Time Life

Mosaic Media Investment Partners

Company type	Private
Industry	Publishing
Founded	1961 (1961)
Defunct	Template:End date and age
Headquarters	New York City, New York (1961–1969) Chicago, Illinois (1969–86) Alexandria, Virginia (1977–2004) Fairfax, Virginia (1986–2023)
Owner	Time Inc. (1961–90) Time Warner (1990–2001) AOL Time Warner (2001–2003) Ripplewood Holdings L.L.C./ZelnickMedia, Corp. (2003–2013) Direct Holdings Global L.L.C. (2003–07) Reader's Digest Association (2007–2013) Mosaic Media Investment Partners (2013–2023)
Number of employees	1966; 247 (Time-Life Books only) 2003; 225 2015; 60
Subsidiaries	Time–Life Broadcasting, Inc. (1962–1984) Time-Life Books, Inc. (1964–2001) Time-Life International (Nederland) B.V. aka Time-Life Books B.V. (1976–2009) Time-Life Music, Inc. (1967–2023) Saguaro Roads Records, Inc. (2008–2013) Time-Life Films (1969–1981) Time-Life Television (1969–1981) Time-Life Video, Inc. (1978–2017) StarVista LIVE, L.L.C. (2003–2013)
Website	timelife.com (defunct, as of 2025)

Time Life, Inc.—sometimes presented as Time-Life, Inc.—was a leading American multimedia corporation recognized for its direct marketing and publishing of books, music collections, videos/DVDs, and various entertainment offerings. After halting all home market book publishing in 2003, the company shifted its focus toward music, video products, and experiential entertainment such as StarVista cruises. Its distribution once spanned worldwide across the Americas, Europe, Australasia, and Asia through television, print media, retail outlets, internet platforms, telemarketing, and direct sales channels. In later years, operations primarily concentrated on North America—especially the United States and Canada—with a reduced international retail footprint until the company fully ceased operations in 2023.

Overview

Established in 1961 as the book marketing division of New York-based Time Inc., later known as Time & Life, Inc., Time-Life derived its name from the flagship periodicals Time and Life. While operating independently, it initially utilized editorial content from these magazines for early 1960s book series, particularly those featuring pictorial material. The subsidiary relocated from New York City to its dedicated headquarters in Chicago following completion of the Chicago facility in 1969, then moved again to Fairfax, Virginia in 1986 where it remained until closing in 2023.

Beginning in 1967, Time-Life combined book offerings with music compilations packaged as box sets. After vinyl production ended in 1990, the company transitioned to compact discs. During the mid-1990s, Time-Life acquired Heartland Music; although this became a brand under its umbrella for some time, it was eventually divested and is no longer connected.

In addition to books and music products, Time-Life owned television and radio stations. Six stations purchased by Time, Inc. during the 1950s were consolidated under Time–Life Broadcasting, Inc., established in 1962 as the firm’s initial formal subsidiary. These included KLZ-TV-AM-FM (Denver), WFBM-TV-AM-FM (Indianapolis), WOOD-TV-AM (Grand Rapids), KERO-TV (Bakersfield), and KOGO-TV-AM-FM (San Diego). Most were sold to McGraw-Hill in 1972; however WOOD-TV remained part of the portfolio until 1984.

Following Walter Wanger’s passing in 1968, Time-Life Films acquired his production company along with numerous films. Operating as Time-Life Film/Television, it served as the U.S. distributor for BBC programming until ceasing those activities in 1981.

On December 31, 2003, Time Warner divested Time-Life to private investors including Ripplewood Holdings and ZelnickMedia, who placed it under Direct Holdings Global L.L.C. Despite continuing to use the Time-Life brand name, the company no longer maintained any affiliation with Time Warner or the original magazine publishers. At that time of acquisition, revenues had declined to approximately US$350 million with an operating loss near US$50 million for that year.

