Polydor

Polydor on vinyl: from Germany to the world – funk, rock and pop

In short: Polydor comes from Germany: Deutsche Grammophon used the name to sell its records abroad, and it later became a pop label in its own right with branches all over the world. Polydor released James Brown, the Bee Gees and Gloria Gaynor – and, in 1961, recordings with the Beatles as Tony Sheridan’s backing band. The Vinyl Room currently has 119 Polydor records, above all seventies funk, soul and disco.

From our stock

Polydor first pressings

Funk & disco

Rock

New in

→ Deutsche Grammophon · Soul & funk on vinyl · How to spot a first pressing · Grading explained

What makes Polydor special?

Polydor was international from the start. In Hamburg in 1961, Tony Sheridan and a young band from Liverpool recorded “My Bonnie” for Polydor – the band was the Beatles. In the UK, The Who, Cream and Jimi Hendrix reached the shops through Polydor in the sixties, along with the Bee Gees. In the seventies James Brown moved to Polydor, and Gloria Gaynor’s “I Will Survive” was a Polydor hit in every disco.

That is exactly the era that shapes our stock: funk and disco by Isaac Hayes, the Fatback Band, Bionic Boogie and Lee Dorsey, plus Gwen Guthrie’s club classic “Ain’t Nothin’ Goin’ On But The Rent”. And because Polydor had companies almost everywhere, you’ll also find pressings from Scandinavia, Japan and India with us – Bollywood soundtracks and ghazals on Polydor are a little world of their own.

How to tell your edition

Polydor records were pressed in many countries, often with their own catalogue number and label. The country on the label or back cover, the catalogue number and the matrix in the runout show which edition you have. Check country, catalogue number and label in the description – if anything’s missing, just ask us.

FAQ

Where does Polydor come from? From Germany. Deutsche Grammophon used the name for its records abroad; Polydor later became a pop label in its own right. Today it belongs to Universal Music.

Did the Beatles record for Polydor? Yes, as Tony Sheridan’s backing band: “My Bonnie” was recorded for Polydor in Hamburg in 1961.

What music do you have on Polydor? Mostly seventies funk, soul and disco, plus rock, pop, electronic and jazz – 119 records in all.

Why are there so many different Polydor editions? Because Polydor had its own companies in many countries. Country, catalogue number and matrix show which pressing you’re holding.