45-SLEEVES - HOME
Revised 22/1/12

EPIC
US Labels and Company Sleeves 1953-2005

Labels
One line
Three lines - short
Three lines - long
Three lines - long
5 9001 - 1953
to
5 9084 - 1954
5 9085 - dec 1954
to
5 9091 - 1955
5 9093 - 1955
to
5 9783 - 1965
EG 7133 - 1955
EP
Epic Records was launched in 1953 by CBS for the purpose of marketing jazz and classical music that did not fit the theme of the more mainstream Columbia Records.
Its bright-yellow, black and blue logo became a familiar trademark for many jazz and classical releases. By 1960, the label's musical base had been expanded to include all genres. This was done in part to prevent the roster of Columbia Records from being overstuffed with newer artists. Subsequently, Epic became better known for its signing of newer, fledgling acts. By the end of the 1960s, Epic earned its first gold records and had evolved into a formidable hit-making force in rock and roll, R&B and country music.
A product of CBS
Long perimeter print
A product of CBS
Mfd. by Eros
A product of CBS
Short perimeter print
5 9593 - 1963
to
5 9783 - 1965
5 9704
5 9739
5 9722
5 9763
All Dave Clark Five 1964
5 9786 - 1965
to
5 9900 - 1966
Short perimeter print
® added
5 10000 - 1966
to
5 10581 - 1972
5 10581 - 1972
to
5 10967 - 1972
Numbers jump from 9990 to 10000. The 9900 series was used for foreign innsues.
Label colour changes to light orange.
Colour change
5 10969- 1973
to
1979
1979
to
1984
14 02499 - 1971
14-prefix
1984
to
1996
1995
to
.
1995
to
.
2004
to
.
2005
to
.
Memory Lane
Reissues
15-series
Instant Classics
Reissues
One Sided Single
At the end of 1982 CBS decided that they might sell more singles if they dropped the B-side and sold them at a lesser price! A novel idea, but the stores really didn't like the fact that different singles would have different prices. Also the Music Publishing firms were up in arms about this, which meant less royalties for their songwriters (B-sides same royalties as the A-side). One Side Singles were quietly dropped by Spring 1983.
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Sleeves
Range
Front
Back
Details
No 1
1953
to 
1953
EP albums from 1951-1952
 Cut straight  Inside glued  
No 2
1953
to 
1954
EP albums from 1951-1953
   Cut straight  Inside glued  
No 3
1954
to 
1955
 EP albums from 1952-1954
 Cut straight  Inside glued  
No 4
1955
to
.
DeJohn sisters charted on
 Epic December 1954
Large notch cut
    Cut straight/notch  Inside glued  
No 5
.
to
1956
DeJohn sisters charted on
 Epic December 1954
Small notch cut
   Cut straight/notch  Glued left/right  
No 6
1956
to
.
Detachable corner - text
  .Cut straight  Inside glued  
No 7
.
to
1957
 Original sleeve not available
 for scan
Detachable corner - no text
   Cut straight    
No 8
1957
to 
.
No detachable corner
 (Both triangles on left side)
   Cut straight/notch  Inside glued  
No 9
.
to 
1961
No detachable corner
 (Both triangles on left side)
   Cut straight/notch  Glurd left/right  
No 10
1961
to
.
Text
   Cut straight/notch  Inside glued  
No 11
.
to
1963
No text
   Curved top  Inside glued  
No 12
1961
to
.
Text
   Curved top  Inside glued  
No 13
.
to
.
 
