Other Overseas Labels

Bronze

Bronze: 1972-79

In 1972 Polygram (NZ) Ltd obtained the rights to release newly formed British label Bronze Records in New Zealand.  From 1972 to 1975. Bronze singles were issued in the Polygram company sleeve.

Sleeve & Label 1972-75

Label 1975

In 1975  WEA (NZ) Ltd took over distribution. The records were manufactured by EMI. I am unsure what sleeves Bronze singles were issued in during this peroid. Probably the black WEA company sleeve. If you can shed light on this can you please leave a comment or email please.

By 1976 Bronze Records were back being distributed by Polygram (NZ) Ltd. This continued until 1979. During this time singles were issued in PolyGram's  company sleeve.

Sleeve & Label 1976-79

 

Bronze: 1979-82

In 1979 Festival Records (NZ) Ltd took over distribution of Bronze Records in New Zealand. Singles were issued in Festival's company sleeve.

Sleeve 1979-82

Bronze Records stopped releasing vinyl singles in New Zealand in 1982.

Coronet

 

In 1953 Philips Electrical Industries New Zealand Ltd required the rights to release the American label Columbia in New Zealand. His Master’s Voice (NZ) Ltd had the rights to the British label named Columbia and were already releasing records under the Columbia Records name in New Zealand. So Philips marketed the American Columbia label  in New Zealand as CBS Coronet. In 1957 CBS Coronet started releasing singles in the seven inch 45 format.

Coronet: 1957-63

Coronet singles were issued in a unique Coronet sleeve. 

 

Sleeve Front 1957-59

Sleeve Back 1957-59

Label 1957                                                                                  Label 1957-58

The Sleeve design changed in 1959.

 

Sleeve Front 1959-63

 

Sleeve Back 1959-63

 

Label 1958-59                                                   Label 1959-63

 In 1963 the name was shorted to CBS. 

Dot

American label Dot began its operations in New Zealand in 1964, and released singles until 1977. 

Dot: 1964-67

When Dot first began releasing singles in 1964, its distributor was Pye Ltd. Pye would go on to be Dot's distributor until the end of 1967. During this time, Dot had a unique company sleeve.

First Dot sleeve, used between 1964 and 1967.
This sleeve design had the same print on both sides.

First Dot label, used between 1964 and 1967.

Other Dot label variations, from 1965 and 1966 respectively.

Dot: 1968-71

This company sleeve design was used until the end of 1967. By the next year, Dot Records began to be distributed by Festival Records (NZ) Limited. Festival would continue to be Dot's distributor until 1977. 

When Dot began its distribution with Festival Records, it was added as a label to Festival's 'Festival Records Has The Hits!' company sleeve, more specifically the second design introduced in 1968. 

Front of second Dot sleeve, used between 1968 and 1971.
Other Festival-distributed labels were issued with this sleeve at the time.

Rear of second Dot sleeve.

Second Dot label.
The black Dot label design would be used between 1968 and 1975.

Dot label variant, which has the Festival Records branding on the label design used when it was distributed by Pye.

Dot: 1971-75

In 1971, Festival began issuing a new sleeve design which applied to all labels that it distributed, including Dot. 

Front of third Dot sleeve, used between 1971 and 1975.

Rear of third Dot sleeve.

The black Dot label used between 1971 and 1975.

Dot label variants around the time, with examples from 1972, 1973 and 1975 respectively.

Dot: 1975-77

In 1975, Festival introduced the very common blue sleeve design. This sleeve would be issued with Festival-distributed labels, including Dot. This would be the final sleeve design issued with Dot singles.

Final Dot sleeve, used between 1975 and 1977.

Final Dot label, used between 1975 and 1977.

Dot Records ceased operating after their last single release in 1977.

Kama Sutra

 

Kama Sutra: 1966-1970

In 1963 Pye (NZ) Ltd obtained the rights to the American label Kama Sutra Records. I am unsure if there was a unique Kama Sutra sleeve from this period. Singles could have been issued in a Pye Company Sleeve. If you can shed some light on this please add a comment.

Label 1966

Label 1966-70

Kama Sutra: 1970-71

From 1970 the label on Kama Sutra singles started stating they were Manufactured by Deutsche Grammophon.  I believe the below unique sleeve was introduced at this time.  Sleeve says manufactured and distributed by Philips Records and Rentals (NZ) Ltd.  

Label 1970-71

Kama Sutra: 1971-75

The Philips Records (NZ) ltd distribution arm changed its name to Polygram in mid-1970. From 1971 on the labels on Kama Sutra singles reflected this. I am unsure if the above sleeve was still used or there was another unique sleeve or if singles were issued in the Polygram company sleeve.  If you can shed light on this please add a comment.

Label 1971-75

 

The Kara Sutra label was wound down in New Zealand in 1975.

Rocket

Rocket 1975-76

In 1975 Festival Records (NZ) Ltd started releasing Rocket Records in New Zealand. Singles were issued in the blue Festival company sleeve.

Sleeve 1975

Label 1975

Rocket: 1976-79

In 1976 EMI took over distribution. They introduced an unique Rocket Records sleeve. Some releases were still issued in the blue EMI company sleeve. 

