| Command Records | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Founded | 1959 |
| Founder | Enoch Light |
| Defunct | 1970 |
| Status | Defunct |
| Genre | |
| Country of origin | U.S. |
| Location | New York, New York |
Command Records was a record label founded by Enoch Light in 1959 [1] [2] and, in October that year, was acquired by ABC-Paramount Records. [3] Light produced a majority of the releases in the label's catalog.
After Grand Award Records, the company focused on producing records targeted at audiophiles. [4] Light and sound engineer Bob Fine handled the recording and engineering responsibilities, employing the technique of multiple microphone pickups. They used different types of microphones whose characteristics were best suited to reproduce the sounds of a particular instrument. [1]
Command Records often featured abstract covers. In the early years, all covers were designed by Josef Albers, whose student Charles E. Murphy served as design director. Several are in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art in New York City. [5] Later covers appeared to be imitations of Albers' work. [6] [7]
In 1966, Light left Command to form Project 3 Records.
While the recording industry had made magnetic tape the standard for recording music for release on vinyl, Command's albums were recorded onto magnetic 35mm film. Light used the width of the film strip to create multitrack recordings, as opposed to the more limited two or three tracks offered by most recording studios at the time; the slightly higher linear speed provided an advantage in analog fidelity and the sprocket-driven film limited the "wow and flutter" problems associated with tape recording. This enabled Light to record more instruments individually and adjust their audio input levels, as well as their stereo position. [8]
The Command test record (Stereo Check Out) was an LP album produced by Command Records in 1960. It contained recordings designed to allow users to test their stereo equipment.
Like many other Command records, the Stereo Check Out came in a gatefold cover with extensive liner notes and full technical data inside. Charles Stark narrated both sides, providing both technical details and information about the musical instruments used on the tracks on Side Two.
Side One of this LP consists of turntable tests. An oscilloscope is a useful tool when used in conjunction with these tests:
Side Two of this LP consists of musical selections from the Command catalogue:
Carl Hilding "Doc" Severinsen is an American retired jazz trumpeter who led the NBC Orchestra on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson.
Grand Award Records was a pop, jazz, and gospel music record label founded by violinist and conductor Enoch Light in Harrison, New Jersey in 1955.
Urban Clifford "Urbie" Green was an American jazz trombonist who toured with Woody Herman, Gene Krupa, Jan Savitt, and Frankie Carle. He played on over 250 recordings and released more than two dozen albums as a soloist. He was inducted into the Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame in 1995.
Enoch Henry Light was an American classically trained violinist, danceband leader, and recording engineer. As the leader of various dance bands that recorded as early as March 1927 and continuing through at least 1940, Light and his band primarily worked in various hotels in New York. For a time in 1928 he also led a band in Paris. In the 1930s Light also studied conducting with the French conductor Maurice Frigara in Paris.
Lady in Satin is an album by the jazz singer Billie Holiday released in 1958 on Columbia Records, catalogue CL 1157 in mono and CS 8048 in stereo. It is the penultimate album completed by the singer, and the last to be released in her lifetime. Her final album, Last Recording, was recorded in March 1959, and released just after her death. The original album was produced by Irving Townsend and engineered by Fred Plaut.
Persuasive Percussion was an LP album performed by Terry Snyder and the All Stars and released in 1959 by Command Records. The packaging includes the first use of the gatefold cover which, upon being unfolded, lists information about each selection. The liner notes state that the album may be used to test audio equipment, due to the stereo placement of sounds independently in either the left or right channel. The album cover artwork, by Josef Albers, is minimalistic in style, consisting of an arrangement of dots. The album was the first volume in a series of Persuasive Percussion releases. Provocative Percussion was the second release of the Percussion albums. Both Persuasive Percussion and Provocative Percussion had four volumes released over the next several years.
Richard Hyman is an American jazz pianist and composer. Over a 70-year career, he has worked as a pianist, organist, arranger, music director, electronic musician, and composer. He was named a National Endowment for the Arts Jazz Masters fellow in 2017.
Anthony C. "Tony" Mottola was an American jazz guitarist who released dozens of solo albums. Mottola was born in Kearny, New Jersey and died in Denville.
Joseph Barry Galbraith was an American jazz guitarist.
Stereo 35/MM, later reissued under the title Enoch Light And His Orchestra At Carnegie Hall, is an album by Enoch Light and His Orchestra. It was released in 1961 on Command Records. The musicians performing solos included Doc Severinsen, Phil Bodner, and Bobby Byrne.
Big Band Bossa Nova is a studio album by Enoch Light and His Orchestra. It was released in 1962 on Command Records. The musicians performing solos included Doc Severinsen on trumpet, Tony Mottola on guitar, Phil Bodner on woodwinds, and Bobby Byrne on trombone.
Provocative Percussion is a studio album by Enoch Light and The Light Brigade, also known as the Command All-Stars. It was released in 1959 on Command Records. The album cover artwork is by abstract painter Josef Albers, like its predecessor.
Provocative Percussion Volume 2 is a studio album by Enoch Light and The Light Brigade. It was released in 1960 on Command Records. The album cover artwork is by abstract painter Josef Albers.
Persuasive Percussion Volume 2 is a studio album by Terry Snyder and The All Stars. It was produced by Enoch Light and released in 1959 on Light's Command Records label. The featured musicians included Tony Mottola, Willie Rodriguez, Dick Hyman, Jack Lesberg, Teddy Sommer, Artie Marotti, Stanley Webb, and Dominic Cortese.
Persuasive Percussion Volume 3 is a studio album by The Command All Stars. It was produced by Enoch Light and released in 1960 on Light's Command Records label. The featured musicians included Tony Mottola (guitar), Doc Severinsen (trumpet), Bobby Byrne (trombone), Bobby Haggart, Phil Bodner (piccolo), and Stan Webb (saxophone). The album cover artwork is by abstract painter Josef Albers.
Persuasive Percussion Volume 4 is a studio album by Enoch Light and The Command All Stars. It was produced by Enoch Light and released in 1961 on Light's Command Records label.
I Want to Be Happy Cha Cha's is a studio album of cha-cha-chá music by Enoch Light and The Light Brigade. It was released in 1959 on the Grand Award label.
William A. LaVorgna (1933–2007) was an American traditional pop and jazz musician (drums) who for many years was musical director for American actress, dancer and singer, Liza Minnelli.
Project 3 Records was a record label founded in 1966 by Enoch Light, featuring LPs of pop and jazz performances employing high quality stereo recording techniques, marketed at premium prices.
Provocative Percussion Vol. III is a studio album by Enoch Light and the Light Brigade. It was produced by Light and released in 1961 on Light's Command Records label. The featured musicians included Tony Mottola (guitar), Doc Severinsen (trumpet), Bobby Byrne (trombone), Urbie Green, Bob Haggart, Phil Bodner, Stanley Webb, Moe Wechsler and Joe Wilder. The arrangements were by Lew Davies. The album cover artwork is by abstract painter Josef Albers.
enoch light of the grand award.
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