive records San Diego Californa ( paper records NOT online )

I spent 9 years working with an archive restoration prodject. Taking archives from paper files and putting them on Micro-Fish formate. Some of the record companies listed here are so Rare. That doing just a google search will not bring up , but limited information or no information at all. Some companies were so little  in the 'Start-up" faze that only a handful of people knew who they were. Until a local artist they had recorded. started to make a "Splash" that they sold the contracts and finally they. Received limited press released information. ...............Case Point : Sun Records of Memphis TN. Until a small group of artist with name you all will remember ( Johnny Cash, Elvis Presley, Jerry Lee Lewis ) started to hit the charts. Almost no one knew who they were...........

Thank you everyone for the help & usefull information..

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A&M =............................1962 to 2000 Updated Date is for U.S only
A&R =............................1973 to 1978
ABC =............................1955 to 1965
ABC Paramount=.................. 1966 to 1980
ABC DUNHILL =....................1974 to 1975
ABC RECORDS =....................1966 to 1969
ABKCO =......................Unknowen to 1970
ACE =............................1955 to 1963
ALLADDIN =.......................1950 to 1957
ARISTA =.........................1975 to 1990
APPLE =..........................1968 to 1975
ARGO =...........................1955 to 1960
ARGO UNLIMITED=..................1956 to 1961
ASYLUM =.........................1972 to 1996
ATCO =...........................1955 to 1980
ATLANTIC = ......................1951 to 1956
ATLANTIC (R)=....................1956 to 1990
BANG =...........................1966 to 1982
BARNABY = .......................1970 to 1979
BARNDOOR =.......................1966 to 1969
BELL =...........................1954 to 1974
BELL TOP =.......................1968 to 1968
BIG TOP=.........................1959 to 1974
BIG TREE =.......................1970 to 1980
BRUNSWICK =......................1950 to 1978........... Updated on 4/8/07
BUDDAH =.........................1967 to 1978
CADENCE =........................1953 to 1965
CADET =..........................1956 to 1980
CAMEO =..........................1956 to 1968
CALENDER RECORDS =...............1955 to 1968
( ca )CANADA AMERICA =...........1959 to 1965
CAPITAL =........................1948 to 1995
CASABLANCA =.....................1973 to 1990
CHANCELLOR =.....................1858 to 1963
CHECKER =........................1952 to 1970
CHESS = .........................1951 to 1974
CHRYSALIS =......................1972 to 1995
COLUMBIA =.......................1950 to PRST
CORAL =..........................1950 to 1969 Updated This Date Is For U.S Production Only
COTILLION =......................1969 to 1986
COTTON =.........................1966 to 1975
COTTON ( YELLOW )=...............1970 to 1978
DECCA =..........................1950 to 1993
DELUX =..........................1950 to 1971
DELUXE=..........................1950 tO 1967
DELUXTURE = .....................1969 to 1977
DOOTONE = .......................1951 to 1953
DOOTO = .........................1951 to 1962
DOT = ...........................1950 to 1977
DUNHILL ( PRE BUY OUT BY ABC )...1965 to 1970
DUNHILL ( WITH ABC ).............1970 to 1975
ELEKTRA =........................1959 to PRST
EMBER =..........................1956 to 1961
EMI america =....................1978 to 1987
EMI manhattan =..................1987 to 1997
EMI u.s.a =......................1987 to PRST
END =............................1957 to 1959
EPIC = ..........................1953 to PRST
FRATERNITY =.....................1956 to 1964
GEFFEN =.........................1980 to 1997

GEF or GEFi=...................1931 to 1964
GONE =...........................1957 to 1969
GORDY ( PRE MOTOWN ).............1962 to 1967
GORDY ( with motwon )=...........1968 to 1985
HICKORY =........................1962 to 1979
IMPERIAL = ......................1952 to 1970
INFINITY = ......................1978 to 1979
ISLAND =.........................1972 to 1995
JAMIE = .........................1956 to 1970
JANUS = .........................1969 to 1979
JOSIE = .........................1954 to 1978
JUBILEE =........................1951 to 1975
KARMA SUTRA = ...................1965 to 1974
KEEN = ..........................1957 to 1961 Updated This Date is For U.S Not Canada
KING = ..........................1951 to 1978
KRISHNER = ......................1969 to 1983
kRISHENER CBS =..................1983 tO 1986
LAURIE =.........................1957 to 1973
LIBERTY =........................1955 to 1995
LONDON USA =.....................1949 to 1995
MCA = ...........................1972 to PRST
MERCURY =........................1949 to 1996

