Master Series Explained

Master Series is the title of a line of greatest hits albums, released in European countries primarily by PolyGram International, as well as A&M Records, Deram Records, FFRR Records, Mercury Records, and Polydor Records. In addition, some albums were reissued by Universal Music Group under the Universal Masters Collection and Millennium Edition titles.

Series

Four Master Series series of albums were released: from 1987–1990, 1996–1998, 1998–1999, and from 2003 onwards.

The covers of each series are visually unified:

• 1987 series: Black background, "Master Serie" in a sans-serif typeface, the artist's name in a script typeface, a prominent red stripe, and a photo.
• 1996 series: Black background, the artist's name in a serif typeface, and a collage of photos.
• 1998 series: White background, "Master Series" in a script typeface, the artist's name in a sans-serif typeface, and a photo.
• 2003 series: A large photo crossfading into a black background with the artist's name in a serif typeface, and "Master Serie" set against a red glow.

The 1996 series represented various bands in eclectic genres (such as new wave) with relatively small followings, and the 1998 series included hard rock/progressive rock musicians and bands. These series are branded with the international title Master Series. The French title Master série is used to brand the more traditional line with a strong focus on European pop singers, which are frequently issued in multiple volumes. Each subsequent series also reissued some albums from the previous series.

Releases

1987 series

• Daniel Balavoine Volume 1(1986) – Master Serie
• Daniel Balavoine Volume 2(1992) – Master Serie
• Barbara Volume 1 – Master Serie
• Barbara Volume 2 – Master Serie
• Georges Brassens Volume 1 – Master Serie
• Georges Brassens Volume 2 – Master Serie
• Georges Brassens Volume 3 – Master Serie
• Mike Brant – Master Serie
• Jacques Brel Volume 1 – Master Serie
• Jacques Brel Volume 2 – Master Serie
• Alain Bashung – Master Serie
• Jane Birkin – Master Serie
• Frida Boccara – Master Serie
• Jacques Brel – Master Serie
• Jean-Michel Caradec (1989) – Master Serie
• Christophe – Master Serie
• Dalida Volume 1 – Master Serie
• Dalida Volume 2 – Master Serie
• Michel Delpech – Master Serie
• Jacques Dutronc – Master Serie
• François Feldman (1994) – Master Serie
• Jean Ferrat Volume 1 (1988) – Master Serie
• Jean Ferrat Volume 2 (1990) – Master Serie
• Nino Ferrer – Master Serie
• Claude François Volume 1 – Master Serie
• Claude François Volume 2 – Master Serie
• Serge Gainsbourg – Master Serie
• Daniel Guichard – Master Serie
• Johnny Hallyday Volume 1 – Master Serie
• Johnny Hallyday Volume 2 (1990) – Master Serie
• Jean-Luc Lahaye – Master Serie
• Bernard Lavilliers – Master Serie
• Maxime Le Forestier (1987) – Master Serie
• Guy Marchand – Master Serie
• Melina Mercouri – Master Serie
• Yves Montand – Master Serie
• Nana Mouskouri Volume 1 – Master Serie
• Nana Mouskouri Volume 2 – Master Serie
• Georges Moustaki – Master Serie
• Claude Nougaro Volume 1 – Master Serie
• Claude Nougaro Volume 2 – Master Serie
• Claude Nougaro Volume 3 – Master Serie
• Edith Piaf – Master Serie
• Serge Reggiani – Master Serie
• Renaud – Master Serie
• Nicole Rieu – Master Serie
• Demis Roussos – Master Serie
• William Sheller – Master Serie
• Mort Shuman Volume 1 – Master Serie
• Mort Shuman Volume 2 (1991) – Master Serie
• Yves Simon (1988) – Master Serie
• Alan Stivell (1990) – Master Serie
• Tri Yann(1986) – Master Serie
• Boris Vian – Master Serie

