Polydor took over MGM shortly after EMI's release of MGM CS 8117 CONNIE FRANCIS SINGS THE SONGS OF LES REED in 1970, but it was not until late the following year that the company marketed its first British Connie Francis album releases. All LPs were issued in stereo format, although printed symbols denoted tracks which either appeared in mono or electronically enhanced stereo. MGM 2353 series album liners carry the word "SELECT" to identify the category of release. This was placed after the catalog number on the first five releases, but preceding it on all others, as if forming part of the number. Since "SELECT" does not appear on the labels, the entries posted to this site consider it appropriate to identify the series only. The 2353 series has been followed by one release in the 2354 range, described Polydor and MGM "SPECIAL".
From 1970 until the summer of 1973, Polydor's Connie Francis artwork consisted of one 8X10 black and white photograph, one album cover, one mid-Sixties US inner liner featuring a black and white picture, and one 8X10 b/w photograph; all of which were utilized to make up album sleeves! EMI, apparently, no longer connected with MGM, had disposed of its entire 12-year stock of materials - including tapes of still-to-be issued recordings at the time.
Such an unbelievable state of affairs may have lent sympathy for Polydor had they embarked on an immediate release program. However, given the near two years before their first album, and the release in mono of tracks which had only been commercially issued in stereo, most would agree that this merely served to illustrate the lack of care and cost-cutting approach to the British marketing of Connie Francis product at the time.
There was a marked improvement both in quality of content and packaging from late 1974 which led directly to an upswing in radio plays and renewed interest. This culminated in the record-breaking chart-topping achievement of 20 ALL TIME GREATS, Connie's first UK album to appear on the Polydor label.
It was during this period that some of the rarest of worldwide Connie Francis items were manufactured, in the form of test pressings and, in a couple of instances, proof liners. These pressings, extremely limited in number, are highly prized collectors' items and have been included here on the site under catalog numbers assigned to them. In all instances the numbers match those of any officially released compilations. They affected both MGM and Polydor label releases and amply illustrate the positive change in company attitude. The pressings came with "label copies" containing song titles, running times, composers and publishing credits. Unless stated otherwise, they were supplied in plain white sleeves with cut-out centers.
POLYDOR RECORDS LTD release
MGM label - MGM SELECT "2353 000" Series
B1: ROBOT MAN [Second recording]
B2: MY HEART HAS A MIND OF ITS OWN [2:31 VERSION]
Also issued on cassette MGM 3110 043 and cartridge VERVE 3807 146.
Despite 3807 being the Polydor International code for an MGM 8-track cartridge, both box and liner credit Verve and reproduce that labels logo. Album sleeve is a blue dye enlargement of black & white half-tone picture used on mid-Sixties US inner LP covers.