Dark Horse Records

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Dark Horse Records
Dark Horse Records logo.jpg
Dark Horse Records' original logo
FoundedMay 1974
Founder George Harrison
Distributor(s) A&M Records (1974–76)
Warner Bros. Records (1976–94)
EMI (2002–04)
Rhino (2010)
Universal Music Group (2017–2020)
BMG Rights Management (2020–present)
Genre Rock, Indian classical, soul
Country of originUnited Kingdom
Official website www.darkhorserecords.com

Dark Horse Records is a record label founded by former Beatle George Harrison in 1974. The label's formation coincided with the winding down of the Beatles' Apple Records and allowed Harrison to continue supporting other artists' projects while maintaining his solo career. The initial signings were Indian musician Ravi Shankar and Splinter, the latter of whom provided the label with its only significant commercial success until Harrison himself signed with Dark Horse in 1976. The label was distributed internationally by A&M Records for the first two years of its operation. Following a highly publicised split with A&M, Harrison and Dark Horse formed a long-term partnership with Warner Bros. Records that lasted until the expiration of his contract in 1994.

Contents

Attitudes, Stairsteps and Keni Burke were among the other artists who recorded for Dark Horse, although it increasingly became a vehicle for Harrison's solo releases once Warner's had taken over distribution. After a ten-year period of inactivity, the label returned in 2002 with the posthumous release of Harrison's final studio album, Brainwashed , followed by his Dark Horse Years box set in 2004. Dark Horse Records also issued the Shankar–Harrison compilation box set Collaborations in 2010.

In March 2021, the record label released Assembly, a new remastered collection of Joe Strummer's solo work. [1]

Background

First trade ad for Dark Horse Records, August 1974 Dark Horse Records ad.png
First trade ad for Dark Horse Records, August 1974

It went crazy in the end, Apple, but it did give some good people an outlet. That’s why I’m here now with Dark Horse Records – Apple didn’t shake my faith that much. Good musicians are worth encouraging. [2] [3]

– George Harrison to Melody Maker , 1975

Since the formation of the Beatles' EMI-affiliated Apple Records in 1968, George Harrison had produced and helped nurture acts signed to the label, including Jackie Lomax, Billy Preston and Badfinger, all of whom were little known at the time. [4] Following the Beatles' break-up in 1970, Harrison continued in this role while maintaining a successful solo career, [5] adding prestigious signings such as Ravi Shankar and Ronnie Spector to Apple's roster. [6] By 1973, when he was producing an ambitious "East-meets-West" album by Shankar [7] and the debut by a duo from South Shields, Splinter, [8] Apple was being wound down following Harrison, John Lennon and Ringo Starr severing their ties with Beatles manager Allen Klein. [9] While all the former Beatles were contractually obliged to EMI until 26 January 1976, as solo artists, [10] [11] Harrison sought a new avenue for his extracurricular projects. [9] [12] He and Starr considered buying Apple in 1973 and running it themselves, [12] but Harrison was wary of business complications associated with the label. [9] [13]

In early 1974, he began a dialogue with David Geffen, head of Asylum Records in Los Angeles, [14] and, according to Tom Petty's later recollection, he also consulted Leon Russell, co-founder of Shelter Records, about setting up a label. [15] Harrison eventually agreed terms with A&M Records for the latter to distribute his new label worldwide. [16] [17] For a company name, Harrison used the title of a song he had written in 1973, "Dark Horse". [18] The inspiration for the Dark Horse Records logo came from a label on a tin that Harrison found during a trip to India. [19] The logo features the seven-headed horse Uchchaisravas, a common figure in Indian art and mythology.

History

After Harrison signed with Dark Horse Records on 27 January 1976, [20] all of his subsequent recordings were released through the label, starting with that year's Thirty Three & 1/3 and ending with Live in Japan in 1992. [21] After the latter, it went into hiatus for ten years.

Dark Horse was distributed by A&M Records (1974–76), [22] Warner Bros. Records (1976–94) [23] and EMI (2002–04).

Dark Horse was revived with the posthumous release of Brainwashed in 2002. Harrison's back catalogue on the label was remastered and reissued as the Dark Horse Years 1976–1992 box set during 2004. In 2010, Dark Horse released the Ravi Shankar–George Harrison box set Collaborations , with distribution through Rhino Entertainment. [24]

In 2017 all original Apple and Dark Horse Records albums were reissued and distributed by Universal Music Group.

