MGM was in the record album business almost from the start, when the 10-inch and 12-inch 78rpm discs were the only record format. Before 1949, the 78 was king, and records came in two types: singles and albums. Although this sounds very much like what was the case in the 1960s, in fact, it was quite different. Ever wonder how the 12-inch, 33-1/3 rpm disc became known as "an album?"

Before 1949, the 45 rpm record and the 33-1/3 rpm records didn't exist. The only format was 78 rpm. In addition to 78 singles, which were sold individually in a paper sleeve, record companies also sold sets of four to six 78 rpm singles in a hardbound book with a color cover and individual stiff paper envelopes for each separate 78 disc. This was called an "album," for the obvious reason that it looked like a photo album, with pages for individual pictures. But instead of pictures, each page was an envelope holding a record, and each envelope had a hole the size of the record label in the middle, so the label showed through on each page.

In 1948-49, with the innovation of the so-called "microgroove," which allowed a smaller groove and stylus and more music per radial inch of record space, RCA and Columbia announced and introduced new formats. The new formats not only made use of the new microgroove technology, but were pressed on new quieter vinyl instead of the old shellac discs of the past. RCA unveiled the 45 rpm single, which was much smaller and less breakable than the bulky and fragile 78 singles. Columbia, on the other hand, introduced the 10-inch "long playing" record, or in Columbia's trademarked parlance, the "Lp," written with a capital "L" and a lower case "p". This new long playing record made obsolete the old bulky album booklets of the 78 rpm past. Columbia was picky about calling it a "long playing record" or an "Lp," but the old format 78 albums were being produced alongside the new Lp disc, to the public, the new disc was just another format for "an album," and proceeded to call it such. Today, we have compact disc technology that is generations removed from the old 78 books, yet we still call a collection of songs "an album," with the historical source for the term lost on the younger generations.

RCA and Columbia were two of the industry giants, and were deadly competitive. Neither wanted to give in and use the other's new format. Within a short time, they were forced to do so, since the new formats proved popular. The other record labels, such as MGM, picked up on the new formats, but suddenly the simplicity of the old 78 albums became complicated, since there were 78 versions of the album, 45 versions of the album (in smaller "album" books), 45 extended play (EP) versions of the albums (in still more compact versions of the "album" format, usually a fold-open cover alone), and 10-inch long playing record versions of the album. Not long after, there would also be 12-inch long playing versions. By 1953 or so, the record buying public had a bewildering array of choices.

MGM started their album series with MGM-1, the soundtrack for the 1946 motion picture "Till the Clouds Roll By." The album of 78-rpm discs was issued in 1946 or 1947. When the new record formats were introduced, MGM reissued the album in several new formats (in 1950), including the 45-rpm, 4 disc boxed set (K-1), an EP set (X-1), and a 10-inch LP disc as E-501. The corresponding number E-1 for the 10-inch LP was not used. For the first 84 albums in the MGM-1 series, the 45 and EP sets used the corresponding MGM catalog number (45s used the K prefix, EPs the X prefix), but 10-inch LPs used the E-500 series that did not correspond to the MGM catalog numbers. This changed with E-85, which brought the 10-inch LPs back into the appropriate numbering sequence. 10-inch LPs issued after MGM- 85 was issued were put back into the appropriate sequence, so there are several 10-inch LPs below E- 85 which have catalog numbers corresponding to the 78 rpm counterparts. We have listed the 78, 45, EP, and 10-inch LP numbers for the first 84 numbers below by the 78 album catalog numbers for clarity, then have started back with the E-500 series and the other 10-inch LP numbers after that.

Much of the information on this page was provided in The MGM Labels: A Discography by Michel Ruppli and Ed Novitsky. Their book is a comprehensive treatment of the MGM labels, and has individual track information. The reader is directed there for track information on 10-inch LPs. Additional information has come from our record collections and additional discography sources.

We would appreciate any additions or corrections to this discography. Just send them to us via e-mail. Both Sides Now Publications is an information web page. We are not a catalog, nor can we provide the records listed below. We have no association with MGM Records or Universal Music Group, who currently own the masters. Should you be interested in acquiring albums listed in this discography (which are all out of print), we suggest you see our Frequently Asked Questions page and follow the instructions found there. This story and discography are copyright 2000 by Mike Callahan.