Collection: Capitol

Capitol Records was founded in 1942 in the United States by Buddy DeSylva and Johnny Mercer. Based in Hollywood, it grew quickly into one of the defining names in American recorded music, later becoming part of EMI in 1955.

Its history is substantial enough without the catalogue-code trivia. What matters is Capitol’s long reach: a label with roots in the classic industry era that has continued to operate through major ownership changes, including its later place within Universal Music Group. That mix of deep history and ongoing presence is what makes Capitol distinct: not a relic, but a label whose name still turns up across very different corners of popular music.