1996 series

• 10cc – Master Series^[1]
• 1996 ABBA – Master Series^{[2] [3]}
• 1997 ABC – Master Series^[4]
• Wolfgang Ambros – Master Series
• 1997 Joan Armatrading – Master Series^[5]
• 1996 The Allman Brothers Band – Master Series^[6]
• 1997 Army of Lovers – Master Series^{[7] [8]}
• 1997 Big Country – Master Series^{[9] [10]}
• 1997 Burt Bacharach – Master Series^[11]
• 1996 Bananarama – Master Series
• 1997 Berlin – Master Series^[12]
• 1998 Maria Bill – Master Series^[13]
• 1996 Black – Master Series^[14]
• Elkie Brooks – Master Series^[15]
• 1996 Sam Brown – Master Series^[16]
• 1996 Jimmy Somerville – Master Series (reissue)^[17]
• 1997 Camel – Master Series^[18]
• 1998 Peter Cornelius – Master Series^[19]
• 1996 Dexys Midnight Runners – Master Series^[20]
• Yvonne Elliman – Master Series
• 1998 Rainhard Fendrich – Master Series^[21]
• Bill Haley – Master Series
• 1998 Ludwig Hirsch – Master Series^[22]
• 1997 Joe Jackson – Master Series^[23]
• 1997 The Jam – Master Series^[24]
• 1996 Tom Jones – Master Series^[25]
• 1996 Level 42 – Master Series^[26]
• 1997 Liza Minnelli – Master Series^[27]
• 1998 The Moody Blues – Master Series^[28]
• Nana Mouskouri – Master Series (reissue)
• 1996 The Neville Brothers – Master Series ^[29]
• Iggy Pop – Master Series^[30]
• Demis Roussos – Master Series (reissue)
• The Rubettes – Master Series
• Scorpions – Master Series^[31]
• The Small Faces – Master Series
• Jimmy Somerville – Master Series^[32]
• 1998 Squeeze – Master Series^[33]
• STS – Master Series
• Donna Summer – Master Series
• 1998 Visage – Master Series
• 1998 Waterloo & Robinson – Master Series^[34]
• Bruce Willis – Master Series
• 1998 Georg Danzer - Master Series
• 1998 Kurt Ostbahn - Master Series
• 1998 Stefanie Werger - Master Series
• 1998 Arik Brauer - Master Series

1998 series

• 1998 ABBA – Master Series (reissue)
• Graeme Allwright – Master Series
• Ange – Master Serie
• Daniel Balavoine – Master Serie (reissue)
• Bananarama – Master Series (reissue)^[35]
• Visage – Master Series
• Barbara – Master Serie (reissue)
• 1999 Barclay James Harvest – Master Series^[36]
• Brigitte Bardot – Master Serie
• The Barron Knights – Master Series
• Acker Bilk – Master Series
• Jane Birkin – Master Serie (reissue)
• Georges Brassens – Master Serie
• Jacques Brel – Master Serie (reissue)
• Roy Buchanan – Master Series
• 1999 Kim Carnes – Master Series
• Mirek Černý – Master Serie
• 1998 Dio – Master Series^[37]
• Jean Ferrat – Master Serie (reissue)
• Serge Gainsbourg – Master Serie (reissue)
• France Gall – Master Serie
• Godley & Creme – Master Series
• Johnny Hallyday – Master Serie (reissue)
• Engelbert Humperdinck – Master Series
• 1999 Joe Jackson – Master Series (reissue)
• 1998 Tom Jones – Master Series (reissue)
• Kool & the Gang – Master Serie
• Jean-Luc Lahaye – Master Serie (reissue)
• Bernard Lavilliers – Master Serie
• Luna Twist – Master Serie
• Enrico Macias – Master Serie
• The Mamas & the Papas – Master Series
• Guy Marchand – Master Serie (reissue)
• Melina Mercouri – Master Serie (reissue)
• 1998 John Miles – Master Series
• Eddy Mitchell – Master Serie
• Jeanne Moreau – Master Serie
• Nana Mouskouri – Master Series (reissue)
• Georges Moustaki – Master Serie
• Nicoletta – Master Serie
• Robert Palmer – Master Series
• Edith Piaf – Master Serie (reissue)
• Pink Fairies – Master Series
• The Platters – Master Series
• Cozy Powell – Master Series
• Renaud – Master Serie
• Serge Reggiani – Master Serie (reissue)
• Nicole Rieu – Master Serie (reissue)
• The Righteous Brothers – Master Series
• Demis Roussos – Master Serie (reissue)
• The Sensational Alex Harvey Band – Master Series
• The Shadows – Master Series
• Mort Shuman – Master Serie
• 1998 Status Quo – Master Series
• Alan Stivell – Master Serie (reissue)
• 1998 The Style Council – Master Series^[38]
• Taxmeni – Master Series
• 1998 Thin Lizzy – Master Series^[39]
• Hervé Vilard – Master Serie
• 1998 Rick Wakeman – Master Series^[40]
• Roger Whittaker – Master Series