Print not to top
Text - to the right
   Curved top - high top  Inside glued  
No 14
.
to
Late 1965
Print to top
Text - moved left
 Curved top - high top  Inside glued
No 15
Late 1965
to
.
One line
 White paper
   Curved top  Inside glued  
No 16
.
to
.
One line
 White paper
   Curved top  Glued left/right  
No 17
.
to
.
One line
 White paper
   Curved top  Inside glued  
No 18
.
to
.
One line
 Toned paper
   Curved top  Glued left/right  
No 19 a
.
to
.
Two lines
 Toned paper
   Curved top  Inside glued  
No 19 b
.
to
.
Two lines
 Toned paper
   Curved top  Inside glued  
No 20
.
to
1968
Two lines
 Toned paper
   Curved top  Inside glued  
No 21 a
1968
to 
.
Toned paper
 Text 102 mm wide
   Curved top  Inside glued  
No 21 b
.
to 
.
White paper
 Text 102 mm wide
   Curved top  Inside glued  
No 22
.
to
.
Toned paper - glossy inside
 Text 114 mm wide
  .Curved top  Glued left/right  
No 23
.
to
.
White paper
 Text 114 mm wide
   Curved top  Glued left/right   
No 24
.
to 
.
Toned paper
 Text 114 mm wide
   Curved top  Inside glued  
No 25
.
to 
.
Text right side
   Curved top  Glued left/right   
No 26
.
to 
1972
Text right side
   Curved top  Inside glued  
No 27 a
1973
to
.
Black
Text on the front
 Curved top  Glued left/right  
No 27 b
.
to
.
Grayish black
Text on the front
   Curved top  Glued left/right  
No 28
.
to
.
Text on the back
   Curved top  Glued left/right  
No 29 a
.
to
.
White paper
Text on the front
   Curved top  Glued left/right  
No 29 b
.
to
.
Toned paper
Text on the front
   Curved top  Glued left/right  
No 29 c
.
to
.
Dark orange
Text on the front
   Curved top  Glued left/right  
No 30 a
.
to
.
Text on the back
   Curved top  Glued left/right  
No 30 b
.
to
.
Text on the back
   Curved top  Glued left/right  
No 30 c
.
to
.
Text on the back
   Curved top  Glued left/right  
No 31
.
to
1979
 
Text on the back
   Curved top  Inside glued  
No 32 a
1979
to
.
Text on the back
   Curved top  Glued left/right  
No 32 b
.
to
.
Text on the back
   Curved top  Glued left/right  
No 33
1979
to
.
Text on the front
   Curved top  Glued left/right  
No 34
.
to
.
Text on the front
   Curved top  Glued left/right  
No 35
.
to
.
Text on the front
   Curved top  Inside glued  
No 36 a
.
to
.
Text on the front
   Curved top  Inside glued  
No 36 b
.
to
.
Text on the front
   Curved top  Inside glued  
No 37
1995
to
.
© 1995 Sony Music
   Cut straight  Inside glued  
No 38
.
to
.
© 1995 Sony Music
   Cut straight  Inside glued  
No 39
2001
to
.
© 2001 Sony Music
   Cut straight  Inside glued  
No 40
.
to
.
The bar codes on these sleeves are labels put on by the retail stores. They peel off. 
"Epic" Reg. U.S. Pat. & Tm.
   Cut straight  Inside glued  
No 41
2001
to
.
Plain white with barcode label attached.
   Curved top  Glued left/right  
One sided single
OS 1
One Side Singles
1982-1983

   Curved top   Inside glued  
Reissues
R 1
Reissues
15-series
Blue/yellow
   
R 2
Reissues
15-series
Blue/yellow
Text - moved right
   Curved top  Glued left/right  
R 3
Reissues
15-series
Blue/gold
Text - moved right
   Cut straight  Inside glued  
Special sleeves
S 1
1974
to
.
Used for several Charlie Rich issues
(P) 1974 CBS Inc.
   Curved top  Inside glued  
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Contact for corrections : erlmehl@online.no
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Thanks to Middle-Earth Records for scans in this section
...
Thanks to John Villanova, New York for scans and info in this section
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Thanks to Michael McKenna, Centreville, Virginia for scans in this section
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Thanks to Jim Ronat, Highland, Illinois for scans in this section
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Thanks to Dave Turk, Denver, Colorado for scans in this section
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Thanks to  Steve Kolanjian, New York for info in this section
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Thanks to Jim Barnes - Top 40 Research - Australia  for scans in this section
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Thanks to Gary L. Anderson, Albany, NY  for scans in this section
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Thanks to Bill Mangahas, Farmingdale, NY for scans in this section
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45 Discography for Epic Records from Global Dog Productions
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