About
This is a label. It may also appear as 'CBS Records Masterworks', 'CBS Records Master Works' or 'CBS Master Works' on releases. Label specialising in classical recordings, in use from the mid-1950s to 1990. Until 1980, the label was mainly employed in territories where the Columbia name was being used by the , acting as a parallel label to the predominantly-US . Once Columbia Masterworks was renamed CBS Masterworks in 1980, all releases worldwide used this label until it was rebranded and in 1990 shortly after Sony acquired CBS. However, some pre-1980 US releases exist which use the label. For example, between 1966 and 1969, some US Columbia releases were issued with blue CBS Masterworks labels, most likely to facilitate exportation into countries where the Columbia name was already in use. Some of these releases can be found in CBS-branded jackets. Others found with CBS stickers or blank stickers covering the Columbia logos are added by third parties and should not be entered here as unique releases.
Sub-labels
Dinner Classics
Beethoven • The Complete String Quartets
Recordings made by the at the , issued in three volumes This is the second recording of Beethoven's string quartets, the first being issued previously as a set (1773120) and...
Glenn Gould Bach (2)
Mid-1980s series of LP box sets (and at least one cassette box set), compiling some of 's recordings of Bach. The front cover reads "Glenn Gould BACH" with the volume number in Arabic num...
FM (3)
CBS Masterworks classical pop/new age/jazz crossover sub-label launched in the 1980s. Prior to this, CBS Masterworks' crossover material bearing the FM catalog number prefix was released with green...
Masterworks Portrait
A series of mainly reissues by launched in 1983. Initially a mid-price line reissuing long out-of-print classical material remastered from original tapes.
Composers' Greatest Hits
Composers' Greatest Hits is a series by CBS Masterworks This is a series, not a label on its own. Only add this entry in the series field, together with the actual label on the release.
Light Classics
CBS Masterworks series launched in 1985.
Hollandse Meesters
Series, do not use as label.
CBS Coronet Masterworks