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The Elektra 'Master' Discography

Andy Finney's definitive Elektra Discography and passion for the zeitgeist of the label has made him the world's most knowledgeable preservationist of Elektra's history. Andy remembers what I've forgotten. With the devotion of the true zealot Andy has lavished the love and attention on this project that I strove for in our recordings on Elektra.. This 'Master Discography' is the only definitive web site I use to augment my own memory. It is by far the best. Signed: Jac Holzman, Founder of Elektra Records and First Chairman, 1950-1973

This discography attempts to list all Elektra Records albums and EPs (and those on associated labels except Nonesuch) during the period when Jac Holzman ran the label. This is from 1950 to about mid-1973.

For convenience the listing is divided up into numerical series. This is a work-in-progress and so not all the discography has sleeve images on line as yet and there are some gaps in the listings (notably in the promotional discs - let me know if you can fill them) and I need to add a search facility of course.

Jac Holzman's Elektra on BBC Radio

Paul Gambaccini and Kevin Howlett have produced an excellent six-part history of the label during Jac's stewardship. The live transmissions (2330 to midnight BST) should be available everwhere on the BBC Radio 2 live feed but if you're in the UK, you can catch up on each episode for seven days using the BBC iPlayer.

The listings

  1. EKLP1 and the 10-inch series
  2. 100, 200 and 300 series
    1. 099 - 149
    2. 150 - 199
    3. 200 - 249
    4. 250 - 299
    5. 300 - 326
  3. 4000 series
    1. 4000 - 4049
    2. 4050 - 4099
    3. 4100 - 74115
 
  1. 5000 series
    1. 5000 - 5049
    2. 5050 - 5082
  2. Other US releases, samplers and promotional discs
  3. UK Elektra releases and subsidiary labels
    1. Elektra UK
    2. Bounty (UK)
    3. Dandelion (US)
    4. Countryside
    5. Crestview
  4. Holzman Years box-set compilations
  5. Forever Changing: the Golden Age of Elektra 1963-1973
  6. FAQ

For the inside track on the early history of Elektra you should read Jac's book
'Follow the Music': more info on the book web site. There is an extensive listing of Elektra and its associated labels on Mike Callaghan's extensive Both Sides Now web site. Much of the early information there came from my discography for 'Follow the Music' but whereas I stop in 1973 the BSN listing continues. You should also check out the Elektra information in the Record Collector's Guild Wiki as they have some useful info on labels including illustrations. The business section of the eNotes web site has a good summary of the company history, including an interesting analysis sidebar 'Company Perspecitive'. This piece seems to predate the 'closure' of the label.

... and, of course, there was the real Elektra Records web site.
but this link now points to Atlantic because Elektra no longer exists as a label! Jac Holzman is still running one though ... he is chairman of Warner's eLabel venture called Cordless.

If you are interested in Nonesuch Records then here is a link to Karl-Michael Schneider's listing of Nonesuch albums. (This opens in a new window.)

Thanks for help to fellow Elektra-lights Pat Gillespie, Adrian Figgess (who actually came up with a Bounty catalogue!), John Tobler, Cary Ginell, Cosmo Chinappi and Michael Liss.

My thanks to Jac Holzman for his friendship, inspiration and support and to Elektra Records for their kind permission allowing me to reproduce album covers and other art work on this web site.

Copyright and sui generis database rights in the discography on this web site are owned by Andy Finney/ATSF and may not be reproduced without written permission. All images are copyright Elektra Records, all rights reserved. The 'E' device, the butterfly, the seated guitar player and similar are trademarks of Elektra Records and are acknowledged.