Canadian Elvis 45 Label Guide
White & Black Label -1955-1958
“Record Preview” Promo
Blue & Silver Label – 1955–1956
Standard Issue
Grey & Silver Label – 1956-1958
Standard Issue
“Record Preview” Promo
Standard Issue
Standard Issue
Description coming soon.
This is the original Canadian blue label (with silver print), and except for the colour it is identical to the original silver and grey label. RCA originally used this blue label to designate a country music 45, but gave that approach up part way through 1956, and that explains why some of the early-Elvis 45s (14 in all) were issued on this label.
This is the original Canadian silver and grey label, sometimes called the “flat black” label. The first pressings of the records listed in the following chart (25 in all) were on this label (although some were also issued on an identical but blue label – see separate web page).
Black Dog On Top – 1959 – 1964
Standard Issue
Black Dog On Top – 1959 – 1964
Gold Standard Series
Black Dog On Top – 1964
Fun In Acapulco Promo
Standard Issue
Gold Standard Series
Fun In Acapulco Promo
This is the original Canadian black Dog On Top label (with white print). Nineteen singles were originally issued on this label. It is essentially identical to the U.S. version of this label and was used by RCA Canada from 1959 to 1964.
This is the original Canadian black Dog On Top label (with white print). Nineteen singles were originally issued on this label. It is essentially identical to the U.S. version of this label and was used by RCA Canada from 1959 to 1964.
Fun In Acapulco Promo
A – Bands #1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10
B – Bands #11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20
Notes
10 snippets of various Elvis songs per side.
A – Bands #1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10
B – Bands #11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20
Notes
10 snippets of various Elvis songs per side.
Red Label – 1964 – 1968
Standard Issue
Red Label Variation – 1964
Standard Issue
Red Label – 1964 – 1968
Gold Standard Series
Standard Issue
Standard Issue
Gold Standard Series
This is the original Canadian red label used from 1964 to 1968. Canada never had a black Dog On Side label like the U.S. There is one print variation of this label, the first one was issued in all lower case letters. The 19 records in the following chart were first pressed on this label.
This is the original Canadian red label used from 1964 to 1968. Canada never had a black Dog On Side label like the U.S. There is one print variation of this label, the first one was issued in all lower case letters. The 19 records in the following chart were first pressed on this label.
This is the original Canadian red label used from 1964 to 1968. Canada never had a black Dog On Side label like the U.S. There is one print variation of this label, the first one was issued in all lower case letters. The 19 records in the following chart were first pressed on this label.
Orange Label – 1969 – 1975
Promo
Orange Label – 1969 – 1975
Standard Issue
Golden Greats – 1969 – 1975
Promo
Standard Issue
This is the original Canadian orange label used from 1969 to 1975. The label is near-identical to the U.S. orange label. The records in the following chart were first pressed on this label. This is the original Canadian red label used from 1964 to 1968. Canada never had a black Dog On Side label like the U.S. There is one print variation of this label, the first one was issued in all lower case letters. The 19 records in the following chart were first pressed on this label
This is the original Canadian orange label used from 1969 to 1975. The label is near-identical to the U.S. orange label. The records in the following chart were first pressed on this label. This is the original Canadian red label used from 1964 to 1968. Canada never had a black Dog On Side label like the U.S. There is one print variation of this label, the first one was issued in all lower case letters. The 19 records in the following chart were first pressed on this label
This is the original Canadian orange label used from 1969 to 1975. The label is near-identical to the U.S. orange label. The records in the following chart were first pressed on this label. This is the original Canadian red label used from 1964 to 1968. Canada never had a black Dog On Side label like the U.S. There is one print variation of this label, the first one was issued in all lower case letters. The 19 records in the following chart were first pressed on this label
Tan Label – 1975 – 1977
Promo
Tan Label – 1975 – 1977
Standard Issue
Tan Label – 1977
Limited Edition
Promo
Standard Issue
Limited Edition
This is the original Canadian tan label used from 1975 to 1977. The label is very similar to the U.S. tan label. The records in the following chart were first pressed on this label.
This is the original Canadian tan label used from 1975 to 1977. The label is very similar to the U.S. tan label. The records in the following chart were first pressed on this label.
This is the original Canadian tan label used from 1975 to 1977. The label is very similar to the U.S. tan label. The records in the following chart were first pressed on this label.
New Black – 1977 – 1982
Promo
New Black Label – 1977 – 1982
Standard Issue
Promo
Standard Issue
This is the original Canadian New Black label. The following records were first issued on this label.
This is the original Canadian Elvis Picture label, which is unique to Canada. Only two records were first pressed on this label: Little Darlin’ in 1978 and Beyond the Reef in 1980.
Elvis Photo Label – 1978 + 1980
Promo
Elvis Photo Label – 1978 + 1980
Standard Issue
Promo
Standard Issue
This is the original Canadian New Black label. The following records were first issued on this label.
This is the original Canadian Elvis Picture label, which is unique to Canada. Only two records were first pressed on this label: Little Darlin’ in 1978 and Beyond the Reef in 1980.
Golden Greats – 1964
Promo
Golden Greats – 1964
Promo
Golden Greats – 1964
Promo
Promo
The Golden Greats Label was the last issue of Gold Standard 45s by RCA in Canada. I found these two promos from this series. While I have not yet included any Canadian Gold Standard records at this web site, I did want to display these two promos as I consider them “unusual”. It’s interesting that the “Ghetto” one has the same flipside as the original 45 whereas the flipside of “Burning Love” isn’t the same as the original 45. I’m not aware of any other promos of this series.