Millennium Edition reissues

• Wolfgang Ambros – Millennium Edition
• 2000 Joan Armatrading – Millennium Edition
• Burt Bacharach – Millennium Edition
• Black – Millennium Edition
• Elkie Brooks - Millennium Edition
• Ludwig Hirsch – Millennium Edition
• John Miles – Millennium Collection

2003 series

• 2003 ABBA – Master Serie (reissue)^[41]
• Daniel Balavoine – Master Serie (reissue)
• Barbara – Master Serie (reissue)
• Brigitte Bardot – Master Serie (reissue)
• Gilbert Bécaud – Master Serie
• Jane Birkin – Master Serie (reissue)
• Georges Brassens – Master Serie (reissue)
• Jacques Brel – Master Serie (reissue)
• Jan de Wilde – Master Serie
• Jean Ferrat – Master Serie (reissue)
• Serge Gainsbourg – Master Serie (reissue)
• Kool & the Gang – Master Serie (reissue)
• Bernard Lavilliers – Master Serie (reissue)
• Enrico Macias – Master Serie (reissue)
• Eddy Mitchell – Master Serie (reissue)
• Jeanne Moreau – Master Serie (reissue)
• Nana Mouskouri – Master Serie (reissue)
• Georges Moustaki – Master Serie (reissue)
• Nicoletta – Master Serie (reissue)
• Florent Pagny – Master Serie
• Edith Piaf – Master Serie (reissue)
• Serge Reggiani – Master Serie (reissue)
• Renaud – Master Serie (reissue)
• André Rieu – Master Serie
• Tino Rossi – Master Serie
• Demis Roussos – Master Serie (reissue)
• Michel Sardou – Master Serie
• Alan Stivell – Master Serie (reissue)
• Herve Vilard – Master Serie (reissue)

