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
Distributors 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 2021: [21]

Discography

Singles
Catalogue NumberArtistTitleRelease Date
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UK
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US
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UK
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US
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 5501Splinter"Drink All Day" / "Haven't Got Time"07.02.75
AMS 5502Splinter"China Light" / "Drink All Day"21.02.75
DH-10003Splinter"China Light" / "Haven't Got Time"07.03.75
AMS 5503Splinter"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-10006Jiva"Something's Goin' on Inside LA" / "Take My Love"11.02.76
AMS 5506Splinter"Half Way There" / "What Is It (If You Never Ever Tried It Yourself)"21.05.76
AMS 5507Stairsteps"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 16896George Harrison"True Love" / "Pure Smokey"11.02.77
K 16967George 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 17116Splinter"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 17327George Harrison"Blow Away" / "Soft Touch"14.02.79
K 17284George 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
W2696George 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
DH0007Ravi Shankar"I Am Missing You"

RSD 12" Blue Vinyl

2022
Cat Stevens "Here Comes The Sun"20232023
DH0053George Harrison/Beck "Be Here Now" 20252025
DH0055Billy Idol feat Avril Lavigne "77"20252025
Albums
Catalogue NumberArtistTitleRelease Date
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UK
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US
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg
UK
Flag of the United States.svg
US
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-22003JivaJiva31.10.7506.10.75
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
DH0002 Ravi Shanker Chants of India [28] 2020
DH0002 / DH0002CD / DH0002CS Joe Strummer Assembly 20212021

DH0003

Joe Strummer Junco Partner

(Record Store Day 12" Picture Disc Single)

20212021
DH0004 / DH0004CD Billy Idol The Roadside EP17.09.2117.09.21
DH0005 / DH0005CD Billy Idol Happy Holidays 20212021
DH0006 Joe Strummer Johnny Appleseed

(Record Store Day 12" Pink Vinyl Single)

20212021
DH0008 / DH0008CD Billy Idol The Cage EP

Standard 1LP Black Vinyl / Limited Edition 1LP Blue Vinyl / 1CD

20222022
DH0009 / DH0009CDJoe Strummer002

Box Set

20222022
DH0012Dark Horse RecordsDark Horse Records The Best of 1974–197720222022
DH0013Joe StrummerLive at Music Millennium20222022
538856301Yusuf / Cat Stevens King Of A Land 20232023
DH0010 / DH0010CDRavi Shankar Shankar Family & Friends 20232023
DH0011 / DH0011CD Leon Russell Signature Songs 20232023
DH0014Stairsteps2nd Resurrection20232033
DH0015Joe Strummer Streetcore 20th Anniversary