The Golden Greats Label was the last issue of Gold Standard 45s by RCA in Canada. I found these two promos from this series. While I have not yet included any Canadian Gold Standard records at this web site, I did want to display these two promos as I consider them “unusual”. It’s interesting that the “Ghetto” one has the same flipside as the original 45 whereas the flipside of “Burning Love” isn’t the same as the original 45. I’m not aware of any other promos of this series.
The Golden Greats Label was the last issue of Gold Standard 45s by RCA in Canada. I found these two promos from this series. While I have not yet included any Canadian Gold Standard records at this web site, I did want to display these two promos as I consider them “unusual”. It’s interesting that the “Ghetto” one has the same flipside as the original 45 whereas the flipside of “Burning Love” isn’t the same as the original 45. I’m not aware of any other promos of this series.
Collector Series – 1980s
Elvis 50th Label – 1982 – 1985
At left is the original Canadian Collector Series label (black with white print). The label style is unique to this series and there are 27 records/sleeves in all. There is no box as all were sold individually. The series is unusual in that some of the records/sleeves are true to the originals, others are not, and some were not previously issued.
My understanding has always been that all the “Elvis 50” label records (including the picture sleeves) that were sold in Canada were imported US records/sleeves. However, Canadian collector Barry McLean has forwarded the following scan. This is a black vinyl Blue Suede Shoes/Promised Land that carries the catalogue #JB-13929. The JB prefix is usually reserved for promos, but the label does not say NOT FOR SALE. Whether this is a promo or not has not been definitively determined, but it’s reasonable to believe it is a promo.Whether promo or not, this is now the latest discovered last Canadian issue Elvis 45. If a promo, it may not have been commercially issued and so it may not be the last commercial release. Pending further information, I will continue to designate PB-13929 (on the new black label) Blue Suede Shoes/Promised Land as the last commercial issue. There is no known Canadian picture sleeve for this record
Underground Records Label – 1980s – 1980s
Special Products Label – 1980s – 1980s
Underground Records (a Toronto-based label) was licenced by RCA Canada (like the Collectables label in the U.S.) to re-issue some Elvis 45s. The first five in the list below were issued on the yellow Underground Records label (pictured above) in 1985. In December 1985 RCA Canada re-issued these five and subsequently added 14 more, all on the above RCA Special Products label.
Charts
[table caption=”1955 – 1959″ width=”1000″ colwidth=”100|50|150|150|50|50|50|50|50″ colalign=”left|left|left|left|center|center|center|center|center”]
Release Date,Cat #,A-side,B-side,Promo,Blue & Silver,Grey & Silver,Canada Only Pairing *,Canada Only Release
,47-6357,Mystery Train,I Forgot To Remember To Forget,✔,✔,✔,,
,47-6380,Blue Moon of Kentucky,That’s All Right,✔,✔,✔,,
,47-6381,Good Rockin Tonight,I Don’t Care If The Sun Don’t Shine,✔,✔,✔,,
,47-6382,Milkcow Blues Boogie,You’re A Heartbreaker,✔,✔,✔,,
,47-6383,Baby Let’s Play House,I’m Left Your Right She’s Gone,✔,✔,✔,,
,47-6420,Heartbreak Hotel,I Was The One,✔,✔,✔,,
,47-6466,Tutti Frutti,One Sided Love Affair,✔,✔,✔,✔,
,47-6492,Blue Suede Shoes,I’m Counting On You,✔,✔,✔,✔,
,47-6540,My Baby Left Me,I Want You I Need You I Love You,✔,✔,✔,,
,47-6604,Hound Dog,Don’t Be Cruel,✔,✔,✔,,
,47-6638,I’ll Never Let You Go,Gonna Sit Right Down and Cry,✔,✔,✔,,
,47-6639,Trying To Get To You,I Love You Because,✔,✔,✔,,
,47-6640,Blue Moon,Just Because,✔,✔,✔,,
,47-6642,Shake Rattle And Roll,Lawdy Miss Clawdy,✔,✔,✔,,
,47-6643,Love Me Tender,Anyway You Want Me,✔,,✔,,
,47-6689,Money Honey,I Got A Woman,✔,,✔,✔,
,47-6800,Too Much,Playing For Keeps,✔,,✔,,
,47-6870,All Shook Up,That’s When Your Heartaches Begin,✔,,✔,,
,47-7000,Loving You,Baby Let Me Be Your Teddy Bear,✔,,✔,,
,47-7035,Jailhouse Rock *,Treat Me Nice,✔,,✔,,
,47-7066,Mean Woman Blues,Have I Told You Lately That I Love You,✔,,✔,,✔
,47-7150,Don’t,I Beg Of You,✔,,✔,,
,47-7240,Wear My Ring Around Your Neck,Doncha Think It’s Time,✔,,✔,,
,47-7280,Hard Headed Woman,Don’t Ask Me Why,✔,,✔,,
,47-7410,One Night,I Got Stung,✔,,✔,,
[/table]
*Canadian record same as U.S. release (except label)
Issued in Canada only, but #6466, #6492 and #6689 are the same 6 songs (but paired
differently) as issued in the U.S. on their #6636, #6637 and #6641, whereas #7066 has
no U.S. equivalent at all.
*Issued in Canada only (no U.S. equivalent release)