The first 7 releases on Vertigo carried the catalogue number prefix of ‘VO’ but this was dropped after Cressida’s self-titled album VO7. The numbering system then followed a more formulaic style based on existing Philips Records catalogue numbering with a 7 digit numerical code: 6360 (to denote Vertigo from other labels following a similar system) and then a 3 digit code specific to each release (although this featured some omissions, and other anomalies).
The VO5 number was never officially released although ‘Women And Children First’ by Ancient Grease was supposed to use this number but ended up being released on Mercury instead – 6338 033. The sleeve had a VO Price Code box on the rear giving a clue to its intended Vertigo release.
Click the sleeves below to go to each album’s page where you can see the gatefold sleeves in all their glory and also the various reissues on Vertigo Swirl and Spaceship labels where applicable.
These 1st releases were also the only ones to carry a reference to the Philips Records parent company. “A PHILIPS RECORD PRODUCT” appeared on the base of the labels below the word ‘VERTIGO’. This wording disappeared with the new catalogue numbering system of ‘6360 xxx’. There are reissues of many of the above without this PHILIPS RECORD credit.
Also worth noting; both Colosseum and Manfred Mann had the same “A PHILIPS RECORD PRODUCT” wording on first editions of the sleeves. This disappeared on reissues.
Rare Record Collector 