White vinyl

20232023
DH0022 / DH0022CDJoe Strummer Streetcore 20th Anniversary

Black vinyl w/art print

20232023
DH0016 / DH0016B / DH0016CDJoe Strummer Live at Acton Town Hall

Limited Edition 2LP Clear Vinyl

20232023
DH0018Ravi Shankar & Ali Akbar Khan In Concert 1972 20232023
DH0019Leon Russell Hank Wilson Vol. II 20232023
DH0020Ravi Shankar Ravi Shankar's Music Festival From India 20232023
DH0021 Splinter The Place I Love 20232023
538856301Yusuf/Cat Stevens King of A Land 20232023
DH0024/DH0024XUS Nina Simone Little Girl Blue 20242024
DH0032/DH0048/DH0048CDJoe Strummer Rock Art and the X-Ray Style 25th Anniversary20242024
DH0049 / DH0049CD Steve Perry The Season 320242024
DH0033Z/DH0033CDGeorge Harrison Wonderwall Music 2024/20252024/2025
DH0034ZGeorge Harrison Electronic Sound 20242024
DH0035CDGeorge Harrison Let It Roll 20242024
DH0050 / DH0050CD/DH0050ZGeorge Harrison Living in the Material World (50th Anniversary)”20242024
DH0051Leon Russell Hymns of Christmas November 29, 2024November 29, 2024
DH0036 Huun-Huur-Tu, Carmen Rizzo & Dhani HarrisonDreamers In The Field20242024
DH0025Yusuf/Cat Stevens Numbers April 20, 2024April 26, 2024
DH0026Yusuf/Cat Stevens Izitso April 20, 2024April 26, 2024
DH0029Yusuf / Cat Stevens Roadsinger 2024/20252024/2025
DH0027Yusuf / Cat Stevens Back To Earth 20252025
DH0034CDGeorge Harrison Electronic Sound 20252025
DH0035George HarrisonLet It Roll20252025
DH0037/DH0037CD/DH0037ZGeorge Harrison All Things Must Pass 50 Anniversary20252025
DH0038/DH0038CDGeorge Harrison Dark Horse 20252025
DH0039/DH0039CDGeorge Harrison Extra Texture 20252025
DH0040/DH0040CDGeorge Harrison Thirty Three & 1/3 20252025
DH0041/DH0041CDGeorge Harrison George Harrison 20252025
DH0042/DH0042CDGeorge Harrison Somewhere In England 20252025
DH0043/DH0043CDGeorge Harrison Gone Troppo 20252025
DH0044/DH0044CDGeorge Harrison Cloud Nine 20252025
DH0045/DH0045CDGeorge Harrison Live In Japan 20252025
DH0046/DH0046CDGeorge Harrison Brainwashed 20252025
DH0047/DH0047CDGeorge Harrison Early Takes 20252025
DH0017 / DH0017EX / DH0017CD Benmont Tench The Melancholy Season 20252025
DH0023 Jon Lord Gemini Suite 20252025
DH0031Jon LordWindows20252025
DH0052Billy Idol Dream Into It 20252025
DH0056 Ivan Shopov, Carmen Rizzo, Dhani Harrison featuring New Bulgarian Voices & Georgi PetkovAscending Into Silence20252025
DH0028Yusuf / Cat Stevens An Other Cup 20262026
DH0030Yusuf / Cat Stevens Tell 'Em I'm Gone 20262026
DH0054Dark Horse RecordsDark Horse Records 50th Anniversary 12CD Box Set20262026
DIGITAL ONLY RELEASES
ARTISTTITLERELEASE DATE
Jakob Dylan, Dhani Harrison, Amos Lee, Lukas Nelson ,

Micah Nelson & Willie Nelson

"For Real–For Tom"2019
Splinter “Harder To Live2022
Splinter “Two Man Band2022
Henry McCullough "Mind Your Own Business"2022
JivaJiva2022
Attitudes Attitudes2022
AttitudesGood News2022
Keni Burke Keni Burke2022
Leon Russell A Mighty Flood 2022
Leon RussellAlmost Piano2022
Leon Russell Angel In Disguise 2022
Leon Russell Bad Country 2022
Leon RussellBest of Hank Wilson2022
Leon RussellCrazy Love2022
Leon Russell Face In The Crowd 2022
Leon Russell Guitar Blues 2022
Leon RussellHank Wilson Vol. III2022
Leon Russell In Your Dreams 2022
Leon Russell Live At Gilley's 2022
Leon RussellMoonlight and Love Songs2022
Leon RussellRhythm and Bluegrass2022
Leon RussellThe American Dream2022
Joe Strummer0022022
The 101ers (feat. Joe Strummer) Elgin Avenue Breakdown (Revisited)2023
Yusuf/Cat StevensHere Comes The Sun2023
Yusuf/Cat Stevens Majikat 2023
Jon LordSarabunde2023
Jon Lord Before I Forget 2023
Dick & MaryDick & Mary2023
George HarrisonWonderwall Music2023
George HarrisonElectronic Sound2023
George HarrisonAll Things Must Pass 50th Anniversary”2023
George HarrisonLiving in the Material World 50th Anniversary2023
George HarrisonDark Horse2023
George HarrisonExtra Texture2023
George HarrisonThirty Three & 1/32023
George HarrisonGeorge Harrison2023
George HarrisonSomewhere in England2023
George HarrisonGone Troppo2023
George HarrisonCloud Nine2023
George HarrisonConcert For Bangladesh2024
Steve PerryThe Season2024
Steve PerryThe Season 32024
Steve PerryTraces2024
Steve Perry & Willie Nelson Faithfully 2025
Robin NolanFor The Love Of George2025
Billy Idol Dream Into It

includes "’77" feat. Avril Lavigne

2025
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 .
  28. Kalia, Ammar (1 April 2020). "Ravi Shankar: where to start in his back catalogue". The Guardian. ISSN   0261-3077 . Retrieved 13 January 2026.

Sources