Atlantic Records discography

This is an Atlantic Records discography, albums released on the Atlantic Records label from its founding up until 1982, ordered by catalog number. Two of the major series of LP recordings were the "1200" and "8000" series, started by Nesuhi Ertegun. The "1200" series was reserved for jazz albums. The "8000" and subsequent series, started shortly after the 1200 in 1956, featured Atlantic's R&B and pop albums; when the "1200" series was discontinued in the 1970s, the jazz albums were mixed with the R&B and pop albums in their respective series. This list includes albums using Atlantic's numbering system that were released under their numerous subsidiary labels. There is a section containing albums related to the label as well.

Discography

Nesuhi Ertegun was put in charge of the development of the Atlantic jazz catalog and given responsibility for all long playing albums in the mid 1950s. Nesuhi brought to Atlantic many of the West Coast jazz artists he had seen in California, including Shorty Rogers, Jimmy Giuffre, Herbie Mann and Les McCann. Nesuhi's most important contribution was championing and producing the Modern Jazz Quartet; the MJQ recorded twenty albums for Atlantic and was the backbone of their jazz catalog.

Soon after Nesuhi took over the album catalog, he deleted the 100 and 400 series of 10-inch albums, because the 12-inch format was becoming the standard. He also deleted the early 12-inch albums in Atlantic's catalog. Nesuhi started the new Atlantic long play catalog with album 1212. This 1200 album series carried a $4.98 list price, and at first the series contained both jazz and R&B albums. In 1956, a new 8000 popular series was started with a list price of $3.98. The few rhythm and blues albums in the 1200 series were reissued in the 8000 series, and the 1200 series became exclusively a jazz series.

An example of just how forward-thinking Atlantic was at the time is illustrated by a special issue of a 1953 album that was issued in binaural sound. Binaural was an early attempt at stereo, where recordings were done with two microphones set apart about the space of the human ears. When played back over headphones, it gave the sense of listening from a front-row audience seat. The problem with transferring this technology to record was that the 45/45 stylus and cartridge (which was used from 1958 onward), where information on each stereo channel is encoded into one side of a microgroove, had not yet been invented/perfected. Binaural vinyl records required a setup which used two needles. On the label, the binaural issue of AL-1208 advises, "For use with two-needle binaural reproducers".

The earliest labels in the 1200 series were yellow with black printing. "ATLANTIC" was over the center hole in black with a thin black line under it, there was a black ring around the perimeter of the label except in the area the Atlantic name was located. At the bottom of the label was "LONG PLAYING" on one side and "UNBREAKABLE" on the other, between the words was a circle with 33 1/3 RPM. This label was used on all 10 inch albums and the 12 inch albums to LP-1211.

In 1955, the 1200 series changed to the black Atlantic label, which was black with silver printing and had graphics identical to the earlier yellow labels. This label was used on the 1200 series from 1212 to at least 1332, as well as on the earliest issues of LPs in the 8000 series, but it was also used for a special binaural issue of 1208. During the time when the black label was being used, the stereo labels were light green with black printing, the graphics were identical except for "STEREO" above the Atlantic logo in a black box.

Atlantic used a transitional, or experimental label, for selective 1959 pressings. The label is white with black printing. For the mono labels, there is an red, purple and black fan around the center hole of the record. "ATLANTIC" is at the top of the label in an orange and purple band that extends around the perimeter of the label. On stereo releases, the band around the outside of the label is green and blue as is the fan colors in the center of the record. This label may not have been used on any new releases but only records that previously had the black label, or it may have been an experimental label and used at the same time the black labels were being released.

The next Atlantic label used on monaural releases was red on the top and purple on the bottom with black printing. There was a white band running through the center hole from side to side, separating the red and purple areas. The label name "ATLANTIC" was in the white area to the left of the center hole. To the right of the center hole was a large "A" and a white fan in a black box. This is the "white fan Atlantic label." On stereo records, the graphics are the same, but with the top of the label being green and the bottom of the label being blue, and "STEREO" in white letters at the top of the label. The promotional issues used the same graphics but were simply white with black printing. This label was used from 1333 to approximately 1378 and from 8042 to 8059.

The next Atlantic label was very similar to the "white fan" label described above, except that the fan to the right of the center hole was black in a white box, and a small "ATLANTIC" is inserted at a 90-degree angle between the large "A" and the fan. We call this the "black fan Atlantic label." Monaural records were red on the top and purple on the bottom with black printing. Stereo records had the same graphics with the top of the label being green and the bottom of the label being blue. The promotional issues are white with black printing with the same graphics. This label was used from 1379 to approximately 1463 and from 8060 to approximately 8125.

At approximately SD-1464, Atlantic switched label designs. The new Atlantic label was similar to the black fan label, except the large "A", small "ATLANTIC" to the left of the fan and the black fan itself have been replaced by the new Atlantic logo, which has a box containing the large "A" to the left of the black fan, and "ATLANTIC" in small letters running horizontally at the bottom of the logo box. We have termed this the "logo box" label. Monaural records were red on the top and purple on the bottom with black printing. Stereo records had the same graphics with the top of the label being green and the bottom of the label being blue. The promotional issues are white with black printing with the same graphics. This label was used from 1464 to about 1499 and from 8126 to about 8197.

