Prestige (American jazz label)
~ Label
Annotation
Creation of New Jazz / Prestige
New Jazz / Prestige was founded in 1949 by Bob Weinstock, issuing 10" shellacs, then 10" microgrooves, and 12" microgrooves.
Both names have been used together / indifferently until 1955, with a few addresses:
782 8th avenue, NYC
754 10th avenue, NYC
446W 50th street, NYC
Typically, the New Jazz name is more prominent on these, although it goes through a number of significant visual changes.
Prestige is mentioned as the company behind the imprint.
Prestige years
Starting in 1958, New Jazz and Prestige become formally distinct, with slightly different focus in term of catalog.
This is the golden years of Prestige, until 1965, when the trident logo was introduced and the focus shifted back to reissuing, including New Jazz issues.
End in Fantasy
Weinstock sold his entire rooster of labels to Fantasy in 1971.
The many subsidiaries included New Jazz, Status, Swingsville, Bluesville, Moodsville, Tru-Sound, Folklore.
Misc
Rudy Van Gelder recorded most of the stuff.
Prestige was known as the "junkies label".