Enterprise Records

Last updated
Enterprise Records
Parent company Stax Records
Founded1967 (1967)
Defunct197? (197?)
StatusDefunct
GenreVarious
Country of originUnited States

Enterprise Records was started in 1967 as a sub-label of Stax Records. It's best-known recording artist during its existence was Isaac Hayes, who secured a #1 R&B and pop crossover smash in 1971 with the soundtrack hit "Theme from Shaft". In addition to Isaac Hayes, Big Ben Atkins, Cliff Cochran, Connie Eaton, Maynard Ferguson , O.B. McClinton, David Porter, Eric Mercury and Little Sonny also recorded for the label.

Contents

Background

Enterprise was a subsidiary of the Stax label. It was founded in 1967. [1]

In May 1968, parent company Stax ended its relationship with the Atlantic label as they had merged with Gulf- Western Industries, Inc. which was the umbrella org. of Paramount Pictures. The upper management of Stax remained the same with Jim Stewart staying on as president and Al Bell staying on as vice-president. They were to work directly with Arnold D. Burk, who was the vice -president in charge of music operations for Paramount Pictures . [2] It appears at the time, Enterprise was regarded as a jazz-folk label. [3]

An example of some of the success Enterprise was having can be seen in the May 16, 1970 issue of Billboard where the label had three albums in the Billboard Best Selling Soul albums chart. The The Isaac Hayes Movement album by Isaac Hayes was at no. 1, the Gritty, Groovy, & Gettin' It album by David Porter was at no. 4, and the Hot Buttered Soul album by Isaac Hayes was at no. 10. [4] The two Isaac Hayes LPs were also at no. 1 and no. 6 respectively in the Best Selling Jazz LP's chart that week. [5]

History

It was reported by Billboard in the magazine's June 29, 1968, issue that Maynard Ferguson had recently joined the Enterprise record label. [6]

Albums on the Enterprise label that were "happening as per Ed Ochs' Soul Sauce column in Billboard, September 4, 1971 included Shaft by Isaac Hayes & the Bar-Kays, Victim of the Joke by David Porter, Funky Rock by Eric Mercury, Black & Blue by Little Sonny. [7] Also that year, the Patchouli album by Big Ben Atkins was released on Enterprise ENS-102. [8] [9]

It was reported by Billboard in the May 12, 1973 issue that Enterprise was in the process of signing Weldon Lane, a former Capitol artist. They had just released an album for O.B. McClinton and were rushing out a single of his. They had also purchased a master recording in Orlando of Paige O'Brien, and released her single. They had also released a single by local artist Dale Yard. The session was described as done with the total "Memphis country sound". The label had also purchased some masters from the Capitol label. The first of them was a Roland Eaton recording which was re-mixed and then released. Enterprise were also about to released a single by Birmingham artist, Roger Hallmark, and an LP album by Eddie Bond. At the time the label's director of the country operation was Jerry Seabolt. [10]

On the week of July 3, 1973, the Live at the Sahara Tahoe by Isaac Hayes was at its second week at no. 1 on the Record World R&B LP chart. [11] [12] [13]

It was reported by Billboard in the magazine's May 25, 1974, issue that Stax Records via its Enterprise subsidiary was expanding its country division. It had recently signed three artists to the label. The label's country promoter and coordinator Merlin Littlefield said there would be more to come. With the expansion, Bill Hickman and Carol Stevenson had taken up positions in the office. For some time, Enterprise's country division had [O.B. McClinton] as their only artist. The recent additions were, Connie Eaton who had been Chart Records and the Atlanta GRC label, and Cliff Cochran who would be produced by Joe Allison and Hank Cochran. Larry Butler who was an independent producer in Nashville was to handle most of the production and recording. [14] Also in the same issue, Bill Williams reported in his Nashville Scene section that when Cliff Cochran was to cut his new single for the label, his cousin-in-law, Jeannie Seely would be joining him on harmony vocals. The label also thought they were getting Jan Howard by she changed her mind and went to the Atlanta-based GRC Records label. [15]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Booker T. & the M.G.'s</span> American R&B/funk band

