diff --git a/beets/autotag/__init__.py b/beets/autotag/__init__.py
index fab0fbbae..2f632f1ee 100644
--- a/beets/autotag/__init__.py
+++ b/beets/autotag/__init__.py
@@ -42,6 +42,8 @@ def apply_item_metadata(item, track_info):
     item.mb_trackid = track_info.track_id
     if track_info.artist_id:
         item.mb_artistid = track_info.artist_id
+    if track_info.data_source:
+        item.data_source = track_info.data_source
     # At the moment, the other metadata is left intact (including album
     # and track number). Perhaps these should be emptied?
 
@@ -125,7 +127,8 @@ def apply_metadata(album_info, mapping):
                       'language',
                       'country',
                       'albumstatus',
-                      'albumdisambig'):
+                      'albumdisambig',
+                      'data_source',):
             value = getattr(album_info, field)
             if value is not None:
                 item[field] = value
diff --git a/beets/autotag/hooks.py b/beets/autotag/hooks.py
index 12d11a0b3..3a4f96548 100644
--- a/beets/autotag/hooks.py
+++ b/beets/autotag/hooks.py
@@ -137,6 +137,8 @@ class TrackInfo(object):
     - ``artist_sort``: name of the track artist for sorting
     - ``disctitle``: name of the individual medium (subtitle)
     - ``artist_credit``: Recording-specific artist name
+    - ``data_source``: The original data source (MusicBrainz, Discogs, etc.)
+    - ``data_url``: The data source release URL.
 
     Only ``title`` and ``track_id`` are required. The rest of the fields
     may be None. The indices ``index``, ``medium``, and ``medium_index``
diff --git a/beets/autotag/mb.py b/beets/autotag/mb.py
index c25599751..b9402f3dc 100644
--- a/beets/autotag/mb.py
+++ b/beets/autotag/mb.py
@@ -161,6 +161,7 @@ def track_info(recording, index=None, medium=None, medium_index=None,
         medium=medium,
         medium_index=medium_index,
         medium_total=medium_total,
+        data_source='MusicBrainz',
         data_url=track_url(recording['id']),
     )
 
diff --git a/beets/library.py b/beets/library.py
index 7a6ed7ea4..8d95561f7 100644
--- a/beets/library.py
+++ b/beets/library.py
@@ -393,6 +393,10 @@ class Item(LibModel):
     _search_fields = ('artist', 'title', 'comments',
                       'album', 'albumartist', 'genre')
 
+    _types = {
+        'data_source': types.STRING,
+    }
+
     _media_fields = set(MediaFile.readable_fields()) \
         .intersection(_fields.keys())
     """Set of item fields that are backed by `MediaFile` fields.
@@ -805,7 +809,8 @@ class Album(LibModel):
     _search_fields = ('album', 'albumartist', 'genre')
 
     _types = {
-        'path': PathType(),
+        'path':        PathType(),
+        'data_source': types.STRING,
     }
 
     _sorts = {
diff --git a/docs/changelog.rst b/docs/changelog.rst
index 81493428c..329770102 100644
--- a/docs/changelog.rst
+++ b/docs/changelog.rst
@@ -42,6 +42,8 @@ Features:
 * A new ``filesize`` field on items indicates the number of bytes in the file.
   :bug:`1291`
 * The number of missing/unmatched tracks is shown during import. :bug:`1088`
+* The data source used during import (e.g., MusicBrainz) is now saved as a
+  flexible attribute `data_source` of an Item/Album. :bug:`1311`
 
 Core changes:
 
diff --git a/test/test_autotag.py b/test/test_autotag.py
index 7e018a4c1..6393a0f2f 100644
--- a/test/test_autotag.py
+++ b/test/test_autotag.py
@@ -789,6 +789,13 @@ class ApplyTest(_common.TestCase, ApplyTestUtil):
         self.assertEqual(self.items[0].month, 2)
         self.assertEqual(self.items[0].day, 3)
 
+    def test_data_source_applied(self):
+        my_info = copy.deepcopy(self.info)
+        my_info.data_source = 'MusicBrainz'
+        self._apply(info=my_info)
+
+        self.assertEqual(self.items[0].data_source, 'MusicBrainz')
+
 
 class ApplyCompilationTest(_common.TestCase, ApplyTestUtil):
     def setUp(self):
diff --git a/test/test_importer.py b/test/test_importer.py
index 45901bc6a..a9863b926 100644
--- a/test/test_importer.py
+++ b/test/test_importer.py
@@ -625,6 +625,15 @@ class ImportTest(_common.TestCase, ImportHelper):
 
         self.assertIn('No files imported from {0}'.format(import_dir), logs)
 
+    def test_asis_no_data_source(self):
+        self.assertEqual(self.lib.items().get(), None)
+
+        self.importer.add_choice(importer.action.ASIS)
+        self.importer.run()
+
+        with self.assertRaises(AttributeError):
+            self.lib.items().get().data_source
+
 
 class ImportTracksTest(_common.TestCase, ImportHelper):
     """Test TRACKS and APPLY choice.
diff --git a/test/test_mb.py b/test/test_mb.py
index 3e5f721ff..c1c93bbdc 100644
--- a/test/test_mb.py
+++ b/test/test_mb.py
@@ -316,6 +316,11 @@ class MBAlbumInfoTest(_common.TestCase):
         self.assertEqual(track.artist_sort, 'TRACK ARTIST SORT NAME')
         self.assertEqual(track.artist_credit, 'TRACK ARTIST CREDIT')
 
+    def test_data_source(self):
+        release = self._make_release()
+        d = mb.album_info(release)
+        self.assertEqual(d.data_source, 'MusicBrainz')
+
 
 class ParseIDTest(_common.TestCase):
     def test_parse_id_correct(self):