Children's Record Guild Of Australia

Label established in 1959, which grew out of World Record Club - Children's Series. Unlike much of the club's output, the Guild's recordings were created by the club - written, recorded and produced by the in-house production unit, Fiona Bentley Productions. The Guild flourished until the end of 1961, initially issuing 3 titles a month (one per target age group), and producing its own small magazine, "Pied Piper", which featured parenting advice and stories, as well as information on releases. However, the venture was not profitable, and new recordings were not issued after 1961. After a hiatus, many of the EPs were reissued throughout the 1960s, generally in time for Christmas. Reissues used the same artwork on the labels, but the sleeves gradually dropped references to the Guild, and its logo. In the late 1960s, new recordings were added, sourced from other companies in the usual WRC manner. A sister label, Children's Record Guild Of New Zealand, operated in New Zealand, which, judging by its output, was more successful - it was launched a year later, and their catalogue numbers never tallied with the Australian division. In the UK, WRC issued EPs on its Conquest (3) label, and many titles were licensed to HMV Junior Records, which used a similar Pied Piper logo. CG1 to CG 39: 1st pressings are identifiable by the punch holes in the labels - from April 1961, these were discontinued. Three EPs were announced, which do not appear to have been issued - May 1961 CG 42 Oliver Twist (adapted from WRC's "Oliver!" LP) Oct 1961 CG 51 David Copperfield Oct 1961 CG 52 Joseph and the Coat of many Colours