LABEL STYLES - ALBUMS
WORLD RECORD CLUB
WORLD RECORD CLUB
The World Record Club (WRC) was the brainchild of John Day, an Australian advertising copywriter working in London, and Norman Lonsdale, a distinguished scion of the British merchant banking firm Kleinwort Benson Lonsdale. The club commenced operations in London, England, in January 1956.
After a difficult first year, WRC began to find its feet in 1957. Buoyed by the club's growing success, Day turned his attention to Australia, establishing an Australian counterpart in Melbourne later that year, which he would ultimately lead. A New Zealand club followed a few years later.
WRC issued LPs and tapes, predominantly classical and jazz, through a membership-based, mail-order system. In Australia, pressing was handled by EMI (Australia), although WRC operated largely as an independent concern. EMI (Australia) eventually assumed full control of WRC in 1975, before the club was taken over by Record Clubs of Australia in 1984. All master tapes were subsequently transferred to EMI (Australia)'s tape basement at 301 Castlereagh Street, Sydney.
The only Beatles LP released on the WRC imprint was Magical Mystery Tour And Other Splendid Hits, issued in June 1969. The LP appeared on two main label styles, each with minor typesetting variations. The first was the classic WRC "S" stereo label, featuring a large white letter "S" over a blue-green base, surrounded by a black-and-white striped border. The second style, introduced in August 1972, featured an 18th-century trumpeter in green against a blue background. The "STEREO" text was later dropped from the label perimeter in 1979.
In addition to Magical Mystery Tour..., WRC occasionally offered other Beatles titles to its members. However, these were standard EMI (Australia) production-stock releases, identified as WRC offerings either by certificate or by a small sticker.
Only one label pair per title is displayed on this page. Label variations for a given record can be found on its corresponding LP page (accessible via the main 'LPs' menu, above).
After a difficult first year, WRC began to find its feet in 1957. Buoyed by the club's growing success, Day turned his attention to Australia, establishing an Australian counterpart in Melbourne later that year, which he would ultimately lead. A New Zealand club followed a few years later.
WRC issued LPs and tapes, predominantly classical and jazz, through a membership-based, mail-order system. In Australia, pressing was handled by EMI (Australia), although WRC operated largely as an independent concern. EMI (Australia) eventually assumed full control of WRC in 1975, before the club was taken over by Record Clubs of Australia in 1984. All master tapes were subsequently transferred to EMI (Australia)'s tape basement at 301 Castlereagh Street, Sydney.
The only Beatles LP released on the WRC imprint was Magical Mystery Tour And Other Splendid Hits, issued in June 1969. The LP appeared on two main label styles, each with minor typesetting variations. The first was the classic WRC "S" stereo label, featuring a large white letter "S" over a blue-green base, surrounded by a black-and-white striped border. The second style, introduced in August 1972, featured an 18th-century trumpeter in green against a blue background. The "STEREO" text was later dropped from the label perimeter in 1979.
In addition to Magical Mystery Tour..., WRC occasionally offered other Beatles titles to its members. However, these were standard EMI (Australia) production-stock releases, identified as WRC offerings either by certificate or by a small sticker.
Only one label pair per title is displayed on this page. Label variations for a given record can be found on its corresponding LP page (accessible via the main 'LPs' menu, above).
'S'
'TRUMPETER'
