NZ Record Sleeves: Polydor

Polydor: 1958-66

In 1958 Philips Electrical Industries of New Zealand Ltd began releasing Polydor Records in New Zealand. Singles were issued in an unique Polydor sleeve.

Sleeve Front 1958-65

Sleeve (Back) 1958-65

Label 1958-65

Polydor: 1966-71

The classic red Polydor sleeve was first introduced in 1966, along with a label design change from orange to red. This sleeve was primarily in use from 1966 to 1971. During these years, many quantities of the red Polydor sleeves were produced. Because so many were made at the time, the red Polydor sleeves were well in-use through the 1970's, possibly even the early 1980's. This means that the red sleeves were likely in-use along with later sleeve designs simultaneously. At the time, record stores tended to use up old sleeves, if not any sleeves for their 45s when selling them, including using the older red sleeves for newer Polydor releases.

Red Polydor sleeve, primarily in use between 1966 to 1971.

Alternate version of the red sleeve.
Likely used in the late 1960's.

Label 1966-67

Label 1968-71 Label 1969-71

In 1970, the distribution arm of Philips Electrical Industries of New Zealand Ltd was rebranded as Polygram Records (NZ) Ltd / Polygram Records Ltd. At this time, the red Polydor sleeve remained in use for Polydor releases until after 1971.

Polydor: 1971-82

From 1971 to 1972, the Polygram-distributed labels (including Polydor) branded their album releases with 'Polygram The Music Company'. This coincided with a new sleeve design bearing the same text for Polygram-distributed labels. The sleeve was primarily used for these two years, and was on its way out by 1973 when another change to Polygram labels was actioned.

'The Music Company' Polygram sleeve, primarily in-use between 1971 and 1972.

In 1973, Polygram-distributed labels changed from having 'The Music Company' branded onto their releases (on the back of album covers) to having 'Marketed in New Zealand by Phonogram Ltd. PO Box 3517, Wellington’ branded with a phonographic copyright symbol. This version of branding was only text and had no logo visible, except for the sleeve used during this time which made use of the Phonogram logo.

This style of branding by Phonogram/Polygram is notable in the album releases of the labels it distributed from 1973 until mid-1974, when a further branding change was actioned.

'Phonogram Logo' sleeve, primarily in-use between 1973 to 1975.

Sometime in 1974, Phonogram opted for another change to its style of branding on releases. This would welcome the introduction to the brown 'marketed by phonogram' sleeve, used widely on Phonogram/Polygram-distribtued labels (including Polydor) between 1975 and 1978. Despite the change in branding likely being in 1974, it is probable that this brown Phonogram sleeve was only introduced in 1975 alongside the previous and outgoing 'Phonogram Logo' sleeve and the red Polydor sleeve for Polydor releases specifically.

The 'marketed by phonogram' brown sleeve design, likely used between 1975 and 1978.
This design was the first of two similar designs used by Phonogram/Polydor from 1975 until the early 1980's.

In 1979 the brown sleeve design was changed to incorporate the new branding seen with Polygram releases, bearing the text 'marketed by PolyGram - The Music Company' where Phonogram was formerly printed on. This second and final brown Phonogram/Polydor sleeve design was likely in-use between 1979 and 1981.

The brown 'marketed by PolyGram' sleeve, primarily used between 1979 to 1981.
This sleeve design was the second and final brown Phonogram/PolyGram sleeve.

From 1982 to 1987 Polydor singles were issued in a 'PolyGram Records' company sleeve. This sleeve is identical to an Australian PolyGram sleeve used between 1978 and 1983. This sleeve may have been used from 1980 to 1983, or is possibly not an NZ sleeve at all; if someone is able to shed light on this please get in touch.

A change in sleeve design at this time coincides with PolyGram-distributed album releases dropping the 'The Music Company' text in the branding beginning from 1982, leaving only the 'marketed by PolyGram' as the branding. This may have coincided with this 'PolyGram Records' company sleeve, or the red or green PolyGram sleeves mentioned after this sleeve.