Under Direct Holdings’ ownership from 2003 onward, music and video products were marketed under the Time Life brand while also managing StarVista LIVE L.L.C., expanding into live entertainment events between 2003 and 2013. In 2007 Ripplewood led a consortium acquiring Reader's Digest Association (RDA), making Direct Holdings a subsidiary within RDA.

After Reader's Digest Association filed for bankruptcy protection twice—in 2009 and again in 2012—it sold Time-Life to Mosaic Media Investment Partners in 2013 to satisfy outstanding debts. Without any public declaration in 2023, Time-Life discontinued operations entirely; its official online retail platform was shut down with the remaining website going offline by May 2024.

The original parent entity—Time & Life, Inc.—maintained headquarters at 1271 Avenue of the Americas in New York City until downsizing to smaller offices in 2014 before ultimately dissolving in early 2018 after decades of decline. Remarkably, the Time-Life brand outlasted its founding company by five years before concluding a six-decade presence in media and publishing.

Time-Life Books

Established officially in 1964 as Time-Life Books, Inc., the company gained prominence by marketing book series directly to consumers through mail-order book clubs, delivering installments straight to subscribers' homes. Originating in 1961, the enterprise rapidly reached projected sales nearing US$100 million within its inaugural year.

Prior to the subsidiary's formal establishment, Time, Inc. occasionally published single-title books related to its magazine content. The direct-to-consumer approach began in 1960 with the LIFE World Library series (1960–67), which was transferred under the new subsidiary’s management by 1962.

Growth

After experimenting with a paperback trial series called Time Capsule (1960–61), Time-Life Books introduced the hardback LIFE World Library series, cementing hardcovers as their main product format. Founder Jerome Hardy prioritized surpassing customer expectations by delivering superior quality. Several series received critical recognition that was unusual among mass-market mail-order book clubs, notably outperforming competitors such as Reader's Digest in both depth and quality.

For instance, the Library of Art series (1966–70) earned acclaim from artist Rockwell Kent for its outstanding presentation and reproductions. Leveraging Life magazine’s vast photographic archives, the LIFE Library of Photography (1970–72) featured exceptional duotone prints and inspired related spin-offs. Culinary collections like Foods Of The World (1968–77) and The Good Cook (1978–80) incorporated insights from distinguished chefs and culinary critics including M. F. K. Fisher, James Beard, Julia Child, and Richard Olney.

Additional series explored topics such as nature, urban geography, scientific fields, and global civilizations with an academic yet accessible style aimed at general audiences. The Great Ages of Man history collection (1965–68) was lauded by the Los Angeles Times for its scholarly thoroughness and respect for readers’ intellect. Similarly, the The LIFE History of the United States (1963–64) featured contributions from esteemed American historians.

Nonetheless, many science and history series rapidly became outdated due to swift advancements or new findings. For example, late 1980s science collections like Understanding Computers and Voyage Through the Universe were rendered obsolete before their completion. Earlier history sets also faced obsolescence; discoveries in Mayan archaeology and script decipherment made Time-Life’s works on this subject outdated by the early 21st century, including the 1993 volume The Magnificent Maya from the Lost Civilizations series.

Peak

In later years, some series received less favorable reviews as the publisher shifted focus from serious science and history toward sensational topics with New Age elements, beginning in the mid-1980s with titles such as The Enchanted World and Mysteries of the Unknown. This trend continued into the early 1990s with collections like Library of Curious and Unusual Facts and True Crime. At the same time, they expanded more popular history lines including Time Frame (also known as History of the World) and Lost Civilizations, increased children’s book offerings, and emphasized accessible, budget-friendly DIY-themed publications—building on their longstanding cookbook series Foods of the World (1968–77). Despite variable quality, these books sold millions of copies and remain widely available at low cost in secondary markets. Standalone works such as the 1995 "Eyewitness: 150 years of photojournalism" followed similar thematic patterns. A notable exception were certain European non-proprietary editions that are scarce in used book markets.