Booker T. & the M.G.'s were an American instrumental R&B/funk band that was influential in shaping the sound of Southern soul and Memphis soul. The original members of the group were Booker T. Jones, Steve Cropper (guitar), Lewie Steinberg (bass), and Al Jackson Jr. (drums). In the 1960s, as members of the Mar-Keys, the rotating slate of musicians that served as the house band of Stax Records, they played on hundreds of recordings by artists including Wilson Pickett, Otis Redding, Bill Withers, Sam & Dave, Carla Thomas, Rufus Thomas, Johnnie Taylor and Albert King. They also released instrumental records under their own name, including the 1962 hit single "Green Onions". As originators of the unique Stax sound, the group was one of the most prolific, respected, and imitated of its era.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sam & Dave</span> American soul and R&B duo

Sam & Dave were an American soul and R&B duo who performed together from 1961 until 1981. The tenor (higher) voice was Sam Moore and the baritone/tenor (lower) voice was Dave Prater (1937–1988).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Isaac Hayes</span> American musician and actor (1942–2008)

Isaac Lee Hayes Jr. was an American singer, songwriter, composer, and actor. He was one of the creative forces behind the Southern soul music label Stax Records, serving as both an in-house songwriter and as a session musician and record producer, teaming with his partner David Porter during the mid-1960s. Hayes and Porter were inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2005 in recognition of writing scores of songs for themselves, the duo Sam & Dave, Carla Thomas, and others. In 2002, Hayes was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Johnnie Taylor</span> American singer and songwriter (1934–2000)

Johnnie Harrison Taylor was an American recording artist and songwriter who performed a wide variety of genres, from blues, rhythm and blues, soul, and gospel to pop, doo-wop, and disco. He was initially successful at Stax Records with the number-one R&B hits "Who's Making Love" (1968), "Jody's Got Your Girl and Gone" (1971) and "I Believe in You " (1973), and reached number one on the US pop charts with "Disco Lady" in 1976.

Stax Records is an American record company, originally based in Memphis, Tennessee. Founded in 1957 as Satellite Records, the label changed its name to Stax Records in 1961. It also shared its operations with sister label Volt Records.

<i>Hot Buttered Soul</i> 1969 studio album by Isaac Hayes

Hot Buttered Soul is the second studio album by American soul musician Isaac Hayes. Released in 1969, it is recognized as a landmark in soul music. Recorded with The Bar-Kays, the album features four lengthy tracks, including a 12-minute version of the Burt Bacharach/Hal David cover "Walk On By" and an almost 19-minute long version of Jimmy Webb's "By the Time I Get to Phoenix;" both songs were edited significantly and released as a double A-side single in July 1969.

Southern soul is a type of soul music that emerged from the Southern United States. The music originated from a combination of styles, including blues, country, early R&B, and a strong gospel influence that emanated from the sounds of Southern black churches. Bass guitar, drums, horn section, and gospel roots vocal are important to soul groove. This rhythmic force made it a strong influence in the rise of funk music. The terms "deep soul", "country soul", "downhome soul" and "hard soul" have been used synonymously with "Southern soul".p. 18

<span class="mw-page-title-main">David Porter (musician)</span> American record producer, singer and songwriter

David Porter is an American record producer, singer, songwriter, entrepreneur and philanthropist.

The Soul Children was an American vocal group who recorded soul music for Stax Records in the late 1960s and early 1970s. They had three top 10 hits on the U.S. Billboard R&B chart – "The Sweeter He Is" (1969), "Hearsay" (1972), and "I'll Be the Other Woman" (1973) – all of which crossed over to the Billboard Hot 100.

<i>Shaft</i> (Isaac Hayes album) 1971 soundtrack album by Isaac Hayes

Shaft is a double album by Isaac Hayes, recorded for Stax Records' Enterprise label as the soundtrack LP for Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer's 1971 blaxploitation film Shaft. The album mostly consists of instrumentals composed by Hayes as score for the film. Three vocal selections are included: "Soulsville", "Do Your Thing", and "Theme from Shaft". A commercial and critical success, Shaft is Hayes' best-known work and the best-selling LP ever released on a Stax label.

Theme from <i>Shaft</i> 1971 song by Isaac Hayes

"Theme from Shaft", written and recorded by Isaac Hayes in 1971, is the soul and funk-styled theme song to the Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer film Shaft. The theme was released as a single two months after the movie's soundtrack by Stax Records' Enterprise label. "Theme from Shaft" went to number two on the Billboard Soul Singles chart and to number one on the Billboard Hot 100 in the United States in November 1971, and number one in Canada in December. The song was also well received by adult audiences, reaching number six on Billboard's Easy Listening chart and number four in Canada. The song is considered by some to be one of the first disco songs.

