An ambitious sub-title, perhaps a little bit tongue-in-cheek. History ? Of the vinyl record industry since the 1960s mostly. The World ? Nope, mostly the UK and the USA. Your Record Collection ? Perhaps, but it is more the authors collection or at least his perspective. It is a very personal recollection and reflection of a young man, from a certain time and place. A man engaging with new music and the labels that produced vinyl records, as he grows up and then participates in the music business as a musician and adult. Think Nick Hornby. It’s the sort of book that he might have written early in his career.

This is a book about record labels. Vinyl record labels. Over fifty chapters offering a brief, concise history of each. Their evolution, the people who made them a success, the bands, the musicians, the artists, the promoters. The rise and fall of these labels, their merger or sometimes genesis as vinyl became digital and found new audiences.

The author introduces a music label in each chapter. From the large, established household names to the small Indie labels that have thrived since the late 1970s. Influential labels and music promoting the do-it-yourself mentality of Punk, Post-Punk, New Wave and all those genres that came later. The pleasure in this book comes not just from the music, but from the individuals involved in these labels. Passionate people with a love of music (and sometimes money), a keen sense for talent, marketing, popular culture and changing times. The author tells us about the chance encounters and the relationships that form and break apart in an industry which is both collaborative and competitive. Ultimately, the business and process of providing the music that forms much of youth culture. And this music remains with many into adulthood and sometime even become loved and discovered by later generations decades later.

The perspective is British and American, largely the 1970s to the 1990s, along with some earlier history for context and more recent history often as an update or postscript describing where-are-they-now. Spoiler, pretty much all have merged one way or other into global mega corporations. Which is probably a good thing, keeping the music alive and available albeit in a digital format. `
I enjoyed this book, learning more about some of the music and bands that were part of my youth and early adulthood. It’s mostly geeky, useless information, the nerdy stuff that may add richness to one’s listening enjoyment.

The book is almost entirely devoid of graphics. The people, bands, posters and the other images that made and still make Popular music so popular. Although album covers are well documented in abundant easily available books, I would have liked to have seen some of the record labels described in the book. Those creative, clever, circular graphics attached to the centre of a piece of vinyl; often artistic and easily identifiable touchstones of the music and times. Apple Records for example. Perhaps these graphics are unavailable due to copyright reasons. Labels along with record covers and posters became an important part of ‘branding’ particularly in the Indie record world. Art in its own right, contributing to the success, longevity, and identity of the music and the label.

This is a book for lovers of music made for ‘young’ people. Rock and Roll, Pop and the various genres that subsequently evolved. There is some discussion of classical, in an historical context, a little on country music, some jazz, musicals, stage shows and other forms of music. But not much. It’s a personal book, naturally enough it is what the author is interested in. The evolution and genesis of the record labels he knows, defined his youth, likes, indeed loves. For example, one label with a reputation for music that:

“…spoke to poetic girls with angular cheekbones, hung up on Sylvia Plath with a secret yearning to break out and dance to Kenny Loggins' 'Footloose'.”

It is a fun book, for those who enjoyed records, typically people born in the 1960s, nostalgic for the visceral pleasure associated with a vinyl record. The phenomena and performative activity of holding (carefully !) a delicate disc of vinyl and a large piece of cover art, possibly even a gatefold, extracting the vinyl from a plastic cover and placing it reverently on a turntable. Always Side One first, the order of songs having a metaphysical meaning, not to be disturbed !

Apart from the music, there is a lot of discussion about artwork, branding, sound, attitude, philosophy. Semi-academic, esoteric stuff. But also with some charm, humour and a lot of passion.

“Of all the albums l've loaned out and never had returned, most were on Elektra. As much as it's an irritation to a record collector and music fan, it's the ultimate compliment too.”
And then:
“… You know who you are. If you're reading this, can I please have my albums back?”
Later, referring to one label renown for ProgRock:
“….relentless guitar or keyboard solos, and beards - there were many beards. I understood the need for the musicians to show off. I didn't get the gnomes, wizards and overtures to Tolkien.”

This is a book that does not require a lot of reading time or deep thought. It is an easy read aimed at anyone who has or once had a record collection. Perhaps aimed at the old vinyl generation or perhaps a new generation embracing vinyl, a format making quite a comeback. It is the sort of book where you might browse for a favourite label, perhaps swipe through and read the ones you know or those that attract your attention for one reason or another. There is no need to diligently read about every label, and although I did not intend to, I found I read pretty much every chapter, usually finding something of interest.

I wish the author and his publishers all the very best with this passionate, personal, fun and engaging book.

