Nesuhi Ertegun was put in charge of the development of the Atlantic jazz catalog and given responsibility for all long playing albums in the mid 1950s. Nesuhi brought to Atlantic many of the West Coast jazz artists he had seen in California, including Shorty Rogers, Jimmy Giuffre, Herbie Mann and Les McCann. Nesuhi's most important contribution was championing and producing the Modern Jazz Quartet; the MJQ recorded twenty albums for Atlantic and was the backbone of their jazz catalog.

Soon after Nesuhi took over the album catalog, he deleted the 100 and 400 series of 10-inch albums, because the 12-inch format was becoming the standard. He also deleted the early 12-inch albums in Atlantic's catalog. Nesuhi started the new Atlantic long play catalog with album 1212. This 1200 album series carried a $4.98 list price, and at first the series contained both jazz and R&B albums. In 1956, a new 8000 popular series was started with a list price of $3.98. The few rhythm and blues albums in the 1200 series were reissued in the 8000 series, and the 1200 series became exclusively a jazz series.

An example of just how forward-thinking Atlantic was at the time is illustrated by a special issue of album AL-1208, which was issued in binaural sound. Binaural was an early attempt at stereo, where recordings were done with two microphones set apart about the space of the human ears. When played back over headphones, it gave the sense of listening from a front-row audience seat. The problem with transferring this technology to record was that the 45/45 stylus and cartridge (which was used from 1958 onward), where information on each stereo channel is encoded into one side of a microgroove, had not yet been invented/perfected. Binaural vinyl records required a setup which used two needles. On the label, the binaural issue of AL-1208 advises, "For use with two- needle binaural reproducers". This was 1953, five years before stereo on vinyl was introduced by the industry to the public! (Scan courtesy of Peter Grendysa)







The earliest labels in the 1200 series were yellow with black printing. "ATLANTIC" was over the center hole in black with a thin black line under it, there was a black ring around the perimeter of the label except in the area the Atlantic name was located. At the bottom of the label was "LONG PLAYING" on one side and "UNBREAKABLE" on the other, between the words was a circle with 33 1/3 RPM. This label was used on all 10 inch albums and the 12 inch albums to LP-1211.



In 1955, the 1200 series changed to the black Atlantic label, which was black with silver printing and had graphics identical to the earlier yellow labels. This label was used on the 1200 series from 1212 to at least 1332, but it was also used for a special binaural issue of 1208. During the time when the black label was being used, the stereo labels were light green with black printing, the graphics were identical except for "STEREO" above the Atlantic logo in a black box.

The next Atlantic label used on monaural releases was red on the top and purple on the bottom with black printing. There was a white band running through the center hole from side to side, separating the red and purple areas. The label name "ATLANTIC" was in the white area to the left of the center hole. To the right of the center hole was a large "A" and a white fan in a black box. This is the "white fan Atlantic label." On stereo records, the graphics are the same, but with the top of the label being green and the bottom of the label being blue, and "STEREO" in white letters at the top of the label. The promotional issues used the same graphics but were simply white with black printing. This label was used from 1333 to approximately 1378.

The next Atlantic label was very similar to the "white fan" label described above, except that the fan to the right of the center hole was black in a white box, and a small "ATLANTIC" is inserted at a 90-degree angle between the large "A" and the fan. We call this the "black fan Atlantic label." Monaural records were red on the top and purple on the bottom with black printing. Stereo records had the same graphics with the top of the label being green and the bottom of the label being blue. The promotional issues are white with black printing with the same graphics. This label was used from 1379 to approximately 1463.

We would appreciate any additions or corrections to this discography. Just send them to us via e-mail. Both Sides Now Publications is an information web page. We are not a catalog, nor can we provide the records listed below. We have no association with Atlantic Records. Should you be interested in acquiring albums listed in this discography (which are all out of print), we suggest you see our Frequently Asked Questions page and follow the instructions found there. This story and discography are copyright 2000 by Mike Callahan.