Catalog numbering systems for single records
This article presents the numbering systems used by various record companies for single (mainly 7" 33 1⁄3 and 45, and 10" 78 rpm) records.
Capitol Records began with number 100 when it started in 1942. About 1947, the series was temporarily ended at 503 and a new series, beginning with 15000, was begun. After reaching the number 15431 (in early 1949), the old series was resumed, at 542, though 15000-series numbers were used for album sets. (The numbers from 504 to 541 were not used for 78s, but the associated numbers 54-504 to 54–541 were used on 45 rpm records.) By 1950 the number series had reached the 700s, and crossed the 1000 mark in the latter part of that year. There was a separate series of 40000s for country 78s. This series continued to 5999 in late 1967, when it resumed with 2000. It then continued uninterrupted to somewhere in the 5600's (about 1987) when it was changed again to the 44000s. The 'Starline' series used the 6000s.
45rpm records originally used the prefix 54- added before the 78rpm number; at some point this was changed to a letter F.
CBS Records (the name given to American label Columbia Records in Europe, so as not to be confused with EMI's Columbia label) began as a separate label distributed by Philips only from around 1961, using the prefix AAG and three digits, its artists having for some years previously been issued on Philips itself. CBS broke away from Philips in or around 1966, and changed to a simple four digit sequence, beginning with CBS 1001. It distributed other American labels, including Epic with the prefix EPC, and Portrait with the prefix PRT, which CBS owned, and Philadelphia International Records also known by its prefix PIR, and A&M (1970s), prefixed AMS.
In 1981, the first series of four digits ran out (with CBS 9999), after which CBS simply started all over again but this time adding an "A" before the four digits. Thus the new sequence read CBS A 1000, EPC A 1000, etc.
By this time, twelve-inch singles were indicated with a "12" before the four digits for the 7" single: CBS A 12 1000.
In 1986 CBS changed its sequencing by abandoning the four digits system and introducing a new, seven digit system. Catalogue numbers now started with 65, followed by a four digit sequence and finishing with an added digit indicating the format. For instance, 650001 7 was a 7" vinyl single, 650001 4 a cassette single, or 650001 1 for the 12" single. Later, the 2 and 3 were added for 5" and 3" CD-singles.
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