Laurie Records
Encyclopedia
Laurie Records was a record label
started in 1958 by Gene Schwartz and Allan I. Sussel. Sussel was a multi-millionaire whose earlier record company, Jamie Records (named after his elder daughter), had been unsuccessful. As a result, Sussel joined forces with Schwartz to found Laurie Records, this time named after his other daughter, Laura Sue Sussel. By the early 1960s, Elliot Greenberg, an arranger and friend of Schwartz's, had gained a 12% ownership of the company. In addition, Gene's brother Bob Schwartz also became involved in the company, largely due to pressure from their mother, who wanted to see Bob involved in the record business. The company eventually grew to include a number of subsidiary labels, most notably Andie Records
(which later changed its name to Rust Records).
Among the most famous recording artists on Laurie's roster were Dion and the Belmonts
, The Mystics
, The Chiffons
, The Jarmels
, Bobby Goldsboro
, and The Royal Guardsmen
. Dion and the Belmonts were responsible for one of Laurie's earliest hit single
s with their 1958 doo-wop
song, "I Wonder Why
". Ten years later, the group's lead vocalist
, Dion DiMucci
(known professionally as Dion), had a solo hit on the label with "Abraham, Martin & John". Another sizable hit for the label was the controversial song "Once You Understand", written and produced by the songwriting
team of Lou Stalmman and Bobby Susser
and released by the duo in 1971 under the pseudonym Think
. Being a small independent record label
, Laurie's chart successes usually occurred one at a time and for the most part, with one-off hits, as was the case with The Mystics, The Jarmels, The Chiffons, and The Royal Guardsmen.
The label also distributed records under several subsidiary labels, including Rust, Legrand, Calico, President, and Dolphin (not to be confused with the Liberty
-owned Dolphin/Dolton label). Laurie Records also handled the American distribution of records
by the British Invasion
band, Gerry & the Pacemakers
. Jo Siopis, a well known record producer
and wife of Gerry & the Pacemakers' bass player
, Les Chadwick
, was instrumental in the distribution of Laurie Records album
s in the United States.
Laurie changed its name in the early 1980s to 3C Records
. 3C stands for Continental Communications Corporation and the master recording
s that 3C produced are owned by EMI
.
Record label
In the music industry, a record label is a brand and a trademark associated with the marketing of music recordings and music videos. Most commonly, a record label is the company that manages such brands and trademarks, coordinates the production, manufacture, distribution, marketing and promotion,...
started in 1958 by Gene Schwartz and Allan I. Sussel. Sussel was a multi-millionaire whose earlier record company, Jamie Records (named after his elder daughter), had been unsuccessful. As a result, Sussel joined forces with Schwartz to found Laurie Records, this time named after his other daughter, Laura Sue Sussel. By the early 1960s, Elliot Greenberg, an arranger and friend of Schwartz's, had gained a 12% ownership of the company. In addition, Gene's brother Bob Schwartz also became involved in the company, largely due to pressure from their mother, who wanted to see Bob involved in the record business. The company eventually grew to include a number of subsidiary labels, most notably Andie Records
Andie Records
Andie Records was a subsidiary of Laurie Records. It changed its name to Rust Records....
(which later changed its name to Rust Records).
Among the most famous recording artists on Laurie's roster were Dion and the Belmonts
Dion and the Belmonts
Dion and the Belmonts was a leading American vocal group of the late 1950s. The group formed when Dion DiMucci, lead singer , joined The Belmonts - Carlo Mastrangelo, baritone , Freddie Milano, second tenor , and Angelo D'Aleo, first tenor , in late 1957.-History:After an unsuccessful first single,...
, The Mystics
The Mystics
The Mystics is an American rock and roll group that began in Brooklyn, New York, in the late 1950s. The group was known as The Overons, a quintet that, when signed to Laurie Records, consisted of Phil Cracolici , Albee Cracolici , George Galfo , Bob Ferrante , and Al Contrera...
, The Chiffons
The Chiffons
The Chiffons was an all girl group originating from the Bronx area of New York in 1960.-Biography:The Chiffons were one of the top girl groups of the early 1960s...
