Pioneering early Berlin rock, jazz, electronic and experimental music label. Ohr is well known as one of the key labels of the Krautrock scene. Established by producer Rolf-Ulrich Kaiser and Hansa founder / Metronome executive Peter Meisel, it also spawned the Die Kosmischen Kuriere and Kosmische Musik labels.
The first Ohr LP was released in April 1970. The final release was completed in December 1973 (released early 1974). In this time, they released 33 albums (four of which were double LPs) and twelve 7" singles.
Ohr and its partner labels: Kosmische Musik and Pilz (2) ran into difficulties with litigation raised against the company by some of its signed artists, causing the seizure of all assets and shutting down of Ohr and related labels in 1975. The label archives were stored at Dierks Studios's vaults, some rights were assigned to Metronome (with further re-releases on Ohr or Brain), and later on some releases (whose rights had not reverted to the original artists) were licensed out via partners of Dieter Dierks' own Venus Records GmbH.
Originals
[excepting doubles, which had 2/56.0## catalogue numbers]
The first 17 Ohr LP releases had a 5-digit catalogue numbers: OMM 56.000 to 56.016
The next 12 single LP releases had 6 digit catalogue numbers. OMM 556.017 to 556.033.
Originals of OMM 56.000 to 556 017 had no matrix numbers on the label.
Later editions of the first 17 LPs also had 6 digit: 556.### catalogue numbers (see Reissues).
7" singles had catalogue numbers: OS 57.000 to 57.012.
The first 5 LPs had uniformly designed sleeves by Reinhard Hippen (of which first editions showed a hatch on the front sleeve for an included balloon). Many others also came with novelty sleeves, and some with inserts or posters.
LP 556.026 and 7" OS 57.010 were never released.
Reissues
1970s Popular early Ohr LPs tend to exist as 4 or 5 Metronome editions in the 1970s:
1. 56.### (originals 1970-71)
2. 56.### vinyl in 556.### sleeve (1971-72)
3. 556.### (only original example on Discogs is the first press of Guru Guru - Hinten)
4. 556.### with 0654.### or 0664.1## matrix on label (1972-1974)
5. 556.### with additional 0664.7## matrix (from 1975)
Most 556.### LP reissues of originally 56.### releases date from 1972 to 1974.
1980s+ Many Ohr LPs were reissued by BERNHARD MIKULSKI Schallplatten-Vertriebs-GmbH, often with original cover and label artwork. These can usually be recognized by the "Pop Import" logo and address on the cover. For some more popular titles many different pressings exist (often with different labels like PDU, Die Kosmischen Kuriere or black Cosmic Music labels). Some also have a 3-phase circle logo (meaning unknown) and Venus Records logo. Later ones: end of 1980s and early 1990s (now with Mikulski trading as ZYX Music) redesigned the logos again, and a few appeared as budget issues in single sleeves.
1990s Think Progressive issued a few titles as heavy vinyl, and Spalax in France issued many on CD (first issues often with Ohr logos), and two also appeared on Repertoire Records CD.
ZYX Music also issued CDs in Germany, first circa 1992 to 1994 with OHRCD numbers, and 1999+ (CD and LP) reissues all featured the following 4 logos: Ohr, Pilz, Ohr Today, Die Kosmischen Kuriere. It is customary to list all these logo/labels on Discogs.
Label Code: LC 2127 (Ohr and other labels owned by Bernhard Mikulski GmbH and/or ZYX Music 1978 or later).
Ohr Today was a label established by Dieter Dierks and Bernhard Mikulski GmbH in 1982.
Documenting labels via the logos and working out what are company names can be complex on Discogs. Basically, if it has an Ohr logo then list it and all other label brands. Identify distributors, publishers and marketing and add as appropriate. If in doubt compare other similar releases already on Discogs.
The first Ohr LP was released in April 1970. The final release was completed in December 1973 (released early 1974). In this time, they released 33 albums (four of which were double LPs) and twelve 7" singles.