Andy Bollen’s Labelled with Love
A History of the World in Your Record Collection is incredibly well researched and shows an intense love for music.

I was really interested in this book having lived in a couple well-known music cities for record labels and visiting other music cities around the US. I also collect vinyls and am always interested in the history of a band through the lens of the record label, the master behind the music we know and love. There’s a lot of good information in this book, and it’s grouped alphabetically by record label.

I also didn’t realize this book was meant to be satirical, so there may have been a disconnect in terms of expectations for this book. I generally love clever, tongue-in-cheek, and humorous material, but it did feel at some parts that the author’s thoughts override what actually took place in history. In a sense, this book seems to be more of personal commentary intertwined with facts rather than simply a history of record labels.

Thank you to Independent Publishers Group - The History Press and NetGalley for providing an eARC for review.

Labelled With Love is a great book for any music fan. It provides a well-researched history on record labels. There is so much information about music, but also history. It is so fascinating to understand the labels that produced much of the music I know and love and how they came to shape music past and present. There was so much I about the industry that I did not know. There were labels such as 4 AD and Fast Product that I never heard of. Labels such as EMI and Blue Note Records that I heard of but knew little about, and labels like Motown and Capital Records that I knew a lot about, but still managed to learn even more about. I especially enjoyed the list at the end of each chapter that included the author’s favorite albums from that label. I was even introduced to some new music through this book. I love that this book focuses on the people behind the scenes that never get mentioned. Those who helped bring about the greatest music of our times. This is definitely a must read.

Labelled With Love, by Andy Bollen is a fascinating and colourful trip through the world’s most influential record labels.
 
Running alphabetically from 2 Tone to XL Recordings, and covering the entire history of commercial recorded music, Bollen talks us through the genesis, ethos, and lasting influence of more than 50 record labels, giving playlist suggestions for each. These suggestions are very personal, and really add to the geniality of this effusive and meticulously researched book.
 
Bollen as a DJ, journalist, and professional musician in the 90s, furnishes the narrative with his experiences of working with some of the musicians and label heads from that period, illustrating the excitement, faith, and graft required to launch artists - something which has changed little since the days of Mario Lanza.

Bollen’s personal experience may have been at the indie-label end of the pool, but he has equal praise for the best music released by the huge conglomerates.  Good music will out, whether that’s on 500 7” singles sold door to door, or multi-million sellers stacked to the roof in every high street.  
 
Very enjoyable and informative - aptly named, The Move seemed to have been on every British record label at some point in the sixties, for example  - and a real treat for music (particularly vinyl) lovers.
 
Possibly best experienced as a “dipping-in” book, as many record label stories are essentially the same “shape” and reading too many in a stretch, one after another, may dilute the unique vitality of each.

This was a pre-release copy so I’m expecting the occasional typo and mild howler - Tomorrow Never Knows is not the opener on Revolver - will be excised by publication date.

In Labelled with Love, Andy Bollen crafts an ambitious and wide-ranging chronicle of the record labels that shaped the global music landscape. Spanning eight decades, Bollen takes readers on a musical journey from the jazz and blues era to punk rebellion, from Motown soul to Britpop, contextualizing the rise of these influential labels against political and cultural upheavals.

Bollen’s passion for music permeates every page as he deftly explores how labels like Atlantic, 2 Tone, Apple, and 4AD transcended their roles as mere production houses to become cultural institutions. With wit and sharp observation, Bollen highlights the social impact of labels like 2 Tone Records, whose ska-punk catalog became a rallying cry against the racism and unrest of Thatcher-era Britain. Equally compelling is his account of Atlantic Records' nurturing of soul icons like Aretha Franklin and Ray Charles, an example of how a label’s ethos can shape entire genres.

The book’s structure is encyclopedic, with each chapter dedicated to a different label. While this organization allows Bollen to spotlight a vast array of musical innovators, it also results in a somewhat fragmented narrative. Some readers may find themselves wanting a more cohesive throughline to tie together the stories of these disparate eras and genres. Nonetheless, each chapter stands as a vibrant, self-contained portrait of an era, with Bollen offering a mix of historical context, behind-the-scenes anecdotes, and playful trivia.

Whether discussing the Great Migration’s influence on the blues or the impact of the civil rights movement on soul music, Bollen places the evolution of sound within the broader currents of social change. His portrayal of Apple Records—founded by the Beatles—perfectly captures the chaos of their experimental foray into artist management, detailing how their utopian dreams clashed with harsh business realities.