, The Jarmels
The Jarmels
The Jarmels are a doo wop/rhythm and blues group officially formed in 1959 in Richmond, Virginia. They were composed of Nathaniel Ruff , Paul Burnett , Ray Smith , Earl Christian , and Tom Eldridge .They met while attending Armstrong High School and while some sang at nearby Mount Olivet Baptist...
, Bobby Goldsboro
Bobby Goldsboro
Bobby Goldsboro is an American country and pop singer-songwriter. He had a string of Pop and Country hits during the 1960s and 1970s, including his signature #1 classic "Honey," which sold well over one million copies in the United States.-Early life:Goldsboro was born in Marianna, Florida...
, and The Royal Guardsmen
The Royal Guardsmen
The Royal Guardsmen are an American rock band, best known for their 1966 hit single "Snoopy Vs. The Red Baron".-Snoopy vs. the Red Baron:...
. Dion and the Belmonts were responsible for one of Laurie's earliest hit single
Hit single
A hit single is a recorded song or instrumental released as a single that has become very popular. Although it is sometimes used to describe any widely-played or big-selling song, the term "hit" is usually reserved for a single that has appeared in an official music chart through repeated radio...
s with their 1958 doo-wop
Doo-wop
The name Doo-wop is given to a style of vocal-based rhythm and blues music that developed in African American communities in the 1940s and achieved mainstream popularity in the 1950s and early 1960s. It emerged from New York, Philadelphia, Chicago, Baltimore, Newark, Pittsburgh, Cincinnati and...
song, "I Wonder Why
I Wonder Why
"I Wonder Why" is a doo-wop song, written by Melvin Anderson and Ricardo Weeks, and first recorded by Dion and the Belmonts in 1958. It is sung from the point of view of a man telling to his girlfriend that he neither knows nor ultimately cares to know the reasons for his love for said other...
". Ten years later, the group's lead vocalist
Lead vocalist
The lead vocalist is the member of a band who sings the main vocal portions of a song. They may also play one or more instruments. Lead vocalists are sometimes referred to as the frontman or frontwoman, and as such, are usually considered to be the "leader" of the groups they perform in, often the...
, Dion DiMucci
Dion DiMucci
Dion Francis DiMucci , better known as Dion, is an American singer-songwriter whose work has incorporated elements of doo-wop, pop oldies music, rock and R&B styles....
(known professionally as Dion), had a solo hit on the label with "Abraham, Martin & John". Another sizable hit for the label was the controversial song "Once You Understand", written and produced by the songwriting
Songwriter
A songwriter is an individual who writes both the lyrics and music to a song. Someone who solely writes lyrics may be called a lyricist, and someone who only writes music may be called a composer...
team of Lou Stalmman and Bobby Susser
Bobby Susser
Bobby Susser , and also known as Bob Susser, is a multi-award winning, American songwriter, record producer, and performer, best known for his young children's music...
and released by the duo in 1971 under the pseudonym Think
Think (band)
Think was a studio group put together by producers and songwriters Lou Stallman and Bobby Susser in 1971. The group released a single, "Once You Understand", on Laurie Records which included a spoken dialogue between male and female teenagers and their parents regarding a youth overdose. The single...
. Being a small independent record label
Independent record label
An independent record label is a record label operating without the funding of or outside the organizations of the major record labels. A great number of bands and musical acts begin on independent labels.-Overview:...
, Laurie's chart successes usually occurred one at a time and for the most part, with one-off hits, as was the case with The Mystics, The Jarmels, The Chiffons, and The Royal Guardsmen.
The label also distributed records under several subsidiary labels, including Rust, Legrand, Calico, President, and Dolphin (not to be confused with the Liberty
Liberty Records
Liberty Records was a United States-based record label. It was started by chairman Simon Waronker in 1955 with Al Bennett as president and Theodore Keep as chief engineer. It was reactivated in 2001 in the United Kingdom and had two previous revivals.-1950s:...