On 22 January 2020, Dark Horse signed a distribution deal with BMG Rights Management. [25] The deal marked the label's revival by Harrison's son Dhani, who announced that it had acquired Joe Strummer's catalogue. [26] Many classic Dark Horse albums returned to print under this new deal.

In May 2025, the label released the Steve Perry & Willie Nelson duet of the Journey song "Faithfully". [27]

Artists

Though Dark Horse ultimately focused solely on Harrison's releases, the label also released albums by the following artists between 1974 and 1978: [21]

Discography

Singles
Catalogue NumberArtistTitleRelease Date
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AMS 7133DH-10001 Ravi Shankar "I Am Missing You" / "Lust"13.09.7406.11.74
AMS 7135DH-10002 Splinter "Costafine Town" / "Elly May"07.11.74
AMS 5501–Splinter"Drink All Day" / "Haven't Got Time"07.02.75–
AMS 5502–Splinter"China Light" / "Drink All Day"21.02.75–
–DH-10003Splinter"China Light" / "Haven't Got Time"–07.03.75
AMS 5503–Splinter"Which Way Will I Get Home" / "Green Line Bus"07.11.75–
AMS 5505DH-10005 Stairsteps "From Us to You" / "Time"30.01.7603.12.75
AMS 5504DH-10004 Attitudes "Ain't Love Enough" / "The Whole World's Gone Crazy"13.02.7609.12.75
–DH-10007Splinter"Which Way Will I Get Home" / "What Is It (If You Never Ever Tried It Yourself)"–09.02.76
–DH-10006 Jiva "Something's Goin' on Inside LA" / "Take My Love"–11.02.76
AMS 5506–Splinter"Half Way There" / "What Is It (If You Never Ever Tried It Yourself)"21.05.76–
AMS 5507–Stairsteps"Pasado" / "Throwin' Stones Atcha"–
–DH-10008Attitudes"Honey Don't Leave L.A." / "Lend a Hand"–31.05.76
–DH-10009Stairsteps"Tell Me Why" / "Salaam"–14.06.76
–DH-10010Splinter"After Five Years" / "Half Way There"–16.07.76
AMS 5508DH-10011Attitudes"Sweet Summer Music" / "If We Want To"20.08.7623.07.76
K 16856DRC 8294 George Harrison "This Song" / "Learning How to Love You"19.11.7603.11.76
–DRC 8313George Harrison"Crackerbox Palace" / "Learning How to Love You"–24.01.77
K 16896–George Harrison"True Love" / "Pure Smokey"11.02.77–
K 16967–George Harrison"It's What You Value" / "Woman Don't You Cry for Me"31.05.77–
–DRC 8404Attitudes"Sweet Summer Music" / "Being Here with You"–13.06.77
K 17009DRC 8439Splinter"Round and Round" / "Being Here with You"06.09.77
–DRC 8474 Keni Burke "Shuffle" / "From Me to You"–11.10.77
–DRC 8522Keni Burke"Day" / "Keep on Singing"–.01.78
K 17116–Splinter"New York City (Who Am I)" / "Baby Love".02.78–
–DRC 8523Splinter"Motions of Love" / "I Need Your Love"–.02.78
–DRC 8763George Harrison"Blow Away" / "Soft-Hearted Hana"–04.02.79
K 17327–George Harrison"Blow Away" / "Soft Touch"14.02.79–
K 17284–George Harrison"Love Comes to Everyone" / "Soft-Hearted Hana"20.04.79–
–DRC 8763George Harrison"Love Comes to Everyone" / "Soft Touch"–11.05.79
K 17423 [1] –George Harrison"Faster" / "Your Love Is Forever"30.07.79–
K 17807DRC49725George Harrison"All Those Years Ago" / "Writing's on the Wall"11.05.8106.05.81
K 17837DRC49785George Harrison"Teardrops" / "Save the World"31.07.8115.07.81
929864-77-29864George Harrison"Wake Up My Love" / "Greece"08.11.8227.10.82
–7-29744George Harrison"I Really Love You" / "Circles"–07.02.83
W81787-28178George Harrison"Got My Mind Set on You" / "Lay His Head"12.10.8703.10.87
W81317-28131George Harrison"When We Was Fab" / "Zig Zag"25.01.8830.01.88
W79137-27913George Harrison"This Is Love" / "Breath Away from Heaven"13.06.8812.05.88
W2696–George Harrison"Cheer Down" / "Poor Little Girl"27.11.89–
R 6601 [2] 7243 5 52117 7 4George Harrison"Any Road" / "Marwa Blues"12.05.03–
Jakob Dylan, Dhani Harrison, Amos Lee, Lukas Nelson, Willie Nelson "For Real"20192019
Cat Stevens Here Comes The Sun20232023
Albums
Catalogue NumberArtistTitleRelease Date
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ST- 3350 George Harrison Wonderwall Music 01.11.6801.11.68
