The Doors Forum

Here's a question about an early Elektra Lable from 1966.It's not The Doors, but maybe somebody knows more about this label. It's housed in a standard sleeve & has "PROMOTIONAL COPY-NOT FOR SALE"
stamped in red on back. The vinyl is high quality, as is the sound, &
has 12-66
scratched in the trail-off & is obviously a 1966 pressing.
I've read that prior to mass production, custom labels & limited runs
were done at indie pressers (they made test-presses & promos
before records were ready for mass production).
Does anybody recognise this Label, either from LOVE or perhaps The Doors?
The "normal" 1966 Label is the same as The Doors's first LP.That's why I ask about this label that I never saw before.Any info would be great!

95% sure it's Canadian.

Looks Canadian.

Cheers for that guys.
So it's just the regulair release, only Canadian and nothing special?

As far as this being a normal Canadian label----not so sure. There is not
the usual credit on the label: Made In Canada (as is the case with other
Canadian labels). Also, the lp is housed in a US sleeve (with promo stamp).
It wasn't swiched out.
An email from Jac Holzman is unsure about the Canadian ID. The Canadian ELECTRA labels I've seen match their US conterparts. (normal brown labels, butterfly labels, etc.)
Has a "certifiable" Canadian copy of Da Capo with this label actually been seen? Or does it just "look" Canadian. At any rate, it is so rare that no dealer I've talked to from here to Maine has ever seen Da Capo--with this label.
One would think that with over 40 years of collecting US & Import vinyl, this would have shown up. It has me stumped.
I appreciate the input so far, but I need something more definitive.
The metallic gold label is very much like the old Warner Bros. labels....
that kind of "gold leaf" look.

The Gold Canadian Elektra labels not always indicated 'made in Canada'. The LP jacket indicates 'printed in canada' though. Here is the SP Gold label from Canada. When looking at the label, I notice that Canadian label's usually have that inner indentation. And yes, Robby's first and last name is mis-spelled.

TheDoorsMusic wrote:When looking at the label, I notice that Canadian label's usually have that inner indentation.

The cat. number also carries a font distinctive to Canadian releases.

jim4371 wrote: The cat. number also carries a font distinctive to Canadian releases.

Yes, indeed.

thanks. Right, the type on my label is distinctly Canadian & no corporate ID. What about the BLACK "E" logo at the top---instead of the normal white?
That seems more distinctly UK, though note that it is smaller than either. Elektra liked to fill up the label top with the big E.
Also, my label is not a flat gold, but rather a VERY metallic gold....the gold with shiny flecks that sparkle----like the metalic gold enamel spray paint
we used on our car models in the old days. It has more of the look if
the blue Verve labels..that kind of silk screen look. But not a boot...
the vinyl/sound is too high quality. I'm getting close to accepting
Canadian---maybe, but it seems to be a rare variant of the norm??

....I'm being picky, but I'm a graphic designer & I notice these things!
The group & LP title is usually UNDER the spindle hole with the E logo filling
the area above...whether USA, UK, Canada, Denmark & so on. That is pretty
standard because printed label blanks were provided to the plants with
the Elektra logo, in white, already there. Then the distinctively USA or
Canadian text was added to whatever LP was pressed. The white "E"
didn't vary. It's like a standard corporate letterhead.....they're not messed
with. Though, red UK labels did have a large BLACK "E" at the top.
Anyway, that's why I'm puzzled.....

You might no find your answer here, but here is a site on Elektra labels and history. It's not complete but has some decent references.

http://www.bsnpubs.com/elektra/elektrastory.html

Thanks. I'm convinced it is Canadian, but a rarer variation.....some kind of
custom label. I've read it was done for various reasons; sometimes the
stock labels are out or not yet printed, sometimes smaller early press runs
to be used as promos--this shiney gold kind of label, specifically.
Appreciate all the input...the catalog number treatment is what sells the
Canandian idea for me. Thanks to all. I do love this kind of stuff.