Bollen’s writing is lively and irreverent, but it is not without critique. He is candid about the flaws of certain labels, especially when hubris or mismanagement derailed their potential. He also acknowledges the role of larger corporations in co-opting independent movements.

However, the book’s sweeping ambition can sometimes work against it. By attempting to cover such a vast period and so many influential players, some sections feel hurried, with complex histories condensed into brief summaries. Readers looking for in-depth musicology may find the book skims over the technical aspects of recording and production.

Despite this, Labelled with Love remains an insightful and engaging celebration of music’s cultural legacy. Its blend of history, humor, and deep admiration for artists and labels alike makes it a must-read for anyone who has ever pored over liner notes or debated the greatest record label of all time. Bollen’s encyclopedic knowledge and infectious enthusiasm ensure that readers will come away with not only a deeper appreciation for the music but also a desire to revisit their own record collections.

Good resource for record labels and their contributions to the music genre. Though I did not agree with the authors type 5 albums from each record label ( the ones I am familiar with), it was a good and interesting read. Thanks to NetGalley, the author and the publisher for the ARC of the book in return for my review. Receiving the book in this manner had no bearing on my review.

My thanks to NetGalley and Independent Publishers Group - The History Press for an advanced copy of this book that looks at the history of music labels, some still proudly flying the flannel, some absorbed into other corporate entities, and others who have left this mortal coil, leaving only the music behind.

I worked in a music shop during the nineties that had probably the most pretentious group of music nerds ever assembled. Music was our life, our reason for getting up, and and for going on. The owner had a gift for hiring people who knew a little bit about a lot of things, or a tremendous amount about a small subset and that worked. Even in the time before cell phones one could expect a call once or twice a week asking about something that stumped the chumps working, but they knew someone who would know. Everything was important. What recording studio had the best bathroom acoustics to get the drum sound right What bootlegs were needed for a proper record collection. And record labels. Who sold out more, who would crush music under their corporate heel. The most indy, the most eclectic the most niche. We would have had fist fights over this book. Labelled with Love: A History of the World in Your Record Collection by music writer and biographer Andy Bollen is a history of music labels, those that brought the noise, the funk, the punk, the bop and everything else to our ears, complete with a look at the history of changing musical tastes, and a whole lot of stories.

The book is arranged in alphabetical order, starting with 2 Tone Records and ending with XL Recordings. In between is a lot of diverse labels, some still standing, some parts of conglomerations, some long departed. Each essay starts with a section detailing the founders of the label, a history of the label, and the acts that made them, or in some places changed them. There are fun facts that don't really fit into the main narrative, but are still necessary for the story, usually trials, misdemeanor, illegal acts, or funny bits that could be real, could be legend, but are a part of the labels legacy. Each essay also ends with a list of 5 albums that are key to the label, each success-wise, a clear mission statement, or why they did what they did. As is true of many stories about the entertainment industry there is truth, legend, I was there, I wasn't there, but heard and urban legends. Much has happened in the 80 years this book looks at, and Bollen covers much of it. The integration of music, changes in how music was sold, LPs, CDs streaming and how the industry has grown, contracted, and changed to what it is today.

A very encompassing history of music, told from the view of the labels and not the artist's. What comes clear in the narrative is the fact that money changes everything. Many of these labels started to help their own bands, added a few more, added like music and became something bigger. Many started as speculation, music was making money, I want money, let me start a label and make money. Lawyers, drugs and money seem to be the big problems. Artists start to resent those making money, labels get bought out, corporations don't see the return they expect, labels are shuttered. The stories are all quite interesting, though again some might be a tad legendary. Bollen has done an incredible amount of research, and really makes even the most corporate label interesting to learn about. In addition he does a great service to those who still labor on, bringing music to the people.

A book for music fans, and those who love to argue about things in music. There is a lot of information, a lot of history, and much to argue about, and too share. A really great read, and one that I enjoyed tremendously.

This book is a must have for any record collector enthusiast. "Labelled With Love" is highly infomative, well-researched, and well-written. I was hooked from the very beginning in the A's section when I encountered 'A & M' records info, as well as learning further about Ahmet Ertigan at 'Atlantic' records and its policy in treating artists well as well as paying them on time, without trying to screw them over.

While reading it, I was taken down memory lane often, remembering the many recordings mentioned here and demystifying the origens of those curious record labels and design covers from the record companies.

I also have added many items to my wish list thanks to the suggestions made by the author. This is also a valuable historical reference item for the history and development of popular and jazz music. Although the POV is from the British side, the author certainly c0-relates it back to the US record business market. I thank the author and publisher for making this book available.

I thank NetGalley for this ARC.