Fantasy Records · 1968–1980s
Fantasy Records labels on Creedence Clearwater Revival LPs.
How to identify one.
Creedence's studio albums came out on Fantasy's dark blue label, with a large script 'Fantasy' at the top and 'Full Radial Stereo' around the bottom edge. Fantasy reissued the catalog several times: on a brown label with a square F logo from 1973, on lightning-sky and aqua labels later in the decade and into the 1980s, and in 1983 on a retro blue label that copies the original. That last one fools a lot of people.
01
What to look for on the label
On originals the label shows the bare catalog number (8397, 8410) and an F- master number for each side, such as F-2762. Reissues add an F- prefix to the catalog number (F-8397) or carry an ORC number and a barcode.
- Dark blue label with script logo (1968 to early 1970s). A large script 'Fantasy' at the top, 'Stereo Presents' above the title, and 'Full Radial Stereo' printed around the bottom. Willy and the Poor Boys (8397, 1969) and Pendulum (8410, 1970) originals are on it.
- Brown label with F logo (1973 to 1977). Brown with a square 'F' logo over 'Fantasy' and 'FANTASY RECORDS, BERKELEY, CALIFORNIA' around the rim. The 1973 reissues of the studio albums use it with F- catalog numbers, and Chronicle (CCR-2) was first issued on it in 1976.
- Lightning-sky and aqua labels. A sky label with lightning bolts appears on 1978 represses of Chronicle. 1980s pressings use an aqua or teal label with a purple F logo.
- Retro blue ORC reissues (1983). The 1983 Original Rock Classics reissues bring back the blue script label and 'Full Radial Stereo', but the label reads ORC-4515 (Willy and the Poor Boys) or ORC-4517 (Pendulum), and the back cover has a barcode.
- Plant marks in the runout. Original runouts are stamped with the F- master number and a plant letter. H marks RCA's Hollywood plant; an I stamp or a FANT prefix points to RCA's Indianapolis plant.
02
What the label does not prove
A period-correct label narrows the search. It does not replace the album-specific matrix, jacket, and format checks.
- Calling a blue-label Creedence LP an original without reading the catalog number. The 1983 ORC reissues use a blue script label too.
- Missing the F- prefix. A label reading F-8397 or F-8410 is a 1973 or later reissue.
- Dating Chronicle by its number. Fantasy kept CCR-2 on later pressings, including 1980s and modern reissues; the 1976 original is on the brown F label.
- Treating pressing-ring size as a first-press test. Hollywood pressings of Pendulum from 1970 exist with both a deep-groove ring and a small ring.
03
Albums found on the Fantasy Records (Creedence) label
These album-specific guides show how the shared label clue combines with a catalog number, matrix, jacket, and value range.
1969 · 8397
Creedence Clearwater Revival — Willy and the Poor Boys
VG+ originals: $10–$20
Check this album1970 · 8410
Creedence Clearwater Revival — Pendulum
VG+ originals: $7–$14
Check this album1976 · CCR-2
Creedence Clearwater Revival — Chronicle: The 20 Greatest Hits
VG+ originals: $10–$20
Check this albumDeeper pressing guides
04
A four-step check for your copy
- Note the label: blue script, brown F, lightning sky, aqua, or blue script with an ORC number.
- Read the catalog number and the matrix printed on the label (F-2762 on side one of an original Willy and the Poor Boys; F-8397-A on the 1973 reissue).
- Check the back cover for a barcode and the front for an Original Rock Classics sticker.
- Read the runouts for a plant letter such as H or I.
- For Chronicle, go by label color; the CCR-2 number never changed.
Keep checking the shelf
Compare another label family.
The same visual method works across the rest of the shelf.
roughly 1955–1962
Columbia six-eye
Identify a Columbia six-eye pressing by its six walking-eye marks, catalog prefix, label text, and dead-wax matrix—then check album-specific details.
Check this pressing
roughly 1962–1970
Columbia two-eye
Identify a Columbia two-eye pressing from its two walking-eye logos, 360 Sound text, catalog prefix, and dead-wax matrix variations.
Check this pressing
mid-1960s–early 1970s
Atlantic red and plum
Identify Atlantic red-and-plum LP pressings by label layout, catalog number, address and rim text, pressing-plant marks, and matrix details.
Check this pressingA few questions
The ones that come up.
Fantasy's dark blue label with a large script 'Fantasy' at the top and 'Full Radial Stereo' around the bottom. The catalog number has no prefix: 8397 for Willy and the Poor Boys, 8410 for Pendulum.
Fantasy's 1983 Original Rock Classics reissue series. The labels copy the original blue design but carry ORC numbers (ORC-4515, ORC-4517), and the jackets have barcodes. Some copies still have a $5.98 price sticker on the front.
The 1976 original is on the brown label with the square F logo, in a gatefold jacket. Lightning-sky labels are 1978 represses, aqua labels are 1980s, and recent reissues still say CCR-2, so read the label rather than the number.
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