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Revised 26/7/10

LONDON
UK Labels and Company Sleeves 1954-1985

Labels
London Records prefix codes - see bottom of the page
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Thick Tri-centre
Gold lettering
Thin Tri-centre
Gold lettering
Tri-centre
Silver lettering
Round centre
Silver lettering
HL 8004 - oct 1954
to
 HL 8141 - jun 1955
HL 8172- sep 1955
to
 HL 8380 - feb 1957
HL 8399 - 1957
to
 HL 8855 - may 1959
HL 8586 - mar 1959
The American London label, founded in 1947, released British Decca Records in the USA, since it could not use the Decca name there.  London Records was also used by British Decca in the UK market to release American labels which British Decca licensed. On Radio Luxembourg, the label was known as "London American".  After British Decca was acquired by PolyGram in 1979, London followed a more independent course.
Tri-centre
Silver top
Round centre
Silver top
HL 8865 - may 1959
to
HL 8934 - sep 1959
HL 8926 - aug 1959
to
HL 10115 - 1966
London Atlantic
London Monument
London Dot
 Several issues
HLK 9303 - HLK 9624
Several issues
HLU 9676 - HLU 10045
Several issues
HLD 9620 - HLD 9789
Boxed logo
  
Independent London
Independent London
HL 10135 - 1966
to
HL 10577- 1979
Reissues 1969
"Demand Performance"
HL 10582 - 1982
LON 11 - 1982
to
LON 21 - 1983
LON 23 - 1983
to
LON 60 - 1985
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Sleeves
Range
Front
Back
Details
No 1
HL 8004  - oct 1954
to 
HL 8506 - apr 1958
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Small centre
5 lines = 29 mm
Thin shadows
. Ref 35A  Slightly curved top  Inside glued  Ultramarine
No 2
HL 8507 - apr 1958
to
HL 8884 - jun 1959
Large centre
5 lines = 29 mm
Thin shadows
. Ref 35B  Slightly curved top  Inside glued  Ultramarine
No 3
HL 8885 - jun 1959
to
6
Dull  blue on buff
5 lines = 30 mm
Thin shadows
   Slightly curved top  Inside glued  
No 4
5
to
HL 9025 - jan 1960
Blue on buff
5 lines = 30 mm
Thin shadows
. Ref 35D  Slightly curved top  Inside glued  
No 5
HL 9026 - jan 1960
to
HL 9198 - oct 1960
Sea green
5 lines = 31 mm
Thick shadows
. Ref 35  Slightly curved top  Inside glued  
No 6
HL 9200 - oct 1960
to
6
Blue
Thick shadows
Oval covers 8 lines
. Ref 35C  Slightly curved top  Inside glued  
No 7
5
to
HL 10115 - 1966
Pale blue
Thin shadows
Oval covers 9 lines
   Slightly curved top  Inside glued  
No 8
HL 10135 - 1966
to
1968
. Ref 35E  Curved top  Glued left/right  
No 9
1968
to
1973
   Wavy top  Glued left/right  
No 10
1973
to
10577 - 1979
New logo
   Cut notch - high top  Glued left/right  
No 11
1982
to
1985
   Cut straight/notch  Glued left/right  

London Records Prefix Codes (also known as the "Export Availability Code").
by Tony Dowsett, England

HL-A Ava, Cadence, Prodigal (93) HL-M Anna, Argo, Checker, Chess, Mira, Mirwood 
HL-B Era, Calico, Hollywood, Starday (26) HL-N Bethlehem, Catch, Checker, Dore Era, Glory, Rgo, Royal Roost, Sunset 
HL-C Eastern, Regent, Savoy, Sue, Symbol (15) HL-O Speciality, Excello, Paris, Fargo, Ovation, Aoa (50)
HL-D Crystalette, Coin, Dot, Rainwood (227) HL-P Imperial, Knight, Minit, Rust (111)
HL-E Atlantic, Atco, East West, Hickory, TRX (132) HL-R Congress, 4 Corners, Green Menu, Ice, Kapp, Leader, Lupine, Medallion, Trend (173)
HL-F Bryan, Essex, Media (18) HL-S Ace, Phillips Int., Sun (57)
HL-G Dolton, Fraternity, Freedom,  Liberty,  Seeco, University (59) HL-T Mainstream, United Artists, Unart, Valliant (41)
HL-H A&M, Challenge, Fraternity, 4 Star, Laurie (41) HL-U 7 Arts, Abbot, Abbot, Abko, All Platinum, Allboy, Alon, Amos, Amy, Anna, Arwin, Aut, Bally, Bardell, Baton, Berlee, Big Deal, Cameo, Carlton, Chairman, Challenge, Checker, Chess, Clock, Co & Ce, Coed, Coliseum, Crossover, Crusade, Crusader, Decanter, Décor, Diamond, Dimension, Dolton, Domain, Donna, Dore, Dover, Enith, Enjoy, Fabor, Fancibird, Felsted, Fernwood, Flip, Flipin, Garpax, Glory, Glover, GNP, Crescendo, Gold Disc, Gone, Greenwich, Gregmark, Guyden, Harper, Herald, Highland, Horoscope, Hudson, Instant, Jim Reeves Enterprises, Joed, Joey, Johnson, Kapp, Keen, Kem, Laurie, Le Cam, Liberty, London (Canada), M O C, Marijohn, Medallion, MGM, Minit, Modern, Monogram,  Monument, Mutual, New Hits, Nomar, Old Town, Orbison Associates, Palomar, Parrot, Phi Dan, Philles, Pompeii, Pop Side, PPX Enterprises, President, Press, Promo, Radio  Rainbow, Republic, Republic, Ribbon, RPM, Selma, Seville, Shalimar, Shannon, Sierra, Simmus, Soft, Soncraft, Sound Stage 7, Speciality , Stang, Starling, Surf, Swan, Tag, Tampa, Terrace, Todd, Tomorrow, Tribe, Tripple X, Turbo, Twirl, United Artists, V Tone, Vibration, White Whale, Zen (721)
HL-I JDS, Warwick (5) HL-W Arlan, Ebb, Guyden, Jamie, Lancer, Lin, Shell, Todd (49)
HL-J Josie, Jubilee, Port, Steady, Valiant (32) HL-X Big Hill, Big Top, Dunes (57)
HL-K Atlantic, Lupine, Phoenix, Trey, Satellite, Sire, Stax, Volt (105) HL-Y Big Sound, Class, Everest,  London (Canada) (6)
HL-L Carlton, Guaranteed, Melba (36) HL-Z Axe, Black Beat, Bomp, Centaur, Compass, Ipm, RKO, Shout, Sundi, Magna Slide, Unique, Vegas (56)
( )=number of records from February 1954 to june 1971.
Total 2582 records included 407 HL.
Some record companies appear with two codes.
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Contact for corrections : erlmehl@online.no
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Thanks to Pete Nash, Essex, England for scans in this section
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Thanks to Ray Flight, England for scans in this section
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  Repro sleeves available from Big Boppa Records
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45 Discography for London Records from Global Dog Productions
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