LABEL STYLES - ALBUMS
AXIS
AXIS
By the early 1970s, local retailers had begun to embrace the concept of "rack-jobbing". Under this model, retailers no longer had to worry about regularly restocking their record racks, as this was carried out by record company sales representatives on a routine basis. The arrangement worked well for the record companies, giving them broader product exposure and offering several advantages over traditional methods of marketing recorded music, particularly in non-traditional retail outlets such as newsagents and service stations. Retailers, in turn, could generate income simply by setting aside floor space for the record racks.
Rack-jobbing made particular sense for budget-priced albums. Paul Hamlyn's Music For Pleasure (MFP) label, which commenced operations in Australia in October 1968, was perhaps the best-known rack-jobbing label of the period and one of the leaders in the Australian market. Indeed, MFP would take over other budget rack-jobber Summit Records in 1971.
Recognising that EMI (Australia) was effectively licensing its own repertoire to MFP for budget release, the company began planning the introduction of its own budget label, based on the rack-jobbing model but referred to in the local market as "Vendor Refill".
The new label, Axis Records, was named by Sydney design company Naughton Ahlberg and Associates. Its name was inspired by the phrase "The world of sound revolves around the axis". Axis made its debut on 1 May 1972 with 30 back-catalogue titles: 24 pop releases and six classical albums. The LPs were pressed with black-and-white labels, with pop titles issued in the AXIS 6000 series and retailing for $2.50.
In April 1982, Axis underwent a number of branding changes, including the introduction of a new logo, a new numbering series and a revised label design. Subsequent releases were pressed with black text on a yellow label and issued in the new AX-1000 series, retailing at $4.99. The yellow label remained in production, with only minor modifications, until EMI's Australian vinyl production ceased in November 1990. One such modification occurred in July 1987, when the label perimeter text was updated to reflect the newly formed EMI Music Group Australasia.
In July 1984, Axis adopted new six-digit catalogue numbers as part of a broader overhaul of EMI (Australia)'s catalogue numbering system. However, not all previously issued titles were reissued in this format, and some continued to appear under the earlier AX-1000 series for several years.
From July 1985, Axis appears to have settled on the single AX-701000 numbering series, which was, in effect, a continuation of the earlier AX-1000 series. The AX-1000 series had ended at AX-1215, while the new sequence began at AX-701217. Two years later, Axis again revised its branding, adopting a new logo and its familiar red-coloured presentation. However, the record labels themselves remained largely consistent with the earlier AX-1000 series releases, including the earlier logo and yellow colour. This final series remained in use until early 1990.
The first Beatles LPs reissued through Axis were Rock 'N' Roll Music Volumes 1 and 2, released as two separate albums in the AXIS 6000 series in August 1981. Both volumes were subsequently reissued in the AX-1000 series in April 1982 and again in the AX-701000 series in mid-1987.
Other Beatles LPs reissued by Axis include A Collection Of Beatles Oldies in April 1985 and The Beatles At The Hollywood Bowl in January 1990.
Only one label pair per title is displayed on this page. Label variations for individual records can be found on their corresponding LP pages, accessible via the main 'LPs' menu above.
Rack-jobbing made particular sense for budget-priced albums. Paul Hamlyn's Music For Pleasure (MFP) label, which commenced operations in Australia in October 1968, was perhaps the best-known rack-jobbing label of the period and one of the leaders in the Australian market. Indeed, MFP would take over other budget rack-jobber Summit Records in 1971.
Recognising that EMI (Australia) was effectively licensing its own repertoire to MFP for budget release, the company began planning the introduction of its own budget label, based on the rack-jobbing model but referred to in the local market as "Vendor Refill".
The new label, Axis Records, was named by Sydney design company Naughton Ahlberg and Associates. Its name was inspired by the phrase "The world of sound revolves around the axis". Axis made its debut on 1 May 1972 with 30 back-catalogue titles: 24 pop releases and six classical albums. The LPs were pressed with black-and-white labels, with pop titles issued in the AXIS 6000 series and retailing for $2.50.
In April 1982, Axis underwent a number of branding changes, including the introduction of a new logo, a new numbering series and a revised label design. Subsequent releases were pressed with black text on a yellow label and issued in the new AX-1000 series, retailing at $4.99. The yellow label remained in production, with only minor modifications, until EMI's Australian vinyl production ceased in November 1990. One such modification occurred in July 1987, when the label perimeter text was updated to reflect the newly formed EMI Music Group Australasia.
In July 1984, Axis adopted new six-digit catalogue numbers as part of a broader overhaul of EMI (Australia)'s catalogue numbering system. However, not all previously issued titles were reissued in this format, and some continued to appear under the earlier AX-1000 series for several years.
From July 1985, Axis appears to have settled on the single AX-701000 numbering series, which was, in effect, a continuation of the earlier AX-1000 series. The AX-1000 series had ended at AX-1215, while the new sequence began at AX-701217. Two years later, Axis again revised its branding, adopting a new logo and its familiar red-coloured presentation. However, the record labels themselves remained largely consistent with the earlier AX-1000 series releases, including the earlier logo and yellow colour. This final series remained in use until early 1990.
The first Beatles LPs reissued through Axis were Rock 'N' Roll Music Volumes 1 and 2, released as two separate albums in the AXIS 6000 series in August 1981. Both volumes were subsequently reissued in the AX-1000 series in April 1982 and again in the AX-701000 series in mid-1987.
Other Beatles LPs reissued by Axis include A Collection Of Beatles Oldies in April 1985 and The Beatles At The Hollywood Bowl in January 1990.
Only one label pair per title is displayed on this page. Label variations for individual records can be found on their corresponding LP pages, accessible via the main 'LPs' menu above.
BLACK AND WHITE
YELLOW A - EMI (AUSTRALIA)
YELLOW B - EMI MUSIC GROUP - AUSTRALASIA
