MGM Records was a record label started by the Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer film studio in 1946, for the purpose of releasing soundtrack albums of their musical films. Their first was the soundtrack of Till the Clouds Roll By, based on the life of composer Jerome Kern. Among their most notable soundtrack albums were those of The Wizard of Oz (not to be confused with the earlier Decca album of songs from the film), Singin' in the Rain, and the 1951 film version of Show Boat.
Popular later albums included music from Ben-Hur and How the West Was Won.
In the early 1950s, MGM Records was considered as one of the "major" record companies (besides Columbia, RCA, Decca, Capitol and Mercury). Subsidiary Cub Records was launched in the late 1950s and Verve Records was acquired from Norman Granz in 1961. Other MGM subsidiaries and distributed labels included: Kama Sutra (from 1965 until Kama Sutra's sister label Buddah Records took over distribution in 1969), Ava, Heritage, Metro (for budget albums), Hickory, MGM South, L&R, and Lionel.
MGM also distributed Cameo-Parkway Records briefly in 1967. Four albums were released under this arrangement before Allen Klein bought the Cameo-Parkway catalog and renamed the label ABKCO
Another label distributed by MGM was American International Records, the record label division of American International Pictures - whose film library is now owned by MGM.
MGM Records was sold to PolyGram in 1972. In 1975 PolyGram began to deemphasize the label; before long the MGM release schedule was reduced to a slow trickle of soundtrack albums and reissues, which stopped altogether in 1982. Artists under contract to MGM were moved to the Polydor Records roster by 1976.
Mention should be made of a short lived Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Records of 1928; it produced recordings of music featured in MGM movies, not sold to the general public but made to be played in movie theater lobbies. These Metro-Goldwyn Mayer records were manufactured under contract with the studio by Columbia Records.
The MGM Records catalogue is now split. The pop music catalogue is still managed by Polydor Records. The country music catalogue is managed by Mercury Nashville Records. The MGM soundtracks catalogue is managed by Rhino Records.
MGM Records artists
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