By 1985, Time-Life Books had sold 20 million copies generating US$260 million in revenue—becoming Time-Life, Inc.’s highest-earning division after recovering from a sharp sales decline to US$1.6 million two years earlier. To address prior losses, over 200 staff members were laid off (down from 1,243 worldwide employees in 1983), alongside closures of Mexico City and Tokyo offices—signaling a gradual retreat from Latin American and Far Eastern markets.

Certain series included volumes with limited print runs that initially boosted aftermarket value but declined after 2000 due to diminishing interest in physical books. Examples include scarce editions within the fourteen-volume "40th Anniversary Edition" of The Civil War: A Narrative, eighteen-volume Voices of the Civil War, and twenty-five-volume UK edition of History of the World. This rarity trend also applied internationally; for instance, the Dutch-language "Edelgesteenten" volume from the Planet Earth series commands premium prices owing to its scarcity.

Non-U.S.-specific series were frequently translated—primarily into French for French-Canadian audiences—and distributed via local Time-Life branches or licensed to regional publishers for smaller language markets. Spanish editions were often licensed to Barcelona-based Ediciones Folio, S.A., while Latin American distribution relied on smaller local publishers. European editions targeting British, French, German, and Dutch readers were managed by Time-Life’s Amsterdam subsidiary (established in 1976), which maintained satellite offices in Paris, London, and Munich—countries where Time-Life acted as publisher. Translations were sometimes abridged; Dutch versions of titles such as History of the World, The Epic of Flight, The Enchanted World, and Mysteries of the Unknown omitted multiple volumes. Likewise, German and French editions of The Old West were condensed.

At least one series originated outside U.S. borders: the 1986–89 Australians at War, produced by Time-Life Books (Australia) Pty Ltd., making it relatively uncommon outside Australasia.

Before relocating its headquarters from Chicago to Fairfax, Virginia in late 1986, Time-Life had separated its book division into an independent entity in 1964 to distinguish publishing activities from other media operations. In 1977, Time-Life Books moved from New York City to Alexandria, Virginia—near its parent company’s eventual Fairfax headquarters—and remained there until departing in 2004. These separate locations often caused confusion among reporters.

Around 1991, Time-Life Books’ direct-to-consumer sales model began declining. Deputy Editor Harris Andrews noted his 1991 mini-series Echoes of Glory underperformed through DTC channels but found success once distributed via traditional bookstores. Thereafter, all titles—including legacy works—were marketed both through bookstores and direct sales avenues. This dual distribution extended to projects like Andrews’ 1996–98 Voices of the Civil War. However, non-proprietary licensed series such as the 1999–2000 "40th Anniversary Edition" of The Civil War: A Narrative or European titles licensed from Andromeda Oxford were excluded from this approach.

In late 1998 and early 1999, public broadcaster C-Span documented Time-Life’s book production process through interviews and editorial sessions with current editors—underscoring how firmly established Time-Life Books had become among U.S. audiences thanks to extensive television advertising during the 1980s and ’90s. These recordings remain archived within C-Span’s video collection. Given that Time-Life Books ceased operations less than five years later, this footage provides an important historical snapshot.

Downfall

Time-Life discontinued its book publishing activities when it dissolved its Time-Life Books, Inc. division in January 2001. The remaining functions were fully wound down following the acquisition by Ripplewood/Direct Holdings L.L.C. on December 31, 2003. The European branch, Time Life Books B.V., headquartered in Amsterdam along with its associated offices, continued operations until their simultaneous closure in late August 2009, coinciding with the bankruptcy declaration of Reader's Digest Association, the parent company of Time-Life Inc. at that time. Subsequent management of European legal affairs and licensing was handled by Direct Holdings Holland B.V., the Dutch subsidiary of the holding company that had acquired Time-Life in 2003. This entity appeared as the official publisher on European reissues of Time-Life collections such as the Dutch-language Mens en mythe from the Myths and Mankind series, which remained available in the Netherlands until the shutdown.