George Harrison Electronic Sound 09.05.6909.05.69
George Harrison All Things Must Pass 27.11.7027.11.70
Jon Lord Gemini Suite 19711971
George Harrison Concert of Bangladesh19721972
Ravi Shankar In Concert 1972 22.01.7322.01.73
George Harrison Living in the Material World 30.05.7330.05.73
George Harrison Dark Horse 09.12.7409.12.74
Jon Lord Windows 19741974
Ravi Shankar Shankar Family & Friends 20.09.7420.09.74
AMLH 22001SP-22001 Splinter The Place I Love 20.09.7425.09.74
AMLH 22002SP-22002 Ravi Shankar Shankar Family & Friends 07.10.74
Splinter The Place I Love 19741974
George Harrison Extra Texture (Read All About It) 22.09.75
Splinter Harder To Live19751975
AMLH 22003SP-22003 Jiva Jiva31.10.7506.10.75
AMLH 22006SP-22006 Splinter Harder to Live24.10.75
AMLH 22005SP-22005 Henry McCullough Mind Your Own Business!20.10.75
JivaJiva19751975
Henry McCullough Mind Your Own Business! 19751975
Attitudes Attitudes 19751975
Cat Stevens Numbers 30.11.7530.11.75
Jon Lord Sarabande 19761976
George Harrison Thirty Three & 1/3 19.11.7619.11.76
George Harrison The Best of George Harrison 08.11.76
Ravi Shankar Ravi Shankar's Music Festival from India 23.09.7623.09.76
AMLH 22004SP-22004 Stairsteps 2nd Resurrection19.03.7606.02.76
AMLH 22007SP-22007Ravi Shankar Ravi Shankar's Music Festival from India
AMLH 22008SP-22008 Attitudes Attitudes
K 56319DH 3005 George Harrison Thirty Three & 1/3 19.11.7624.11.76
Splinter Two Man Band19771977
Attitudes Good News 19771977
Cat Stevens Izitso 04.7704.77
K 56385DH 3021AttitudesGood News03.06.7705.05.77
K 563xxDH 3022 Keni Burke Keni Burke 16.08.77
Keni Burke Keni Burke 19771977
K 56403DH 3073SplinterTwo Man Band07.10.7703.10.77
Cat Stevens Back To Earth 03.12.7803.12.78
K 56562DHK 3255 George Harrison George Harrison 16.02.7914.02.79
K 56870DHK 3492George Harrison Somewhere in England 05.06.8101.06.81
923 734-11-23734George Harrison Gone Troppo 08.11.8227.10.82
Jon Lord Before I Forget 19821982
Leon Russell Hank Wilson Vol. II 19841984
WX 1231-25643George Harrison Cloud Nine 02.11.87
WX 3121-25726George Harrison Best of Dark Horse 1976–1989 23.10.8917.10.89
Leon Russell Hymns of Christmas 19951995
Ravi Shankar Chants of India 06.05.9706.05.97
Leon Russell Hank Wilson Vol. III19981998
Leon Russell Face in the Crowd 19991999
Joe Strummer Rock Art and the X-Ray Style 18.10.9918.10.99
Leon Russell Crazy Love20002000
Joe Strummer Global a-Go-Go 24.07.0124.07.01
Leon Russell Guitar Blues 20012001
Leon Russell Rhythm and Bluegrass20012001
Leon Russell Signature Songs 20012001
7243 5 41969 1 x [2] George Harrison Brainwashed 18.11.02
Leon Russell Moonlight and Love Songs20022002
Joe Strummer Streetcore 21.10.0321.10.03
GHBOX 1/7243 5 94232 0 3 [2] CDP 7243 5 97051 0 1George Harrison The Dark Horse Years 1976–1992 [3] 23.02.04
George Harrison Let It Roll 16.06.0616.06.06
Cat Stevens An Other Cup 14.11.0614.11.06
Leon Russell Angel in Disguise 20062006
Collaborations Boxset
Leon Russell A Mighty Flood 20082008
Leon Russell In Your Dreams 20082008
Leon Russell Almost Piano 20082008
Leon Russell Bad Country 20082008
Cat Stevens Roadsinger 05.05.0905.05.09
Leon Russell Best of Hank Wilson20092009
R2-525469– Ravi Shankar and George Harrison Collaborations [4] 19.10.10
George Harrison Early Takes 01.05.1201.05.12
Leon Russell Snapshot20132013
Cat Stevens Tell 'Em I'm Gone 27.10.1427.10.14
Joe Strummer 00120182018
Attitudes Ain't Love Enough
Joe Strummer Assembly 20212021
Joe Strummer Junco Partner (Record Store Day 12" Picture Disc Single)20212021
Billy Idol Happy Holidays 20212021
Joe Strummer Johnny Appleseed (Record Store Day 12" Pink Vinyl Single)20212021
Billy Idol The Roadside 17.09.2117.09.21
Ravi Shankar I Am Missing You (RSD 12" Color Vinyl Single)20222022
Joe Strummer 00220222022
Billy Idol The Cage20222022
Dark Horse RecordsDark Horse Records The Best of 1974–197720222022
Notes

