Ohr

Pioneering early Berlin rock, jazz, electronic and experimental music label. Ohr is well known as one of the key labels of the Krautrock scene. Established by producer Rolf-Ulrich Kaiser and Hansa founder / Metronome executive Peter Meisel, it also spawned the Die Kosmischen Kuriere and Kosmische Musik labels.
The first Ohr LP was released in April 1970. The final release was completed in December 1973 (released early 1974). In this time, they released 33 albums (four of which were double LPs) and twelve 7" singles.
Ohr and its partner labels: Kosmische Musik and Pilz (2) ran into difficulties with litigation raised against the company by some of its signed artists, causing the seizure of all assets and shutting down of Ohr and related labels in 1975. The label archives were stored at label's vaults, some rights were assigned to Metronome (with further re-releases on Ohr or Brain), and later on some releases (whose rights had not reverted to the original artists) were licensed out via partners of Dieter Dierks' own Venus Records GmbH.

Originals
[excepting doubles, which had 2/56.0## catalogue numbers]
The first 17 Ohr LP releases had a 5-digit catalogue numbers: OMM 56.000 to 56.016
The next 12 single LP releases had 6 digit catalogue numbers. OMM 556.017 to 556.033.
Originals of OMM 56.000 to 556 017 had no matrix numbers on the label.
Later editions of the first 17 LPs also had 6 digit: 556.### catalogue numbers (see Reissues).
7" singles had catalogue numbers: OS 57.000 to 57.012.

The first edition of the first five LPs had uniformly designed sleeves by Reinhard Hippen with a small door in the front sleeve for an included promotion balloon).
56.000 - release (red balloon, black print "Haschisch ist Opium für das Volk")
56.001 - release (yellow balloon, dark blue print "?")
56.002 - release (light pink balloon, black print "nun")56.003 - (light pink balloon, black print "Haschisch ist Opium für das Volk")56.004 - (green balloon, black print "Haschisch ist Opium für das Volk")Only 500 copies from each with the door cover were pressed. In 250 of them were a balloon attached with a special print on it. These 250 were used only for promotion. The other 250 without balloon was the regular first edition for sale.