Although Ripplewood initially announced plans to revive book publishing, it abandoned the nearly vacant Alexandria office in 2004 after acquiring Time Life. Remaining employees were laid off, and customer service, order fulfillment, and distribution were outsourced to external companies located in Iowa, Pennsylvania, and Kentucky. The Fairfax location stayed operational as the headquarters for Direct Holdings Global during their ownership period from 2003 to 2013. After ceasing publishing activities in August 2009, Direct Holdings disposed of residual inventory through specialized remainder booksellers across the US and Europe, including relatively recent titles like The Civil War: A Narrative – 40th Anniversary Edition and Myths and Mankind. Mosaic Media Investment Partners, a later owner, retained Fairfax as a non-print operational base for Time-Life until the company’s ultimate closure in 2023.

Separately, beginning in 2004, an unrelated entity—Time [& Life], Inc./Time Warner—continued producing similar print products for the consumer market through New York-based Time Home Entertainment, Inc., established in the early 1990s. This company concentrated on retail distribution of individual book titles rather than series marketed directly to consumers, having ceased series publication due to lack of profitability. Following the model of former competitor Reader's Digest and contemporary National Geographic Books, Time Home Entertainment reinstated the Time-Life brand logo on budget paperback single titles after reacquiring it from Mosaic Media Investment Partners in January 2014. Renamed "Time Inc. Books" in 2015, this publisher ultimately ceased operations in 2018 alongside its parent company’s fate, marking the final conclusion of Time-Life Books.

Proprietary book series publications

Series	Series Primary Run	No. of Volumes	References & Notes
American Country	1988–1991	20
American Indians, The	1992–1996	24
American Story, The	1996–1997	6
American Wilderness, The	1972–1977	27
Art of Sewing, The	1973–1976	18
Australians at War	1986–1989	16
Celebrate the Century	1998–2000	10
Civil War, The	1983–1987	28	Distinct from the 14-volume The Civil War: A Narrative 40th anniversary edition published by Time-Life during 1999–2000.
Classics of Exploration	1984–1987	21
Classics of the Old West	1980–1984	31
Classics of Transportation	1968	4	(Box set)
Classics of World War II: The Secret War	1988–1993	24
Collector's Library of the Civil War	1981–1985	30

Publications of Non-Proprietary Book Series

Although the majority of book series were created and produced internally by Time Life, including the Australian-originated Australian at War collection, the company sometimes released series commissioned by external parties or licensed from other publishers, primarily targeting the US home audience. English editions of series originating from the British Commonwealth were distributed throughout English-speaking countries, with Time-Life Books B.V. in Amsterdam frequently managing European editions and translations into other languages. These European versions are less common in North American secondhand book markets, whereas series licensed for the US market are infrequently found in Europe. Licensed series published under the Time-Life Books imprint acknowledged the original licensors within their colophons.

Series	Series Primary Run	No. of Volumes	References & Notes
1972–1974	21
1984–1987	21
1980–1983	23
1969–1975	4
1987–1991	26
1968–1977	27
1978–1980	28 (56 volumes including recipe books)	Each volume contained a primary textbook plus a spiral-bound recipe companion.
1965–1968	21
1972–1981	25
1977–1989	37
1990–1991	14
1992–1993	12
1983–1985	18
1984–1987	20