-owned Dolphin/Dolton label). Laurie Records also handled the American distribution of records
Gramophone record
A gramophone record, commonly known as a phonograph record , vinyl record , or colloquially, a record, is an analog sound storage medium consisting of a flat disc with an inscribed, modulated spiral groove...
by the British Invasion
British Invasion
The British Invasion is a term used to describe the large number of rock and roll, beat, rock, and pop performers from the United Kingdom who became popular in the United States during the time period from 1964 through 1966.- Background :...
band, Gerry & the Pacemakers
Gerry & the Pacemakers
Gerry and the Pacemakers were a British beat music group prominent during the 1960s. In common with The Beatles, they came from Liverpool, were managed by Brian Epstein and recorded by George Martin. They are most remembered for being the first act to reach number one in the UK Singles Chart with...
. Jo Siopis, a well known record producer
Record producer
A record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music...
and wife of Gerry & the Pacemakers' bass player
Bassist
A bass player, or bassist is a musician who plays a bass instrument such as a double bass, bass guitar, keyboard bass or a low brass instrument such as a tuba or sousaphone. Different musical genres tend to be associated with one or more of these instruments...
, Les Chadwick
Les Chadwick
Les Chadwick is an English bassist.His bass guitar work can be heard on all of the recordings made by the 1960s pop group, Gerry & The Pacemakers....
, was instrumental in the distribution of Laurie Records album
Album
An album is a collection of recordings, released as a single package on gramophone record, cassette, compact disc, or via digital distribution. The word derives from the Latin word for list .Vinyl LP records have two sides, each comprising one half of the album...
s in the United States.
Laurie changed its name in the early 1980s to 3C Records
3C Records
In the early eighties Laurie Records changed its name to 3C Records. 3C stands for Continental Communications Corporation.3C Records was bought by EMI-Capitol Special Markets in the early 1990s....
. 3C stands for Continental Communications Corporation and the master recording
Master recording
A multitrack recording master tape, disk or computer files on which productions are developed for later mixing, is known as the multi-track master, while the tape, disk or computer files holding a mix is called a mixed master.It is standard practice to make a copy of a master recording, known as...
s that 3C produced are owned by EMI
EMI
The EMI Group, also known as EMI Music or simply EMI, is a multinational music company headquartered in London, United Kingdom. It is the fourth-largest business group and family of record labels in the recording industry and one of the "big four" record companies. EMI Group also has a major...
.
Laurie Records artists
- The Balloon FarmThe Balloon FarmThe Balloon Farm, a musical act from New Jersey, took its name from a New York City nightclub. It is best known for its sole hit song, "A Question of Temperature," which made the Billboard charts in February 1968, peaking in the top 40....
- The BarbariansThe BarbariansThe Barbarians were an American garage band of the 1960s with a few nationally charted hits. They had their biggest hit with the novelty single "Are You a Boy or Are You a Girl?".-History:...
- Birdwatchers
- Mara Lynn Brown
- Carlo (Carlo Mastrangelo}
- California (featuring Les FradkinLes FradkinLes Fradkin is a guitarist, keyboardist, songwriter, composer and record producer. He is best known for being a member of the original cast of the hit Broadway show Beatlemania...
) - The ChiffonsThe ChiffonsThe Chiffons was an all girl group originating from the Bronx area of New York in 1960.-Biography:The Chiffons were one of the top girl groups of the early 1960s...
(who also recorded as The Four Pennies on Rust Records) - The CliqueThe CliqueThe Clique was a group of English artists formed by Richard Dadd in the late 1830s. Other members were Augustus Egg, Alfred Elmore, William Powell Frith, Henry Nelson O'Neil, John Phillip and Edward Matthew Ward....
- Church Street Five (Legrand Records)
- Gary "U.S." Bonds (Legrand Records)
- Dean & Jean (Rust Records)
- Dion & The Belmonts
- DionDion DiMucciDion Francis DiMucci , better known as Dion, is an American singer-songwriter whose work has incorporated elements of doo-wop, pop oldies music, rock and R&B styles....