MGM UNI=.............................1994 to Prst
MGM =............................1949 to 1958
MGM GRAND = .....................1958 to 1976
MONUMENT =.......................1958 to 2000
MOTOWN =.........................1960 to 1990
MOTOWN #2 =......................1992 to PRST
ODE =............................1967 to 1978 Updated This Date is For U.S Not International
PARKWAY =........................1958 to 1967
PARKWAY BROADWAY =..............UNKNOWEN to ?
PHILIPS =........................1962 to 1976
PHILLES = .......................1961 to 1966
POLYDOR = .......................1969 to 2000
PORTRAIT = ......................1976 to 1989
RARE EARTH = ....................1969 to 1976
RCA = ...........................1949 to 1952 Updated This date is for U.S Production ONLY.!
RCA VICTOR =.....................1951 to 1998
RED BIRD =.......................1965 to 1978
REPRISE = .......................1961 to PRST
ROULETTE = ......................1957 to 1976
SCEPTER = .......................1957 to 1976
SPECIALITY = ....................1951 to 1980
SUN = ...........................1952 to 1986 This Date is for U.S Orginal Sun records ONLY..!
SUN - NOT ORGINAL COMPANY .......1999 to ???
TAMLA ( pre motown ).............1959 to 1989
TOWER = .........................1965 to 1969
TOLLIE = ........................1964 to 1965
UNITED ARTIST =..................1959 to PRST
UNIVERSAL =......................1989 to 1989
UNIVERSAL PA = ..................1959 to 2000

UNIVERSAL PolyPhone..................... 1967 to 1967 ( no relation to the US Company ) ** see below
VEE JAY USA = ...................1953 to 1965
VIK = ...........................1950 to 1959
VIRGIN = ........................1972 to PRST
WARNER BROTHERS = ...............1955 to PRST

( ** ) PolyPhone was a manufactor of large jute- "Boogie Woogie" bar machines that took dimes to run. They released there own record albums of artist that would be considered even then to be "Bootlegs" or illegal copys. There record albums are made of thin sheets of steel. Not vinyl or any other plastics. Allot of times people belive them to be "Masters" but they are PolyPhones orginal released records. 5 whole or 6 wholes in album not standard 1 whole

THE FOLLOWING COMPANYS RELEASED RECORDS. FOR A YEAR HERE AND THERE. THEY NEVER STAYED IN BUSINESS LONG. SOME AS LITTLE AS 2 MONTHS. OTHERS - EATEN ALIVE AND TAKEN OVER BY THE BIG COMPANIES.

• X RECORDS
  ALBA RECORDS
  BENTLEY RECORDS
  BENARD RECORDS
  BENNETON RECORDS
  JANIS INC RECORDS ( 9 MONTHS )
• SST RECORDS ( 9 years 8 months )
• WORLDJOY ( 11 months )
• ZAG MUSIC COMPANY ( 2 years 1 month )
• RYDELL RECORDS ( founder former singer Bobby Rydell ) ( 3 years 5 months )
• STEWART SOUND ( 9 months ) Sued and lost company due to copy right infringment
• Deltone music & promotions ( 2 years )
  

DEAN RECORDS - Was at one time the recording lable for Sammy Davis Jr. He recorded 8 songs for them. All are still missing as of 2005. The 8 recordings are belived to be worth over 3 million on todays market. He was never signed to a contract with them. He used there studio from time to time. Never knowing they were making masters of some of his early works.

I am sure there are millions more companies than this. These are the biggest ones taken over or eaten alive. If you like this list of companies. Ready my other reviews and guides. ( Cleaning dirty records yourself ) and ( Records are they a forgotten media ) both guides are under my other account Yesterdays-records. Looking for information on the beatles? Or maybe the Rolling Stones. or maybe you need to know. More about the Grateful Dead or Kiss. I have other guides listed about them as well under eBaY user name MusicMusic411 & Saphire-Media & Yesterdays-Records I am one and the same person under all those names...............

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