Another Atlantic label variation was used on a few titles during 1968 and early 1969, where the Atco label blank was used instead of the Atlantic label blank. These may have been RCA Record Club pressings. The label was purple at the top and gold on the bottom, with black printing. A white band ran through the record slightly above the center, as on the Atco label and unlike the Atlantic design of the time where the white band was centered. The black printing graphics were the same as the "black fan label," except the word "STEREO" appeared under the left side of the white band running across the middle of the label (like the Atco stereo label and unlike the black fan label's positioning of "STEREO" in white letters at the top of the label). This label is rare and only appeared on a few titles from around 8130 to 8200. Both Time Peace by The Rascals [SD 8190] and the first Led Zeppelin album [SD 8216] are known to have been pressed with this labeling error. The Led Zeppelin album error commands premium prices, since not only is the label in error, but side 1 of the album is a different mix from the regular pressing.

At about SD-1500 or SD-8199, depending on series, a new label was introduced that was green on the top and red/orange on the bottom, with a white band through the center of the record. Above the center hole was the Atlantic logo in a yellow box, containing the large "A" with a black fan next to it in a pink box, on top of the word "ATLANTIC." At the bottom of the label is the 1841 Broadway address. This label was used from permanently with minor alterations to the text at the bottom of the label (the address at the bottom changed to 75 Rockefeller Plaza around 1973, followed by the inclusion of the Warner Communications byline in 1975). This label was used on both stereo and the occasional monaural releases after 1968.

1201–1299

1300–1399

1400–1499

1500–1599

1600–1700

8001–8305

At this point, mono is discontinued in favor of stereo only. Quadrophonic titles achieve occasional release.

7200-7311

18100-18232 "Popular"

19100 "Popular" Series

Atlantic began this series mostly by reissuing its more popular titles.

16000 "Popular" Series

Multiple-album sets

Unlike many other labels, Atlantic issued multiple-LP sets in a special series. In fact, there were many of these special series, each with its own slant from the prospective of the Atlantic catalog makers.

Atlantic 2-300 Jazz Series

[SD-2-400 series used for Atco label]

Atlantic 2-500 Soul Series

This is a series of 2-LP sets.

Atlantic 2-600 Jazz Series

This is an early series of 2-LP sets that lay dormant for a decade before being revived in the 1970s.

[SD-2-700 and SD-2-800 series were used for the Atco label.]

Atlantic 2-900 Popular Series

This is a series of 2-LP sets.

Atlantic 2-1000 Jazz Series

This is a series of 2-LP sets.

Atlantic 2-2000 Popular Series

This is a series of 2-LP sets.

Atlantic 2-3000 Jazz Series

These are 2-LP sets.

Atlantic 2-4000 Blues Series

A short series of blues and fusion music.

Atlantic 2-7000 Popular Series

These are 2-LP sets.

Atlantic 2-9000 Series

These are 2-LP sets.

Atlantic Three and Four Record Sets

Miscellaneous

ATLANTIC ALBUM DISCOGRAPHY, PART 12

Atlantic 3000 Jazz Series
Atlantic 4000 Poetry Series
Atlantic 7100 Stereo-Only Series
Atlantic/Stax 7700 Reissue Series

Atlantic did reissue most of the Stax 700 album series with the same cover graphics and song lineup. See the Stax Discography for details of the albums. Atlantic added a 7 in front of the original Stax number.

Atlantic-Atco Sampler
The Atlantic Group

This lone record was issued on the Atlantic Group label. The label is red with "ATLANTIC GROUP" above the center hole. Below is the Atlantic Group logo, a black circle with "Dial" in yellow, "STAX" in green and "ATLANTIC" in red.

Special Numbers

R-001 –R-027 "Religious"

As would any major record label, Atlantic had, from 1967 to 1970, a numbering system solely devoted to gospel music and sermons.

Promotional records

Promotional or deejay records were issued regularly over the years. They were usually issued with white labels with black print in the same graphical designs as their commercial counterparts.

In addition, Atlantic issued a series of promotional albums using a 100 series. These are listed below, in an incomplete list.

Related albums

This section includes some of the Atlantic-Related albums, among them, the only album on National Records, and non-US reissues.

NATIONAL LABEL DISCOGRAPHY

National Records was founded in 1944 by Al Green. The company was located at 1841 Broadway in New York City. The output of the label was pop, R&B, jazz, country and western, and gospel. A&R for the label was handled by Herb Abramson, Lee Magid and Bob Shad. The National Record catalog was acquired by Savoy Records in September 1957. There was only one LP released on the label.

RELATED ALBUMS

ATLANTIC (France)

ATLANTIC (Germany)

ATLANTIC (Japan)

ATLANTIC (UK)

References