1 Also released as a picture disc, catalog number K 17423P
2 Released by Dark Horse/Parlophone.
3 Box set of Harrison's remastered Dark Horse years albums: Thirty Three & 1/3 (1977) to Cloud Nine (1987).
4 Box set consisting of Shankar's two Harrison-produced albums on Dark Horse – Ravi Shankar's Music Festival from India and Shankar Family & Friends – together with Chants of India (1997) and a DVD containing film of a 1974 Musical Festival from India performance at the Royal Albert Hall, London.

See also

Bibliography

References

  1. ↑ Shaffer, Claire (26 March 2021). "Joe Strummer's Solo Compilation 'Assembly' Is Out Now". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 21 April 2021.
  2. ↑ Ray Coleman, "Dark Horse", Melody Maker , 6 September 1975, p. 28.
  3. ↑ Hunt, p. 101.
  4. ↑ Spizer, pp. 338, 340–41.
  5. ↑ Lavezzoli, pp. 186–89.
  6. ↑ Spizer, pp. 341–42.
  7. ↑ Lavezzoli, p. 195.
  8. ↑ Leng, pp. 138, 141–42.
  9. 1 2 3 Madinger & Easter, p. 442.
  10. ↑ Woffinden, p. 85.
  11. ↑ Doggett, p. 240.
  12. 1 2 Clayson, p. 345.
  13. ↑ "At The Starting Gate". Contra Band Music. 21 August 2012. Retrieved 25 May 2025.
  14. ↑ Madinger & Easter, p. 444.
  15. ↑ The Editors of Rolling Stone, p. 224.
  16. ↑ Badman, p. 125.
  17. ↑ Rodriguez, p. 197.
  18. ↑ Inglis, pp. 46–47.
  19. ↑ Hunt, p. 103.
  20. ↑ Badman, pp. 175–76.
  21. 1 2 "Dark Horse Records – CDs and Vinyl at Discogs". Discogs. Retrieved 19 April 2012.
  22. ↑ "Dark Horse Records on A&M Records.com". onamrecords.com. Retrieved 19 April 2012.
  23. ↑ "George Harrison on Dark Horse Records in Belgium". belgian-beatles-society.com. Retrieved 19 April 2012.
  24. ↑ Olivia Harrison, "George Harrison and Ravi Shankar Box Set 'Collaborations' Is a Labor of Love for Me", Spinner , 18 October 2010 (archived version retrieved 12 August 2014).
  25. ↑ "The Deals: BMG Enters Global Pact with George Harrison's Dark Horse Records, mxmtoon Signs with AWAL & More". Billboard. 23 January 2020. Retrieved 1 May 2020.
  26. ↑ Kris Needs, "On Assembly, Joe Strummer's untameable rock'n'roll spirit rears vividly back to life", Classic Rock , 31 March 2021 (retrieved 21 April 2021).
  27. ↑ "Steve Perry Rerecords Journey's 'Faithfully' with Willie Nelson". Rolling Stone .

Sources

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