Series	Publication Period	Volume Count	Remarks
Cultural Atlas of the World (An Equinox Book) also known as World Atlas of Civilisation	1991-96	20	Obtained under license from Andromeda Oxford Ltd based in Oxfordshire, England, featuring scholarly material linked to Oxford University Press. Time-Life Books B.V. initiated UK reprints in 1991 and produced French editions (Atlas des Civilisations) from 1994 to 1998, with printing assigned to Éditions Du Fanal. The German version was separately published by Weltbild Verlag.
Child's First Library of Learning, A	1987-96	31	An educational series for primary school children adapted from a Japanese Gakken publication; issued in Europe by Time-Life Books B.V. in English, German (Time Life Kinderbibliothek), and Dutch editions.
Child's First Library of Values, A	1996-98	15	Preschool-level storybook series focusing on values education, also derived from Gakken’s Japanese original; English-language edition published by Time-Life Asia in Hong Kong.
The Civil War: A Narrative – 40th Anniversary Edition	1999-2000	14	Reissued commemorative edition of Shelby Foote’s seminal three-volume work originally published between 1958 and 1974 by Random House.
Deutschen Länder, Die	1991-94	20	German-language series exploring the federal states of Germany; commissioned by Bucher Verlag München and released as a special edition through Time-Life Books B.V.
Illustrated Library of the Earth, The	1993-96	6	Licensed from Australian publisher Weldon Owen Pty Ltd; a deluxe revision of the earlier Planet Earth Series. Published in the US by Rodale Press and in Australasia via Reader's Digest Press. French (Encyclopédie de la terre) and other language editions were produced by third-party publishers.
MHQ, The Quarterly Journal of Military History	1992-2001	45 (under Time-Life)	Introduced in 1988 as premium hardcover quarterly issues for the US market. From 1992 onward, Time-Life joined as co-publisher to enhance marketing and distribution efforts. MHQ continued independently following Time-Life Books’ closure in 2001 and remains active as of 2024.
The Photographic History of the Civil War, The	2000-01	2	Facsimile reprint honoring the original 1911 series; initially planned as ten volumes but cut short due to the shutdown of Time-Life Books.
System Earth (An Equinox Book)	1990-91	5	Geography-focused series licensed from Andromeda Oxford Ltd featuring academic authorship connected to Oxford University. Primarily published for European audiences by Time-Life Books B.V., including English and German editions. Oxford University Press continued related US publications after Time-Life’s exit.
Understanding Science and Nature	1989-95	18	Released for the US home market based on a Japanese Gakken series.
The Vietnam Experience, The	1981-88	25	A series centered on the Vietnam War with an emphasis on American participation; originally published by Boston Publishing Company with Time-Life Books acting as co-publisher responsible for subscriptions, distribution, and promotional campaigns via mailings and television advertisements.
Williams Sonoma Cooking	1980s-1990s	95	Cookbook collection licensed from Australian publisher Weldon Owen Pty Ltd, distributed across nine distinct sets.

Time Life Music

Time Life made its debut in the music industry in 1967, marketing box sets and compilations through Time–Life Records, a branch of Time-Life Books, Inc. Following the introduction of cassette tapes, the division was rebranded as Time Life Music. European operations, including the German branch known as Time Life Musik, functioned under the Amsterdam-based subsidiary "Time-Life Books BV." Throughout the 1960s and 1970s, Time–Life Records focused on an adult demographic by offering genres such as classical, jazz, swing, orchestral music, opera, and Broadway soundtracks. Occasionally, it released popular music collections featuring tracks from before 1955. The marketing approach primarily relied on magazines, specialized catalogs, and direct mail campaigns.

In the early 1980s, Time Life broadened its portfolio to include country music with the launch of the 1981 "Country Music" series, which highlighted individual artists like Charley Pride. Despite this expansion, the company largely avoided rock-oriented series until the mid-1980s, maintaining a focus on mature audiences with traditional preferences.

Introduction of Pop Music

Time Life achieved a significant milestone in rock music in 1986 by introducing "The Rock 'n' Roll Era," a collection spanning 1955 to 1964. This series featured volumes organized by specific years, musical styles, or prominent performers. Each installment contained 22 tracks, predominantly original hit recordings. This initiative aligned with Time Life’s strategy to target adults who experienced rock's formative years firsthand.

"The Rock 'n' Roll Era" proved highly successful; by the early 1990s, over 50 volumes had been released, including holiday-themed albums. This accomplishment paved the way for further country and pop series such as "Country USA," "Classic Rock," "Sounds of the Seventies," "Sounds of the Eighties," "Your Hit Parade," and "Super Hits." Each volume came with a booklet featuring liner notes and Billboard chart information.

