45-SLEEVES - HOME
Revised 13/12/12

MGM
UK Labels and Company Sleeves 1953-1977

Labels
Large hole
Made in Great Britain by E.M.I. Ltd.
Optional centre
Made in Great Britain by E.M.I. Ltd.
No text in center
Made in Great Britain by E.M.I. Ltd.
Text in center
Made in Great Britain by E.M.I. Ltd.
MGM SP 1001 - 1953
to
MGM SP 1021 - 1953
MGM SP 1024 - 1953
to
MGM SP 1164 - 1956
MGM 923 - 1956
to
MGM 1220 - 1963
MGM 1224 - 1964
to
MGM 1330 - 1966
MGM Records was  started by the Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer film studio in late 1946, for the purpose of releasing soundtrack albums of their musical films. In the early 1950s, MGM Records was considered one of the major record companies (besides Columbia, RCA, Decca, Capitol, Mercury and Coral) and had its own manufacturing facilities in the US. Manufacture and distribution in the UK the 1950s and 1960s were by EMI. 
In 1972, the label was sold to the newly-founded Dutch-German PolyGram, which tried to get a share of the American market by buying US record companies. PolyGram tried to re-establish MGM as a mainstream rock label, but failed.
Text in center
Made in Great Britain for M.G,M. Records Ltd.
MGM 1344 - 1967
to
MGM 1461 - 1968
"Jigsaw centre"
The rarest of the EMI Jigsaw centres
"Jigsaw centre"
The rarest of the EMI Jigsaw centres
MGM 923 - 1956
MGM 946 - 1956
"Jigsaw" centres: The dies for these were used from (approximately) August 1956 to June 1957, fairly randomly. A few re-pressings of earlier records will be found with these centres. Incidentally these centres were used, to a lesser degree, throughout the EMI range (Columbia, Capitol, Parlophone & MGM).
Text 
in center
No text
in center
 New design
Polydor distribution
MGM 1464 - 1969
to
MGM 1481 - 1969
MGM 1488 - 1969
to
MGM 1495 - 1970
2006 021 - 1971
to
1973
Polydor distribution
Polydor distribution
Polydor distribution
1973
to
1975
1975
to
2006 611 - 1977
Label discontinued
Reissues
1971
........
Sleeves
Range
Front
Back
Details
No 1
MGM SP 1001 - 1953
to
.
 Slightly curved top  Inside glued  
No 2
.
to
MGM SP 1021 - 1953
   Slightly curved top  Inside glued  
No 3
MGM SP 1024 - 1953
to
.
Optional centre info
Red print
Made and printed in
Great Britain
   Slightly curved top  Inside glued  
No 4
.
to 
MGM 984 - 1958
Optional centre info
Black print
Made and printed in
Great Britain
. Ref 39  Slightly curved top  Inside glued  
No 5
MGM 985 - 1958
to
MGM 1018 - 1959
. Ref 39B  Slightly curved top  Inside glued  
No 6
MGM 1019 - 1959
to
 .
No rectangles 
   Slightly curved top  Inside glued  
No 7
.
to
 Dec 1962
Rectangles added
. Ref 39C  Slightly curved top  Inside glued  
No 8
Jan 1963
to
,
Small "Use"
Large "Present"
Correct print 
"Industries"
   Slightly curved top  Inside glued  
No 9
.
to
MGM 1223 - March 1964
Small "Use"
Large "Present"
Printing error 
"Instruments"
. Ref 39A  Slightly curved top  Inside glued  
No 10
MGM 1224 - March 1964
to
1966
Use the new EMITEX
6'- to 50'- tokens
   Wavy top  Glued left/right  
No 11
1966
to
MGM 1461 - 1968
Use the new EMITEX
7'3 to 50'- tokens
   Wavy top  Glued bottom/right  
No 12
1973
to
1977
....
For sleeve details
(different types)
see Phonogram
....
   Wawy top  Glued left/right  
EP
EP 1
1954
to
1955
   Cut straight Glued left/right  
Reissues
R 1
Action Replay
1971
   Wavy top  Glued left/right  
......
Contact for corrections
...
Thanks to Tony Dowsett, England for scans in this section
...
Thanks to Ade Macrow, England for scans in this section
.......
Thanks to Alan White, Doncaster, England for scans and info in this section
....
Thanks to Bill Williams, England for scans in this section
...
  Repro sleeves available from Big Boppa Records
........