Manticore Records
Manticore Records is a record label launched by the Manticore production company in 1973. These companies were owned by the members of the progressive rock group Emerson, Lake & Palmer (commonly known as ELP) and their manager, Stewart Young. The manticore was first featured in the artwork for the second ELP album Tarkus, as one of the eponymous creature's adversaries (the only one able to inflict damage on the Tarkus creature, according to the sleeve illustrations).
Also recorded as Manticore (label) · Manticore
Manticore Records

Novoid · CC BY 3.0
- Name
- Manticore Records
- Founded
- 1973
- Founder
- Emerson and Lake & Palmer
- Headquarters
- London
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Documentary summary
Manticore Records is a record label launched by the Manticore production company in 1973. These companies were owned by the members of the progressive rock group Emerson, Lake & Palmer (commonly known as ELP) and their manager, Stewart Young. The manticore was first featured in the artwork for the second ELP album Tarkus, as one of the eponymous creature's adversaries (the only one able to inflict damage on the Tarkus creature, according to the sleeve illustrations).
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Manticore Records was founded in 1973, with headquarters in London. Its output covers classical music, experimental music and music of India, among others.
Composed from admitted, traceable facts · 30 September 2026
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wikidata · Q3844913 · wikipedia · Manticore Records
In this article
Overview
Overview
Manticore was initially the name given to ELP's music publishers, credits first appearing in the credits on Trilogy, released on Island in 1972.
It is associated with United Kingdom. The record gives 1973 as its date of establishment or first appearance. Recorded genres are progressive rock, psychedelic rock and music of India. Its recorded founders are Emerson, Lake & Palmer. Its recorded seat is London.

There's a New Day dawning for Jackie Lomax, 1969
Apple Records / Photographer Justin de Villeneuve · Billboard, page 17, 24 May 1969

There's a New Day dawning for Jackie Lomax, 1969
Apple Records / Photographer Justin de Villeneuve · Billboard, page 17, 24 May 1969
Key facts
Key facts
• Name — Manticore Records • Founded — 1973 • Founder — Emerson, Lake & Palmer • Status — Active • Distributor — Atlantic Records (1973–1975) Motown Records (1975–1977) • Genre — Various • Country — UK • Location — London • Url — manticorerecords.com
History
History
Initially, the label was manufactured and distributed by Island Records, distributed by Island/EMI, but ELP were unhappy with Island's overseas licensing of their previous records via Cotillion, and looked to RCA for interim distribution before choosing WEA for a manufacturing and distribution deal. The label was then distributed by Atlantic Records (part of WEA) in the UK. (In the US, Atlantic Records distributed the label from 1973 until 1975. Motown Records took over US distribution until the label shut down in 1977.) Although inactive in the UK for new releases (ELP had signed to Atlantic in 1977), the label remained active for back catalogue sales. Although Manticore was inactive for many years most of its recordings have been re-issued by other labels. The label was relaunched in 2017 under authorization from the Greg Lake estate, stating one of his last wishes was to bring the label back. Live in Piacenza is the first release on the new incarnation of Manticore, released on 7 December 2017. The second was the last album Greg Lake produced before his death, Moonchild by Annie Barbazza and Max Repetti. The third one was John Greaves', Life Size. One artist considered by the label, but subsequently not signed, was Steve Swindells, whose first LP, Messages, was released instead by RCA. Swindells later joined Pilot, and the Hawklords.
Artists
Artists
• Banco del Mutuo Soccorso, Italian prog-rock band, also known as Banco • Keith Christmas • Keith Emerson, solo • Emerson, Lake & Palmer, British prog-rock supergroup, also known as ELP • John Greaves, British bass guitarist, a member of Henry Cow • Hanson, British rock band (not the US pop trio) • Greg Lake, solo • Little Richard • Premiata Forneria Marconi, also known as PFM • Pete Sinfield • Stray Dog
Institutional history
Dated record
Institutional history
The full dated record · 2 entries
1973
Manticore Records established.
1973
Manticore Records is recorded from 1973.
Places
Named by the record
Places
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- United Kingdom
Named but not plotted · 1
Manticore Records is associated with United Kingdom.
Country
Primary material
Documents and archives
authority record
- Wikidata, structured authority record Q3844913: Manticore Records
General reference · Wikidata
reference work
- “Manticore Records”, English Wikipedia, consulted as further reading
Reputable secondary · Wikipedia
Notes from the source article
Cited by Wikipedia
Notes from the source article
These works are cited by the source article, in its own numbering. They are recorded as its citations, not as sources VALÉORINE has verified.
- 1.Palmer, Philip. International News: From The Music Capitals of the World: London. Billboard. 76. 16 June 1973.
- 2.Unattributed. Emerson, Lake & Palmer – Trilogy. Discogs. 2 October 2021.
- 3.Palmer, Philip. International News: From The Music Capitals of the World: London. Billboard. 81. 16 June 1973.
- 4.Unattributed. Turn on to Emerson, Lake & Palmer (Advertisement). Melody Maker. 22. 22 December 1973.
- 5.Unattributed. Threshold Stays as Catalog Label. Billboard. 67. 7 May 1977.
- 6.Greg Lake Live in Piacenza. Greglake.com. 21 November 2017.
- 7.Swindells, Steve (2009) Messages (CD sleeve notes). London: Eclectic. ECLEC2163.
- 8.John Greaves: Life Size. Manticorerecords.com. September 2018.
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Manticore Records is recorded as founded by Emerson, Lake & Palmer. Associated with United Kingdom. Recorded from 1973.
The Encyclopedia exists whether or not anything is for sale. Corrections are recorded rather than overwritten, and every version of this record is kept. Published 16 August 2026.
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