- The EqualsThe EqualsThe Equals were a pop/reggae/rock group that formed in North London, England in 1965. They are mainly remembered for its million-selling chart-topper, "Baby Come Back". Eddy Grant, then sporting dyed blonde hair, founded the group...
(President Records) - Gerry & The PacemakersGerry & the PacemakersGerry and the Pacemakers were a British beat music group prominent during the 1960s. In common with The Beatles, they came from Liverpool, were managed by Brian Epstein and recorded by George Martin. They are most remembered for being the first act to reach number one in the UK Singles Chart with...
- Bobby GoldsboroBobby GoldsboroBobby Goldsboro is an American country and pop singer-songwriter. He had a string of Pop and Country hits during the 1960s and 1970s, including his signature #1 classic "Honey," which sold well over one million copies in the United States.-Early life:Goldsboro was born in Marianna, Florida...
- Rocco GranataRocco GranataRocco Granata is a Belgian singer, songwriter, and accordionist.Granata was born in Figline Vegliaturo, Calabria, southern Italy; but his parents immigrated to Belgium when he was aged ten. Rocco's father was a coal miner, but after briefly working in the coal mines, Granata pursued music instead...
- The JarmelsThe JarmelsThe Jarmels are a doo wop/rhythm and blues group officially formed in 1959 in Richmond, Virginia. They were composed of Nathaniel Ruff , Paul Burnett , Ray Smith , Earl Christian , and Tom Eldridge .They met while attending Armstrong High School and while some sang at nearby Mount Olivet Baptist...
- Don Lombardi
- Lou MonteLou MonteLou Monte born Louis Scaglione, was an Italian American singer best known for a number of best-selling, Italian-themed novelty records which he recorded for both RCA Records and Reprise Records in the late 1950s and early 1960s...
- The Music ExplosionThe Music ExplosionThe Music Explosion was an American garage rock band from Mansfield, Ohio, best known for their Top 10 hit, "Little Bit O'Soul", in 1967. The song peaked at number two on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and received gold record status by the R.I.A.A....
(band leader Jamie Lyons also recorded for Laurie) - The MysticsThe MysticsThe Mystics is an American rock and roll group that began in Brooklyn, New York, in the late 1950s. The group was known as The Overons, a quintet that, when signed to Laurie Records, consisted of Phil Cracolici , Albee Cracolici , George Galfo , Bob Ferrante , and Al Contrera...
- Randy & The RainbowsRandy & the RainbowsRandy & the Rainbows are an American doo wop group from Maspeth, New York.-Career:The group was formed in 1962 in a neighborhood of Queens, and featured two pairs of siblings, along with a fifth member. The Safuto brothers had previously sung in the group The Dialtones. They recorded with the...
(Rust Records) - RatsRATSRATS may refer to:* RATS , Regression Analysis of Time Series, a statistical package* Rough Auditing Tool for Security, a computer program...
- Ivo RobićIvo RobicIvo Robić was Croatian singer and songwriter.-Domestic career:Robić began his career as a soloist with the Radio Zagreb Orchestra, while studying at the same time in Zagreb...
- Royal Guardsmen
- The Sound Investment
- Tom Selden
- TropicsTropicsThe tropics is a region of the Earth surrounding the Equator. It is limited in latitude by the Tropic of Cancer in the northern hemisphere at approximately N and the Tropic of Capricorn in the southern hemisphere at S; these latitudes correspond to the axial tilt of the Earth...
- Uncalled For
- Valerie Tyler
- Don BenjaminDon BenjaminDonald Benjamin is the producer of Soap Sessions CDs on Swirling Records. Swirling Records was distributed by Sony's Soap City Site for most of its run....
- Wigren and Drago
- ThinkThink (band)Think was a studio group put together by producers and songwriters Lou Stallman and Bobby Susser in 1971. The group released a single, "Once You Understand", on Laurie Records which included a spoken dialogue between male and female teenagers and their parents regarding a youth overdose. The single...
- Barbara M
- New Hope
- Montage