Notes and References

1. Web site: Marc Mickelson . SoundStage! 10cc - The Original Soundtrack (remastered) . Soundstage.com . 2014-06-29.
2. Web site: Rafaels and Stefans pictures . Raffem.com . 2014-06-29.
3. Web site: Abba Gallery . August 25, 2006 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20060223030846/http://66.235.213.139/~abbagall/collection/cd_master_series.htm . February 23, 2006 .
4. http://www.abcmartinfry.com/disc_compilations.html
5. Web site: Joan Armatrading: Discography . August 25, 2006 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20060503122338/http://www.deyalexander.com/joanarmatrading/discography/ . May 3, 2006 .
6. Web site: Master Series . August 25, 2006 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20051103212203/http://www.abbdiscography.com/cdmasterseries.htm . November 3, 2005 .
7. Web site: Army of lovers: Albums . August 25, 2006 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20060717145009/http://www.army-of-lovers.com/albums/ . July 17, 2006 .
8. Web site: Robert's WWW, the AOL History page . Velen.com . 2000-08-03 . 2014-06-29.
9. Web site: Master Series . Jfng.com . 1983-07-04 . 2014-06-29.
10. Web site: Master Series liner notes . August 25, 2006 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20071107202201/http://www.washu.org/~roliver/steeltown/mast-lin.htm . November 7, 2007 .
11. Web site: Master Series: Amazon.de: Musik . Amazon.de . 2009-09-09 . 2014-06-29.
12. Web site: Berlin - Master Series . August 25, 2006 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20051109145546/http://www.theunixshack.net/berlin_ms.htm . November 9, 2005 .
13. Web site: Maria Bill . Mariabill.at . 2014-06-29.
14. http://colinvearncombe.com/albums/compilations
15. http://www.cd.co.za/reviews/elkiebrooks.htm
16. Web site: Sam Brown Discography . Onecandle.co.uk . 2014-06-29.
17. Web site: http://www.jimmysomerville.de/discographie/jsfpwd/discographie_master_series.htm . August 25, 2006 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20051215085207/http://jimmysomerville.de/discographie/jsfpwd/discographie_master_series.htm . December 15, 2005 .
18. Web site: MOONMADNESS - camel site . August 25, 2006 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20050211211410/http://www.snim.no/moonmadness/discography.asp?ID=26 . February 11, 2005 .
19. Web site: Master Series - Peter Cornelius - Teilen Sie Ihre Erfahrungen . Musik.ciao.de . 2007-04-13 . 2014-06-29 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20160117084252/http://musik.ciao.de/Master_Series_Peter_Cornelius__1668586 . 2016-01-17 .
20. Web site: The Famous Dixons - MASTER SERIES . Oldlady1.tripod.com . 2014-06-29.
21. Web site: Master Series: Amazon.de: Musik . Amazon.de . 2009-09-09 . 2014-06-29.
22. Web site: Ludwig Hirsch Diskographie - Musik-Base . Musikbase.de . 2014-06-29.
23. Web site: The Joe Jackson Archive: Master Series . Jj-archive.net . 2004-10-30 . 2014-06-29.
24. Web site: Search Help . 2014-06-29.
25. Web site: txhighlands.com . txhighlands.com . 2014-06-29 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20120204125355/http://www.txhighlands.com/1990.htm . 2012-02-04 .
26. Web site: Level 42 Master Series . August 25, 2006 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20070930030345/http://www.thumbsters.co.uk/masterseries.html . September 30, 2007 .
27. Web site: wellness-hannover.de . wellness-hannover.de . 2014-06-29.
28. Web site: The Moody Blues Frequently Asked Questions List . August 25, 2006 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20060524014251/http://www.toadmail.com/~notten/FAQ-3-02.htm . May 24, 2006 .
29. Web site: Master Series: Amazon.de: Musik . Amazon.de . 2009-09-09 . 2014-06-29.
30. Web site: Master Series: Music . Amazon . 2000-07-18 . 2014-06-29.
31. Web site: Scorpions Official Website . The-scorpions.com . 2013-09-12 . 2014-06-29 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20131225235118/http://www.the-scorpions.com/english/default.asp . 2013-12-25 .
32. Web site: Jimmy Somerville - Jimmy Somerville (CD) at Discogs . Discogs.com . 2014-06-29.
33. Web site: Master Series . Squeezefan.com . 2014-06-29.
34. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00000G6W
35. Web site: U're in Main Index -> Eurodance -> Yeseule's Special CD Collection -> Bananarama . August 25, 2006 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20060819033903/http://yeseule.net/cdbananarama.htm . August 19, 2006 .
36. Web site: BARCLAY JAMES HARVEST Master Series reviews and MP3 . Progarchives.com . 2014-06-29.
37. Web site: Tapio's Ronnie James Dio Pages: Dio Compilation CD Discography . Dio.net . 2014-06-29.
38. Web site: The Style Council - Master Series (1998) . Killcreek.com . 2014-06-29.
39. Web site: Artists :: THIN LIZZY . MusicMight . 2014-06-29 . https://web.archive.org/web/20141115090634/http://www.musicmight.com/artist/ireland/thin+lizzy1 . 2014-11-15 . dead .
40. Web site: RICK WAKEMAN Master Series reviews and MP3 . Progarchives.com . 2010-05-24 . 2014-06-29.
41. http://66.235.213.139/~abbagall/collection/cd_master_serie.htm