NZ Record Sleeves: Capitol

The American label Capitol Records first began operations in New Zealand selling 78s in 1952. Between 1952 and 1956, Capitol was distributed by the Radio Corporation of New Zealand Ltd. (RCA New Zealand). They only released EPs for the 7-inch format. It was only when His Master's Voice (NZ) Ltd attained the licence to distribute Capitol Records did we first see the release of Capitol singles. This change, which had Capitol begin to release singles commercially in NZ, took effect in 1956.

Capitol: 1956-62

The first Capitol NZ singles were issued in the red Capitol sleeve. I am unsure when this sleeve was retired.

Front of first Capitol sleeve, 1956-58?

Rear of first Capitol sleeve. Some may have not come with a flipback on the bottom.

I am unsure when the pink sleeve was introduced. It seems to be around 1958 or 1959. I am also unsure when it was phased out. It might even have been used up until the introduction of the black sleeve in 1962. If you can shed some light on this please leave a comment.

Sleeve 1958?-62

Label 1956-60

The label design stays mostly the same between 1956 to 1962, with some distinctions. It was printed in various shades of blue and purple. I do not know the exact dates the sleeves were issued.


Various label colours between 1956 and 1962. The cyan label (furthest right) was initially used for Capitol EP's under His Master's Voice (NZ) Ltd from 1956, but between 1961 and 1962 it was the standard label colour for Capitol singles.

Label 1962                                            Label 1962-64.
                                                                                              By 1963, Capitol EPs were also released with this
                                                                                         label design. It was phased out in mid-1965.

Capitol: 1962-73

The black Capitol sleeve was introduced in 1962. It was used for the next 11 years. There are six versions of this sleeve which were circulated in the 11 years it was in use; this first version has the same print on both sides and may have been used throughout the 11 years. This version was possibly used throughout the 11 years.

Front of Capitol sleeve, 1962-73.

The above sleeve was mainly printed with the same design featured on both sides. On prints between 1962 and 1964, it sometimes featured the "Here are some outstanding LPs..." ad commonly seen on HMV (NZ) labels such as Parlophone and Columbia. This is the second version of the black Capitol sleeve.

Rear of second black Capitol sleeve, 1962-64.

Between 1964 (or early 1965) until late 1966 (or July 1967), Capitol's company sleeves would follow other labels such as Parlophone and Columbia under HMV (NZ) and feature advertisements for portable turntables.

Rear of third black Capitol sleeve, 1964?-66 with tri-panel ads.

Around the same time, a version of this sleeve had a quad-panel advertisement promoting portable radios. This is the fourth black Capitol sleeve. Whether this came first or if the portable turntables did, I am unsure.

Quad-panel portable radios Capitol sleeve (likely 1964-66). This is the fourth black Capitol sleeve.

As with other labels distributed under His Master's Voice (NZ) Ltd., the sleeves Capitol produced would sometimes have the "Young Internationals" ad printed on its rear. This would've been circulated between July 1967 until around early 1969 (possibly).

Rear of fifth black Capitol sleeve, mid-1967 to early-1969.

By the late 1960's (likely 1969 and onwards) and until the early 1970's (possibly 1973?), an ad for "BOAC Mini-Fares" was featured on the back of some sleeves.

Rear of the sixth and final black Capitol sleeve, 1969-1973?

Some copies of this sixth and final black Capitol sleeve had a green-coloured text version of the BOAC Mini-Fares ad instead of the above rear sleeve, similar to the BOAC-Mini Fares ad seen on the rear of Apple Records company sleeves in New Zealand.

Green-coloured text variant of sixth black Capitol sleeve.

Label 1965-67 Label 1967-69

In 1972 His Master's Voice (NZ) Ltd was rebranded as EMI (NZ) Ltd. The centre label on singles were replaced, changing 'Made in New Zealand by His Master's Voice (NZ) Limited' with 'Marketed in New Zealand by EMI (NZ) Ltd' around the bottom of the label.