Ohr and its partner labels: Kosmische Musik and Pilz (2) ran into difficulties with litigation raised against the company by some of its signed artists, causing the seizure of all assets and shutting down of Ohr and related labels in 1975. The label archives were stored at Dierks Studios's vaults, some rights were assigned to Metronome (with further re-releases on Ohr or Brain), and later on some releases (whose rights had not reverted to the original artists) were licensed out via partners of Dieter Dierks' own Venus Records GmbH.
Originals
[excepting doubles, which had 2/56.0## catalogue numbers]
The first 17 Ohr LP releases had a 5-digit catalogue numbers: OMM 56.000 to 56.016
The next 12 single LP releases had 6 digit catalogue numbers. OMM 556.017 to 556.033.
Originals of OMM 56.000 to 556 017 had no matrix numbers on the label.
Later editions of the first 17 LPs also had 6 digit: 556.### catalogue numbers (see Reissues).
7" singles had catalogue numbers: OS 57.000 to 57.012.
The first 5 LPs had uniformly designed sleeves by Reinhard Hippen (of which first editions showed a hatch on the front sleeve for an included balloon). Many others also came with novelty sleeves, and some with inserts or posters.
LP 556.026 and 7" OS 57.010 were never released.
Reissues
1970s Popular early Ohr LPs tend to exist as 4 or 5 Metronome editions in the 1970s:
1. 56.### (originals 1970-71)
2. 56.### vinyl in 556.### sleeve (1971-72)
3. 556.### (only original example on Discogs is the first press of Guru Guru - Hinten)
4. 556.### with 0654.### or 0664.1## matrix on label (1972-1974)
5. 556.### with additional 0664.7## matrix (from 1975)
Most 556.### LP reissues of originally 56.### releases date from 1972 to 1974.
1980s+ Many Ohr LPs were reissued by BERNHARD MIKULSKI Schallplatten-Vertriebs-GmbH, often with original cover and label artwork. These can usually be recognized by the "Pop Import" logo and address on the cover. For some more popular titles many different pressings exist (often with different labels like PDU, Die Kosmischen Kuriere or black Cosmic Music labels). Some also have a 3-phase circle logo (meaning unknown) and Venus Records logo. Later ones: end of 1980s and early 1990s (now with Mikulski trading as ZYX Music) redesigned the logos again, and a few appeared as budget issues in single sleeves.
1990s Think Progressive issued a few titles as heavy vinyl, and Spalax in France issued many on CD (first issues often with Ohr logos), and two also appeared on Repertoire Records CD.
ZYX Music also issued CDs in Germany, first circa 1992 to 1994 with OHRCD numbers, and 1999+ (CD and LP) reissues all featured the following 4 logos: Ohr, Pilz, Ohr Today, Die Kosmischen Kuriere. It is customary to list all these logo/labels on Discogs.
Label Code: LC 2127 (Ohr and other labels owned by Bernhard Mikulski GmbH and/or ZYX Music 1978 or later).
Ohr Today was a label established by Dieter Dierks and Bernhard Mikulski GmbH in 1982.
Documenting labels via the logos and working out what are company names can be complex on Discogs. Basically, if it has an Ohr logo then list it and all other label brands. Identify distributors, publishers and marketing and add as appropriate. If in doubt compare other similar releases already on Discogs.
Andreas_M_Wittig
August 1, 2021I doubt that the balloons have "survived" fully intact over the years. Because of the material they were made of, all of them are likely to have been destroyed naturally. The rubber material becomes hard and brittle under normal conditions. This is what happened to the balloons of the original first editions of the LPs in my collection – similar to rubber bands, for example, they crumbled after 20 to 30 years. Sic transit gloria mundi…
Is there anyone who has a balloon that is still in complete condition?
Example: The balloon of the first edition of "Lieder von Vampiren, Nonnen und Toten" by Bernd Witthüser was orange-coloured and had a printed image of a nun in black.