Columbia Masterworks, series and later label, was inaugurated by the label in October 1924 when it released the first eight Masterworks album sets as the 'Columbia Fine-Art Series of Musical Masterworks'. The abbreviated 'Columbia Masterworks Series' saw some usage in the 1929 catalog and took the catalog cover in early 1933.
Columbia Masterworks label began after Columbia's 1939 acquisition by CBS and continued until 1980. After that, it was separated from the Columbia label and renamed CBS Masterworks.
Please note that starting around 1958 possibly into the early 1970s, LPs on this label list two catalog numbers on the sleeve: an ML number (for the mono recording) and an MS number (for the stereo recording). Check the physical record to determine the version of your copy.
Columbia Masterworks was renamed CBS Masterworks Records in 1980 and removed from the Columbia label.
In 1990 it was again renamed Sony Classical Records because of the sale of CBS Records to the Sony Corporation.
The Masterworks brand is currently used on Masterworks Broadway Records as well as Sony Masterworks, Sony being the parent label for both.
78 RPM album sets
78 RPM album sets began in November 1924, as the “Columbia Fine-Art Series of Musical Masterworks.” Each set contained three or more records; two-record sets did not come into being until 1935, and then they received their own series (prefixed X-). Although a few two-record sets were issued as part of the main series (Set 210 being the first), most of these later were reissued as X- sets. Until about 1935, all Columbia Masterworks sets were of three records or more. There were, of course, many works issued on two records but they were not graced with album sets until 1935, when the first 40 or so X- sets were compiled from existing two-record groupings in the Columbia back catalogue. In 1935-36 a number of two-record sets were issued in the regular Masterworks Set series, but these all were subsequently given numbers in the X- series (see X-45 through X-59). In 1941, after CBS acquired Columbia, many X- sets were reissued as automatic sequence sets with an MX- prefix. Later, many sets were issued as X- and MX- sets simultaneously.
78 RPM album sets may have multiple catalog numbers on various parts of the release. As always, please try to enter all of the variations, along with release notes explaining what number appears where. The first listed are the regular manual sequence numbers. Records with "AM" or "MM" numbering were configured for different types of record changers. AM (“slide automatic” sequence) has the sides in sequence across the front of each record (e.g. A = side 1, C = side 2, E = side 3), then continuing with the back of each record from the first to the last (e.g. B = side #4, D = side #5, F = side #6). MM (“drop automatic”) has the continuation from the last to the first (e.g. F = side 4, D = side 5, B = side 6). the second are for sets in “slide automatic” sequence which carried an AM- prefix. Beginning with M-365, manual sets officially carried an M- prefix - one of the first evident changes of the new CBS ownership. Starting with M-406, drop automatic (MM-) sequence sets were issued simultaneously with the manual M- and slide automatic AM- sets. After set M-1000, most sets were issued only as 45 rpm sets (A- prefix); although several are known to have been issued on 78 rpm.
Overview of US catalogue prefixes:
• ML [1948-1967] Regular Columbia Masterworks mono releases (ML 4000 - ML 6999)
used for Classical and closely related releases.
• MS [1958-1970] Regular Columbia Masterworks stereo releases (MS 6000 - MS 7999)
used for Classical and closely related releases. For the MS series, the last two digits of the number match those of the corresponding mono release, but there is a difference of 600 between those two. So MS 6476 is the stereo release for ML 5876.
• KL [1955-1968] Regular Columbia Masterworks mono releases (KL 4000 - KL 6999)
used for Original Cast, Original Soundtrack and few Classical releases.
• KOL [1959-1968] Premium Columbia Masterworks mono releases (KOL 5000 - KOL 8000)
this was probably a premium series.
• KOS [1958-1968] Regular Columbia Masterworks stereo releases (KOS 5000 - KOS 8000)
this was probably a premium series.
• KS [1958-1968] Regular Columbia Masterworks stereo releases (KS 4000 - KS 6999)
used for Original Cast, Original Soundtrack and few Classical releases.
• OL [1955-1968] Regular Columbia Masterworks mono releases
used for Original Cast and Original Soundtrack releases.
• OS [1958-1968] Regular Columbia Masterworks stereo releases
used for Original Cast and Original Soundtrack releases. For the OS series, the last two digits of the number match those of the corresponding mono release, but there is a difference of -3600 between those two. So OS 3180 is the stereo release for OL 6780.
• BOS [1967-1969] Premium Columbia Masterworks stereo releases
those releases had a higher list price than regular albums in the OS-Series.
• M [1970-1980] Regular Columbia Masterworks M-30000 series
used for Classical and closely related releases.
• MG [1970-1980] Regular Columbia Masterworks MG-30000 2LP-Sets
the letter G stands for a double album. Alternatively the prefix M2 was used for a 2LP-Set, and M3, M4 etc. for box sets with more albums.
• MQ [1972-1974] Columbia Masterworks Quadraphonic MQ-30000 series
• S [1970-1980] Regular Columbia Masterworks S-30000 series
used for Original Cast and Original Soundtrack releases.