Savoy Records

US label; also appears as "Savoy" only; previously part of the Concord Music Group.
Label Code: LC 37345

For unofficial releases, see Savoy Records (4).
Savoy Records is an American record label founded in 1942 by Herman Lubinsky, specializing in Jazz, R&B and Gospel. Savoy played an important role in popularizing bebop, but concentrated on gospel recordings from the early 1960s onwards.

After Lubinsky's death, Charlie Parker - Bird / The Savoy Recordings (Master Takes) in the Spring of 1976.
A decade later, the gospel music division's masters and contracts were sold to southern R&B/blues/gospel label Savoy Label Group in 2002. The Savoy Label Group managed the Savoy catalogue until September 2017, when it was acquired by Concord Music.

For the companies, see:
-Savoy Record Co.
-Savoy Record Co., Inc.
-Savoy Records, Inc.

Note that many of the Savoy 12" LPs were reissued in the 1960s & 1970s. LPs released between 1950-1962 have "blood red" labels. The first release to solely sport "maroon" labels is MG-12169 (Sun Ra ‎– The Futuristic Sounds Of Sun Ra). However, due to the inconsistency of pressing plants, a few later releases have been found with "blood red" labels as well (most notably MG-12193, "The Marzette Watts Ensemble"). 1960s reissues of older titles will have "maroon" labels, 1970s "oxblood". All releases prior to New Advanced Jazz do not include a zip code or P.O. Box on the rear cover.

When Arista acquired Savoy, they used new labels for their Jazz reissues and Gospel releases/reissues:
1) The jazz label began with large lettered "Savoy" across the top with some instruments below (see Charlie Parker - Bird / The Savoy Recordings (Master Takes)).
2) The Gospel label had similar letters across the top, but with a music note below it (see Rev. James Cleveland Presents The Ruth Schofield Edition - The Story Of Ruth.

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Savoy in :
A good example to understand variants is MG 12046 The Modern Jazz Quartet - The Quartet released five times for each "period".

- since mid-50's : Savoy red labels The Modern Jazz Quartet - The Quartet
- mid-60's : The Modern Jazz Quartet - Anthology MJQ
- 1969 to early 70's : The Modern Jazz Quartet - The Modern Jazz Quartet
- mid-70's The Modern Jazz Quartet - First Recordings 1952
- 1978 : Savoy/Arista red labels Milt Jackson - The First Q