 

Sleeve 1976-79

 

Label 1976-79

 

Rocket 1979-86

From 1979 until 1986 Polygram pressed and distributed Rocket Records. Singles were released in the Polygram company sleeve.

 

Sleeve 1979-80                                 1980-83                                            1983-86

 

Label 1979-86

Rocket Records in New Zealand was wound down in 1986.

RSO

 

RSO: 1973-83

RSO Records were distributed in New Zealand by Polygram from 1973 until 1983. RSO singles were issued in Polygram company sleeves. 

Sleeve 1973 -75                                   Sleeve 1975-80                                              Sleeve 1980-83

Label 1973-83

Top Six

Top Six: 1964-66

Top Six were a subsidiary of Pye Records. Between 1964 and 1966, it  released several singles by anonymous British musicians doing covers of hits of the day.

Sleeve 1964-66

   

Label 1965-66

 

Verve

American label Verve Records likely began operating in New Zealand in 1956, and was first distributed by Phil Warren under Philip Warren Ltd., the same year it was incorporated. While primarily releasing LPs, the earliest Verve singles in New Zealand were released in 1958 (with one from 1956 according to Discogs). 

Verve: 1956-58

New Zealand record company Philip Warren Ltd. (predecessor to Top Rank Records (NZ) Ltd.) distributed the Verve label from 1956 to 1959. During the first two years of Philip Warren Ltd. distributing the label, Verve singles were issued under a unique company sleeve.

First Verve sleeve, used between 1956 and mid-1958.
This image is a reproduction of the sleeve as I don't have a copy of it. It had the same print on both sides.

First Verve label, used between 1956 and early 1958.

Pressing variant using the first Verve label.

Verve: 1958-60

In mid-1958, Verve singles issued by Philip Warren Ltd. may have been issued with the Philip Warren Ltd. company sleeve, which is branded with the other labels it had licences to or distributed. 

Second Verve sleeve, used for Philip Warren Ltd. labels between mid-1958 to 1960.

In 1959, Phil Warren created Top Rank Records (NZ) Ltd., along with Kerridge Odeon who also distributed labels. During this time it is possible that a Verve sleeve bearing the branding of Top Rank instead of 'Philip Warren Ltd.' exists but I have not come across a copy of it. It's possible that during this time, Verve singles were released in the Top Rank sleeve. They may have continued being issued in the Philip Warren Ltd. sleeve pictured above. However, Verve is not known to have released singles between 1959 and 1960 in New Zealand. After 1958, the next Verve single release is noted to have been in 1962.

Verve: 1961-67

In 1961, Top Rank Records (NZ) Ltd was renamed as Allied International Records Ltd., which was then purchased by G. A. Wooller & Co. Ltd. (which was part of Pye Ltd., the UK Pye label's New Zealand subsidiary) in 1962. From 1962 until mid-1967, Verve would be distributed by Allied International Records Ltd., which was part of the greater Pye Ltd. catalogue. It is possible that Verve had its own sleeve at this time, or that it was issued in either the yellow Allied International or red/purple Pye sleeve. If anyone can shed light on this please don't hesitate to get in touch. 

Possible Verve sleeve, which may have been used between 1962 and mid-1967.

Another possible Verve sleeve, possibly used between 1962 and mid-1967.

Second Verve label, used between 1962 and mid-1967.

1962-67 Verve label variants, with examples from 1965 and 1967 respectively.

Verve: 1967-70

Allied International Records Ltd. would go on to distribute the Verve label until mid-1967. In February of the same year, the Dutch Philips label had negotiated a 60% buyout of the UK Pye label's shares. As Allied International Records Ltd. was owned by the New Zealand Pye Ltd., the buyout resulted in Philips acquiring the local Pye Ltd. subsidiary and its shares. By the end of 1967 Philips Records (NZ) Ltd., the New Zealand subsidiary of the Dutch Philips label, firmly distributed the Verve label in New Zealand. This can be seen with NZ promo Verve singles bearing the Philips label.

Between mid-to-late 1967 and mid-1970, Verve may have been issued in the blue Philips company sleeve.

 

Likely Verve sleeve, possibly used between mid-1967 and mid-1970.

Third Verve label, used between mid-1967 and mid-1970. 
This label is from November 1967.

1967-70 Verve label variant.
This label is from September 1968. This may have been the last NZ Verve single released.  

Verve stopped releasing singles after 1968 or 1969, but continued releasing LPs until 1972 (except for 1 release on Discogs apparently from 1975).

W&G

 

W&G: 1958-66

The Australian label W&G began releasing singles in New Zealand around 1957-58. W&G was distributed by Norman Wright & Co.

Sleeve 1957-62

Label 1957-62

 

    Other W&G labels between 1957-62, which came with this sleeve. The green and black labels have solid centre variants as well.

Sleeve 1962-66

Label 1962-66

Other W&G 1962-66 labels, which came with this second sleeve.
L to R: 1963, 1965 and 1966.

W&G stopped issuing singles in 1966 in New Zealand.

 

Wing

Wing: 1957

American label Wing began releasing records in New Zealand in the late 1950's by Pye Ltd. Singles were released in a unique sleeve.