Savoy

Savoy Records is an American record label founded in 1942 by Herman Lubinsky, specializing in Jazz, R&B and Gospel. Savoy played an important role in popularizing bebop. The gospel music division's masters and contracts were sold to southern R&B/blues/gospel label Malaco Records in 1986. In 1991, the Savoy catalogue was acquired from Denon by Nippon Columbia Co., Ltd. Denon's parent established the Savoy Label Group in 2002. The Savoy Label Group managed the Savoy catalogue until September 2017 when it was acquired by Concord Music.

Note that many of the Savoy 12" LPs were reissued in the 1960s & 1970s. LPs released between 1950-1962 have "blood red" labels. The first release to solely sport "maroon" labels is MG-12169 (Sun Ra ‎– The Futuristic Sounds Of Sun Ra). However, due to the inconsistency of pressing plants, a few later releases have been found with "blood red" labels as well (most notably MG-12193, "The Marzette Watts Ensemble").

In France, a good example to understand variants is MG 12046 released five times for each "period". Since mid-50's: *Savoy* red labels; mid-60's: *Savoy* red labels