Domino Records (1957)

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Domino Records was an American regional record label started in 1957 in Austin, Texas, United States. [1] Artists included George Underwood, Clarence Smith and the Daylighters, Ray Campi, the Slades, Joyce Webb, Jesse Harris, and Joyce Harris. [2] The label was led by Lora Jane Richardson from beginning to end (1957–1961). [1] Operations ceased in the early 1960s. [2]

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Contents

History

Domino Records was formed in 1957 by eleven classmates of a night-school course in music marketing, each of whom contributed a weekly sum of five dollars for corporate expenses. [1] The most commercially successful record released by Domino was by a Caucasian doo-wop quartet originally named "The Spades", who soon changed their name to Slades since their original name was sometimes construed as a racial slur. [1] The 1958 single "You Cheated" was a hit in Texas and drew the attention of much larger labels interested in national distribution. [1] The biggest interest came from Dot Records, but Domino declined the distribution deal, deciding they wanted hire their own distributor and keep the group on Domino. [1] The chosen distributor did not meet expectations, and copies intended for the national market remained in storage. [1] Rebuffed, Dot then recorded their own group named "The Sheilds" to cover the Slades' song. [1] Dot's version charted on Billboard at number 12, while the original just reached number 42. [1] In 1959, the label put out a call to young artists local to Austin, hoping to find additional new talent. [3] By the end of 1959 all but three of the original partners had departed, leaving the label moribund. These three, Anne Miller, Kathy Parker and Lora Jane Richardson, decided to re-start the label in 1960 and expand into new genres. [1] The label, which encouraged its artists to self-pen their material, retained publishing rights to original songs. [1] This decision led to an infusion of funds when The Fleetwoods covered the Slades' first recording "You Mean Everything to Me" as the B-side of "Mr. Blue." [1] Otherwise success eluded the label, and it closed in 1961. [1]

Dot Records American record label

Dot Records was an American record label founded by Randy Wood that was active between 1950 and 1979. The label was reactivated in 2014 through a joint venture between Big Machine Label Group and the Republic Records unit of Universal Music Group. Based in Nashville, Tennessee, the label was discontinued in 2017.

<i>Billboard</i> (magazine) American music magazine

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The Fleetwoods were an American singing group from Olympia, Washington, whose members were Gary Troxel, Gretchen Christopher, and Barbara Ellis.

Legacy

Domino Records is considered Austin's first noteworthy record label. [1]

Sonny Rhodes felt that he was treated more fairly at Domino Records than he was with several other labels he recorded for. [4]

In 1998 Ace Records released The Domino Records Story, a compilation of the label's releases. [1]

Ace Records (United Kingdom) UK record label: imprint of Ace Records Ltd.

Ace Records Ltd. was started in 1978. Initially the company only gained permission from the label based in Mississippi to use the name in the UK, but eventually also acquired the rights to publish their recordings. When Chiswick Records' pop side was licensed to EMI in 1984, Ace switched to more licensing and reissuing work. In the 1980s it also gained the licensing for Modern Records, and its follow-up company Kent Records, whilst in the 1990s, the company bought the labels including all original master tapes.

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Domino Records may refer to:

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References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 Corcoran, Michael (June 5, 2010). "Little indie label Domino laid down Austin sounds before scene's heyday". Austin American-Statesman . Retrieved April 6, 2013.
  2. 1 2 Hickinbotham, Gary S. "Recording Industry". Handbook of Texas Online. Texas State Historical Association . Retrieved April 6, 2013.
  3. ↑ Bustin, John (November 24, 1959). "Local Record Company Looking for New Talent" . The Austin American– via newspapers.com.
  4. ↑ Skelly, Richard (November 11, 2004). "On the Road With Sonny Rhodes" . Asbury Park Press. Asbury Park, New Jersey – via newspapers.com.
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