US jazz label.
Label Code: LC 0313 .
For the company, see Prestige Records Inc.
For unofficial releases, see Prestige (4).
Like several other prominent jazz record producers of the era, Bob Weinstock started out as a traditional jazz fan but soon found himself standing at the cutting edge of modern jazz. He launched his own label in 1949 – originally founded as label, soon renamed Prestige – and, during the next decade, recorded such musicians as Sonny Stitt, Miles Davis, Sonny Rollins, Thelonious Monk, the Modern Jazz Quartet Jackie McLean and John Coltrane, often in informal "blowing" sessions usually engineered by Rudy Van Gelder.
Weinstock hired other producers from 1958, and over the next few years Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis, Eric Dolphy, Coleman Hawkins and Yusef Lateef recorded for the label. As the 1960s progressed, Prestige became a leading purveyor of what is now known as acid jazz with its recordings of organists Jack McDuff, Richard "Groove" Holmes, Charles Earland, and others.
Prestige, its sub labels and its publishing company, Prestige Music, Inc., became part of the Fantasy group of labels in June 1971, Weinstock remaining President. The Fantasy group merged with the Concord Music Group in 2004.
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A guide to label variations of the 7000 cat.# series and up to the beginning of the 10000 cat.# series, as issued in the USA:
On first pressings from 7000 up to 7141, the 'fireworks' labels in yellow/black show the following address in the upper rim text, and are all mono pressings:
446 W. 50th ST., N.Y.C.
From 7142 up to (approximately) 7325, the fireworks labels in yellow/black for mono, and black/silver for stereo, show the following:
203 South Washington Ave., Bergenfield, N.J.
All mono 'fireworks' pressings have a caption on the right hand side of the spindle hole that can read any of the following:
"HI FI" / "HI FIDELITY" / "HIGH FIDELITY" / "High Fidelity".
In 1964, a completely different design, known as the 'trident' label was introduced:
1964
Gold label, Black print, Trident 12 'o' clock, Mono.
No label address.
Some titles originally released, and some titles reissued, with this transitional label design.
From (approximately) 7310 up to (approximately) 7331 but most titles up to 7325 still released with the older fireworks design and many titles up to 7331 with the trident at 3 'o' clock blue label.
1964
Black label, Silver print, Trident 12 'o' clock, Stereo.
No label address.
Some titles originally released, and some titles reissued, with this transitional label design.
From (approximately) 7310 up to (approximately) 7336 but most titles up to 7325 still released with the older fireworks design and many titles up to 7336 with the trident at 3 'o' clock blue label.
1964-1968
Blue label, Trident 3 'o' clock, Mono or Stereo.
203 South Washington Ave., Bergenfield, N.J. label address.
From (approximately) 7326 up to (approximately) 7549 but some titles from 7541 with the new 12 'o' clock trident position.
1968-1970
Blue label, Circled trident 12 'o' clock.
203 South Washington Ave., Bergenfield, N.J. label address.
From (approximately) 7541 up to (approximately) 7827.
1970-1971
Purple label, Circled trident 12 'o' clock.
203 South Washington Ave., Bergenfield, N.J. label address.
From (approximately) 7828 up to (approximately) 10013.
1971
Green label.
Prestige Records, Berkeley, California. label address.
10014 & some reissued titles with this label.
1971-19??
Green label.
Distributed By Fantasy Records, Berkeley, California. label address.
From (approximately) 10015 and onward.
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Prestige in France:
from the fifties to the eighties, license and distribution by different labels:
- mid-50's to 1962 : Barclay (and Bel Air) grey or yellow Barclay labels
- 1963 to mid-60's : La Voix De Son Maître clear blue "HMV-dog" labels
- mid-60's to 1969/1970 : Les Industries Musicales Et Electriques Pathé Marconi blue "trident" labels
- 1969/1970 : label blue "trident" labels
- 1971 to 1979 : label green labels
- 1980's : label green labels