Marketing efforts expanded to incorporate extensive television advertising alongside magazines and direct mail. Time Life Music frequently used long-form infomercials hosted by featured musicians or well-known figures such as Rick Dees and Ralph Emery. Campaign messaging emphasized digitally remastered original master tracks and carefully curated collections that offered convenience compared to purchasing multiple individual albums.

Consumers had options for various formats including vinyl (available until 1990), 8-track tapes, cassettes, or compact discs; currently, only CDs remain available.

Although generally praised, some initial releases featured stereo re-recordings rather than original recordings—a shortcoming that was subsequently addressed. Licensing limitations resulted in notable exclusions: for example, The Beatles and The Rolling Stones were absent from certain series; similarly omitted were artists such as Garth Brooks, Shania Twain, Prince, Madonna, and Michael Jackson across different collections.

In December 2003, facing declining sales and a challenging publishing climate, Time Life Music was sold to Direct Holdings Global.

Up until 2010, many series were offered through subscription models—customers received volumes periodically with the option to retain preferred sets—and later became available for individual purchase. Following completion of series runs, retail editions appeared often as discounted multi-CD compilations featuring top hits. The "Classic Country" series also provided single-CD retail versions.

By March 2023, Time Life began phasing out its direct-to-consumer CD and DVD music offerings. As of May 2024, its website only displayed customer support contact details, its infomercial channel was removed from cable providers, and the service was permanently discontinued.

Saguaro Road Records

In 2008, the Reader's Digest Association (RDA) established Saguaro Roads Records, Inc. as its proprietary music label, functioning within Time Life after RDA was acquired by Ripplewood in 2007.

Albums released under the "Time Life/Saguaro Roads Records" imprint included works from artists such as Adam Hood, Blind Boys of Alabama, Bo Bice, Brandy and Ray J, Collin Raye, Dion, Edwin McCain, the estate of Hank Williams, Jim Brickman, Joan Osborne, Lonestar, Marc Cohn, Mark Chesnutt, Patty Loveless, Rebecca Lynn Howard, Tanya Tucker, The Grascals, Angie Stone, Waylon Jennings, and Don McLean.

Since its inception, Saguaro Roads Records has garnered seven Grammy nominations. Noteworthy achievements include The Blind Boys of Alabama's 2009 album Down in New Orleans, which secured the Best Traditional Gospel Album award, along with a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award for their Live in New Orleans video. Other distinguished nominations and accolades feature Patti LuPone's Gypsy: The 2008 Broadway Cast Recording (Best Musical Theater Album), Hank Williams: The Complete Mother's Best Recordings (Best Historical Album, 2011), Patty Loveless's Mountain Soul II (Best Bluegrass Album, 2011), Joan Osborne's Bring It on Home (Best Blues Album, 2013), and The Beatles' First Recordings: 50th Anniversary Edition (Best Album Notes, 2013).

Saguaro Roads Records was not included in the 2013 transaction transferring Time Life to Mosaic Media Investment Partners and has since remained inactive.

List of series

Below is a selection of many collections released by the company; this list is not comprehensive.

