MCA Music Video

Background

In 1988, MCA Records established a home video division designed to issue music videos and concert programs from artists signed to the company. Prior to its formation, home video releases from MCA Records artists appeared on MCA Home Video. In 1996, the subsidiary was rendered inactive as part of a corporate reorganization of MCA that took place under Seagram ownership. As a result, future titles from the company appeared under the standard MCA Records name for all intents and purposes.

1st Logo (1988-1992)

Logo: We see a piano twisting against a photo collage background with a weird person directly behind it. A city skyline pans in front of us, in which it looks like it's made of junk, the guy from the first scene is seen looking around briefly. Then we cut to a monster that's playing a guitar. After that scene, the weird person from the first scene plays on an animated saxophone, which causes it to blow fireworks. After more panning to random objects, a large V draws over what looks like a Christmas Ornament, and "music" comes out of that V. The V zooms in to a camera, we zoom in to the shutter of a camera, and finally the MCA Music Video logo shows up.

Technique: Everything in the logo, mainly done with stop-motion but also with some computer graphics.

Music/Sounds: An '80s pop rock/pop tune.

Availability: Seen on video releases at the time, such as Larry Carlton Live.

Legacy: This logo is one of the weirdest logos ever made, given how completely random it is, and how everything in the logo comes out of nowhere. That being said, it's also a very creative and stylish logo as well, with nice music and well-made models and animation.

2nd Logo (1992-1996)

Logo: On a black background is "MCA" (in a different plainer-looking font), which is underlined, and below is "MUSIC VIDEO".

Technique: None.

Music/Sounds: None.

Availability: Seen on releases from the time, such as Reba: For My Broken Heart and the North American release of Meat Loaf: Bat Out of Hell II—Picture Show.