Label Guide: Virgin
Virgin Records is a British record label founded by Richard Branson and Nik Powell in 1972. Branson and Powell had initially run a small record shop called Virgin Records and Tapes on Notting Hill Gate, London, specialising particularly in "krautrock" imports and progressive rock music. After making the shop into a success, they turned their business into a fully fledged record label.
The original Virgin logo (known to fans as the "Gemini" or "Twins" logo) was designed by English artist and illustrator Roger Dean: a young naked woman in mirror image with a large long-tailed serpent and the word "Virgin" in Dean's familiar script. A variation on the logo was used for the spin-off Caroline Records label.
-
1. Label Variation
first Virgin label (1973)
This first Black and White Two-Virgins Label was designed by Roger Dean and used for all the early Virgin releases until at least the end of 1973.
-
2. Label Variation
second Virgin label (1974 - 1975)
In 1974 the label was changed to a coloured version. This Coloured Two-Virgins Label was in use for all of 1974, probably into spring/summer 1975.
-
3. Label Variation
third Virgin label (1975)
A third design was used for 1975 releases, most likely overlapping with label variations #2 to #5. The two-virgins logo printed on a tan background with a white rim.
-
4. Label Variation (I)
fourth Virgin label (1975 - 1976)
Another label variation for 1975-76 releases shows the two-virgins logo on a red background.
-
4. Label Variation (II)
fourth Virgin label (1975 - 1976)
A later version of the red background label without the white border.
-
5. Label Variation
fifth Virgin label (1976)
Many of Virgin's 1976 releases showed the two-virgins logo on a green background.
-
6. Label Variation
sixth Virgin label (1977 - 1978)
The two-virgins logo was downgraded to a small image at the bottom center with this sixth Virgin label. It has a blue background with 'Virgin' printed in red over white over the top third of the label.
-
7. Label Variation
seventh Virgin label (1978 - )
A modernized version of the label with a green background on Side One and a red background on Side Two was introduced in 1978 and kept alive into the mid-1980s. The new signature-style Virgin logo was first used on Mike Oldfield's Incantations album in 1978. Most of the earlier releases have been reprinted at some point with this label.
-
7. Label Variation
seventh Virgin label (1979)
This modernized label version also exists with a white background.
-
Custom Label
custom Virgin label, Sid Vicious (1979)
A custom label design from 1979 for Sid Vicious' (Sex Pistols) solo effort Sid Sings, with the controversial swastika guitars logo.
-
8. Label Variation (Side One)
eighth Virgin label, Side One (1980s)
-
8. Label Variation (Side Two)
eighth Virgin label, Side Two (1980s)
-
9. Label Variation (I)
ninth Virgin label, UK (1980s)
-
9. Label Variation (II)
ninth Virgin label, Germany (1980s)
-
10. Label Variation
tenth Virgin label (1990s)
-
Reissue Label
Reissue Virgin label (1990s)