• '60's, The
• '60's Country
• '60's Music Revolution
• '60's Gold (no longer available)
• '70's Collection, The (no longer available)
• '70's Country
• '70's Music Explosion (no longer available)
• '80's Collection, The (no longer available)
• '80's Music Explosion (no longer available)
• '90's Collection, The (no longer available)
• 100 Christmas Songs for Kids
• 100 Classics for Kids
• 100 Classics for Relaxation
• 100 Kids Songs
• 100 Masterpieces
• 100 Piano Masterpieces
• 101 Sing a Longs for Kids
• American Gold #1 Hits
• AM Gold (2021)
• AM Gold (discontinued; originally titled "Super Hits")
• Beethoven Collection, The
• Best of Soft Rock
• Big Bands
• Billboard #1 Hits of the '70's
• Blues Legends (discontinued)
• Blues Masters (discontinued)
• Bobby Jones Presents Ultimate Gospel
• Body and Soul
• Body Talk (discontinued)
• British Invasion, The
• Classic Bluegrass (discontinued)
• Classic Country (2022)
• Classic Country
• Classic Drive (discontinued)
• Classic Jazz
• Classic Love Songs of the '60's
• Classic Radio Hits (discontinued)
• Classic Rock (discontinued; mid- to late-1960s music compilation)
• Classic Rhythm and Blues
• Classic Soft Rock
• Classic Soul Ballads
• Classic Love Songs of Rock 'n' Roll (2016)
• Classical Power
• Concerts of Great Music, The (1966–68, discontinued)
• Contemporary Country (discontinued)
• Country Jukebox
• Country Music Explosion
• Country Music Hall of Fame Presents Classic Country
• Country Music of Your Life
• Country USA (2011)
• Country USA (discontinued)
• Country's Got Heart
• Def Comedy Jam
• Dick Clark's Jukebox Gems
• Disco Fever (discontinued)
• Disney Christmas Collection
• Disney's Greatest
• Easy '80's
• Easy Listening Classics
• Edge of the '80's (discontinued)
• Emotion Collection, The (discontinued)
• Fabulous Fifties, The (discontinued)
• Faith, Hope & Country
• Feel Good Rock
• Flower Power
• Folk Years, The (discontinued)
• Forever '60's
• Forever '70's
• Forever Soul
• Giants of Jazz (discontinued)
• Girl Groups
• Glory Days of Rock 'n' Roll (discontinued)
• Great American Songbook
• God Bless the USA
• Gold and Platinum: The Ultimate Rock Collection (discontinued)
• Golden Age of Country
• Golden Age of Pop
• Great Composers
• Great Men of Music
• Greatest Love Songs of the '60's & '70's

... * Grooves (discontinued) ... * Guitar Rock (discontinued) ... * Hard & Heavy (discontinued) ... * Heart of Rock 'n' Roll, The (discontinued) ... * Heart of Classic Rock, The ... * History of Rock 'n' Roll, The (discontinued) ... * I Can Only Imagine Platinum ... * Instrumental Favorites ... * It All Started with Doo Wop (discontinued) ... * Jukebox Memories ... * Kingston Trio ... * Lifetime of Country Romance & Romance collections ... * Legendary Singers & Voices ... * Legends of Country ... * Legends: The Ultimate Rock Collection (discontinued) ... * Living the Blues & Gospel (both discontinued) ... * Magic of Love (discontinued) ... * Malt Shop Memories ... * Midnight Soul ... * Modern Rock Dance ... * Modern Rock (discontinued) ... * Motown Collection, The ... * Mozart Collection, The ... * Music of Your Life ... * Mysteries of the Unknown ... * Opry Video Classics ... * Party Rock ... * Pop Goes the '70's ... * Pop Memories of the '60's ... * Pop Revolution (discontinued) ... * Power of Love collections ... * Prom Night ... * Pure Rhythm and Blues ... * Quiet Storm ... * Raunchy Blues ... * Rhythm & Blues ... * Rhythm+Grooves (discontinued) ... * Rock and Roll Hall of Fame 25th Anniversary Concert ... * Rock Collection, The (discontinued) ... * Rock & Romance ... * The Rock 'n' Roll Era collections ... * Romancing the '60's & '70's ... * Romantically Yours ... * Secret Love ... * Singers & Songwriters US & Europe Versions ... * Smooth Soul ... * Sock Hop Collection, The ... * Solid Gold Soul US & Europe Versions (both discontinued) ... * Songs 4 Ever & Songs 4 Life collections (both discontinued) ... * Songs 4 Worship & Songs 4 Worship Country ... * Soul collections including Soulful Christmas and Soul Superstars of the '70's ... * Sounds collections spanning the '60s through the Nineties with numerous discontinued series ... * Spirit of the '60's (discontinued) ... * Story of Great Music and Concerts series (1966–68, discontinued) ... * Summer Breeze Collection, The ... * Superhits ... * Superstars of Country (discontinued) ... * Superstars of the '80's ... * Sweet Soul of the '70's (discontinued) ... * Teen Years, The ... * Timeless Music Collection, The (discontinued) ... * Time Life Loves the '80's ... * To the Moon: a six-record documentary set on early space missions and Apollo 11 landing (discontinued) ... * Treasury of Christmas ... * Ultimate Love Songs ... * Ultimate Oldies but Goodies Collection, The (discontinued) ... * Ultimate Radio Disney Collection ... * Ultimate Rock Ballads ... * Ultimate Seventies (discontinued) ... * Uptown Saturday Night (discontinued) ... * We Love the Nightlife ... * What Life was Like ... * World of the Supernatural ... * Woodstock Collection, The ... * Worship Together ... * Your Hit Parade (discontinued) ... * You So Crazy

