Warner Bros
Warner Bros. Records, founded in 1958 by Jack Warner, started as a soundtrack factory for Warner Bros. movie studios. Over the years, it has evolved into a renowned label with subsidiary labels like Reprise Records, Sire Records, Maverick Records, Warner Nashville, Warner Jazz, Warner Western, and Word Label Group. With more than 60 years of experience in the industry and an impressive roster of artists across various genres, Warner Bros. has become a leading name in the music world.
The label has used several pressing facilities including *Capitol Records* and *Columbia Pressings*. Throughout its history, Warner Bros. has had different label designs for mono LPs and stereo LPs. From grey labels with black WB Shield to gold labels with Vitaphonic Long Play or Stereo wording at the bottom; from green labels featuring the W7 logo to palm trees labels without any address mentioned; and finally transitioning to tan labels with narrow horizontal lines before settling on white labels with large WB shield and ghosted gray shields floating in the background since 1983.
To determine first pressings of US LPs on this label, collectors can look out for specific details such as color variations on the label design or Saul Bass W logo on sleeves introduced after 1975. The presence or absence of certain addresses on palm trees labels also helps identify different pressings over time.
