RCA Victor
Also appears as "RCA Victor Records".
The change of logo occurred in 1968.
The RCA Victor brand was introduced in 1945 in advertising and 1946 on actual record labels, where it replaced the [l=Victor] and [l=Bluebird (3)] brands. Until then, on records, the RCA Victor division of the Radio Corporation of America only used the Victor brand, which was acquired in the Victor Talking Machine Co. takeover in 1929.
During its lifespan, the RCA Victor brand has undergone many design adjustments. The latest one was created in 2010 for French releases, by Sony Music Classique & Jazz.
[b]For all Unofficial / Bootleg releases of this label please use [l164644].[/b]
In late 1945, RCA introduced vinyl 12" records to consumers as part of the [l89473]' [l486985] line, following the release of similar V-disc releases for the military during WWII.
RCA Victor introduced their stereo phonographs, stereo disks and stereo tape in June 1958. Stereo 45 singles were also introduced in 1958. Stereo tape cartridges were introduced in September 1958. Stereo-only recordings from 1958–1960 were the 8500 series 61-85xx. 1958–1961 recordings with both Mono and Stereo releases were the 7000 series, 61-7xxx for stereo and 47-7xxx for the mono counterpart. The 45 rpm stereo format was discontinued in favor of the 7" 33 1/3 rpm, which was introduced in 1959, and used 1959–1964. RCA & RCA Victor CDs debuted in October 1983.
In September 1965, Ford Motor Company introduced factory-installed and dealer-installed eight-track tape players as an option on three of its 1966 models (Mustang, Thunderbird, and Lincoln), and RCA Victor introduced 175 Stereo-8 Cartridges from its RCA Victor and RCA Camden artist's catalogs.
In the 1960s and beyond, sometimes RCA Victor branding was split such that logos for "RCA" and "Victor" were on the same surface but somewhat separate. These should still be considered a representation of the RCA Victor label, as per [url=https://www.discogs.com/forum/thread/749799]forum discussion[/url]. A common combination in this era had logos for "RCA" on the packaging and for both "RCA" and "Victor" on the media—in this case, both RCA and RCA Victor should be entered as labels, with a release note along the lines of "RCA on sleeve, RCA Victor on labels". Do not use Victor as a label on these items.
On some Victor releases prior to 1946, especially 78 RPM albums (multi-record sets), the packaging & inserts sometimes had a circular RCA logo next to a circular dog/phonograph logo, without any words. Although this might be construed as an "RCA Victor" label, they should be considered just [l=Victor] releases, as indicated by the labels on the records within.
Most RCA Victor 45 RPM 7" records which were sold in multi-record sets (e.g., as Extended Play boxed sets) in the late 1940s through the 1950s were also originally available for individual sale, so they can be submitted separately. This is a [url=https://www.discogs.com/forum/thread/783215#7846403]forum-discussed exception[/url] to [g1.1.4].
Extensive information on the meaning of RCA Victor matrix codes is in the database forum at https://www.discogs.com/forum/thread/694503
45 RPM Catalog Number, Date and Label Identification:
50-0000 through 50-0105 (1949): Gray label, gold print. Color of vinyl indicates music style. Cerise (cherry) is for Blues & Rhythm; green for Country & Western; sky-blue for International; midnight blue for Popular Classics; black for Popular; ruby red for Red Seal (Classical); and yellow for Children's Entertainment.
The industry's first 45 rpm singles were the early numbers in this series.
50-0106 through 50-0141 (1950–1951): Gray label, silver print. Black vinyl.
47-2800 through 47-4572 (1948–1952): Turquoise label.
47-4573 through 47-5700 (1952–1954): Flat black label with the dog on right side.
47-5700 through 47-8550 (1954–1965): Glossy black label, with the dog on top.
47-8551 through 47-9650 (1965–1968): Glossy black label, with the dog on the left side.
47-9650 and higher (1968 forward): Orange label.
The changeover numbers of 5600, 8550, and 9650 are approximate; our best estimates at this time (especially 5700). If you have releases that can better narrow these down, please let us know. Some numbers in the 6600–6800 series were issued without the dog anywhere on the label.
The "20," "47" and "50" were the most common RCA Victor prefixes, however there were several others in use during this period, including: "21," "22," "23," "25," "28," "40," "46," "48" and "51." None of these specialty series releases were reissued using the same number.
Colors on French EP labels:
For black labels showing "Made in France by Area S.A.", see [l=RCA].
From Spring 1962, [l=RCA Victor] may appear next and/or above [l=RCA]. Consider adding both labels then.
Black labels: May 1962-April 1963
Blue labels: April 1961-1968
--- From September 1966, "45 T." appears on the right side of the labels.
Orange labels ([l=RCA Victor] only): 1968+