Time Life Video

Since the year 2000, Time Life's video division has experienced significant expansion. Its origins trace back to the videotape era beginning in 1978, initially focusing on re-releasing documentary series such as The World at War (1973–74), The Trials of Life (1990), The Civil War (1990), The Wild West (1993), The Nazis: A Warning from History (1997), and Growing Up Wild (1992–93). Time Life Video established itself as a key distributor for British broadcasters—especially the BBC—facilitating the introduction of documentaries to the American home video audience.

Building on its expertise in the music sector, Time Life ventured into nostalgic television programming, successfully addressing previous issues related to music licensing rights. Their offerings are notable for including comprehensive bonus content, detailed liner notes, and deluxe packaging. Some prominent television titles released by Time Life Video include:

• America A Look Back
• Apocalypse: The Second World War
• Barney & Friends (season 1)
• The Benny Hill Show
• The Jack Benny Program (50 episodes plus specials)
• The Best of George Carlin (15 specials along with guest appearances)
• The Carol Burnett Show Ultimate Collection (50 episodes plus specials)
• Childs Video Christmas (classic holiday specials)
• China Beach (complete series)
• The Clint Eastwood Collection
• CMA Awards Live performance compilations
• Dallas (seasons 1 through 4)
• Dolly: The Ultimate Collection, featuring various variety show episodes and appearances
• Fat Albert and the Cosby Kids
• Get Smart (complete series)
• The Real Ghostbusters (complete series)
• Growing Up Wild
• The Hee Haw Collection (selected episodes and sketches)
• The Jackie Gleason Show (color episodes)
• The John Wayne Collection, including classics like "Rio Bravo" and "Stagecoach"
• Looney Tunes Library
• Lucy: The Ultimate 12 DVD Collection covering multiple series
• Mama's Family (complete series)
• The Man from U.N.C.L.E. (complete series)
• Selected Dean Martin Celebrity Roast and Variety Show episodes
• The Mayberry Collection, comprising episodes from related series and reunion movies
• Mighty Morphin Power Rangers
• Motown 25
• NOVA (1974–85)
• Power Rangers seasons 1 through 7
• The Ultimate Richard Pryor Collection: Uncensored
• Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In (40 episodes)
• Saturday Night Live
• Sesame Street
• Thomas & Friends
• Tales From The Crypt
• The Best of The Muppet Show, produced by Jim Henson Home Entertainment
• The Six Million Dollar Man (complete series)
• The Red Skelton Show
• The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour (Season 3)
• Best of Sonny & Cher and Cher specials
• Best of Soul Train highlights from the 1970s
• The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson: Johnny and Friends
• The Wonder Years (complete series)
• Trials of Life Video Offer
• Robin Williams: Comic Genius HBO specials compilation
• Zoo Life with Jack Hanna

See also

• List of record labels
• Columbia House

External links

• Official site – No longer active
• Time Life Book Series Bibliographies by M. Leigh Martin (July 2019)
• Leggman's Time-Life Library – extensive information on Time-Life Books (archived)
• Time-Life Books – archived interviews with editors from 1998-99
• Time-Life Education publisher listings – catalog of 752 book titles
• Time-Life research files on dance, 1920-1994, maintained by the New York Public Library for the Performing Arts, Dance Division