<i>Black Moses</i> (album) 1971 studio album by Isaac Hayes

Black Moses is the fifth studio album by American soul musician Isaac Hayes. It is a double album released on Stax Records' Enterprise label in 1971. The follow-up to Hayes' successful soundtrack for Shaft, Black Moses features Hayes' version of The Jackson 5's hit single "Never Can Say Goodbye". Hayes' version became a hit in its own right, peaking at number 22 on the Billboard Hot 100. The album reached number one on the Billboard R&B album chart on January 15, 1972.

<i>Presenting Isaac Hayes</i> 1968 studio album by Isaac Hayes

Presenting Isaac Hayes is the debut studio album by American soul musician Isaac Hayes. The album was released in 1968, by Enterprise and Atlantic Records. The LP was the first release on Stax Records' Enterprise label; Hayes had for several years served as one of Stax's key songwriters, producers, and studio musicians.

<i>...To Be Continued</i> (Isaac Hayes album) 1970 studio album by Isaac Hayes

...To Be Continued is the fourth studio album by American soul musician Isaac Hayes, issued in 1970 on Stax Records' Enterprise label. The LP includes Hayes' cover of the Burt Bacharach/Hal David composition "The Look of Love", which was issued as a single in an edited form, peaking at #79 on the Billboard Hot 100. Hayes had covered Bacharach/David songs on his previous albums Hot Buttered Soul and The Isaac Hayes Movement.

<i>Hold On, Im Comin</i> 1966 studio album by Sam and Dave

Hold On, I'm Comin' is the 1966 debut album by Atlantic Records soul duo Sam & Dave, issued on the Atlantic-distributed Stax label in 1966.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Isaac Hayes discography</span> Cataloging of published recordings by Isaac Hayes

This article contains a comprehensive collection of information related to recordings by American soul and funk musician, Isaac Hayes.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Willie Hall (drummer)</span> American drummer (born 1950)

Willie Clarence Hall is an American drummer best known for his work with Isaac Hayes and as a member of the Blues Brothers band.

<i>Complete & Unbelievable: The Otis Redding Dictionary of Soul</i> 1966 studio album by Otis Redding

Complete & Unbelievable: The Otis Redding Dictionary of Soul, or simply Dictionary of Soul, is the fifth studio album by American soul singer-songwriter Otis Redding and his last solo studio album released before his death. The successful Otis Blue and the following performance at Whisky a Go Go led to his rising fame across the United States. The first side of the album mainly contains cover versions, and the second songs mainly written by Redding.

<i>Chocolate Chip</i> (album) 1975 studio album by Isaac Hayes

Chocolate Chip is the seventh studio album by American soul musician Isaac Hayes. It was released in 1975 by ABC Records through Hayes' own imprint, Hot Buttered Soul Records, marking Hayes' first release after leaving the then-financially troubled Stax label. The album was Hayes's segue into the emerging disco scene and featured horns and layered beats, while maintaining his traditional soulful vocals. “Chocolate Chip” was certified Gold by the RIAA for sales of over 500,000 copies. It reached number one on the Billboard R&B Albums chart the week ending August 9, 1975 and stayed in the top position for two weeks. It was his seventh and final number one album.

<i>Live at the Sahara Tahoe</i> 1973 live album by Isaac Hayes

Live at the Sahara Tahoe is the first live album by American soul musician Isaac Hayes, released in 1973 by Stax Records' Enterprise imprint. It was recorded live at the Sahara Hotel & Casino in Stateline, Nevada. The performance was arranged and orchestrated by Onzie Horne.

References

  1. ↑ C VINYL - LABEL GUIDE: ENTERPRISE
  2. ↑ Billboard, June 29, 1968 - Page 1 Stax Moves in Int'l, Artist, Film Areas By BRUCE WEBER (Continued on page 10)
  3. ↑ Billboard, June 29, 1968 - Page 8 Stax Moves in Int'l, Artist, Film Areas By BRUCE WEBER (Continued from page 1)
  4. ↑ Billboard, May 16, 1970 - Page 51 Soul, Billboard BEST SELLING SOUL LP'sBillboard SPECIAL SURVEY For Week Ending 5/16/70
  5. ↑ Billboard, May 16, 1970 - Page 32 Billboard BEST SELLING JAZZ LP's
  6. ↑ Billboard, June 29, 1968 - Page 8 Stax Moves in Int'l, Artist, Film Areas By BRUCE WEBER (Continued from page 1)
  7. ↑ Billboard, September 4, 1971 - Page 28 Soul, Soul Sauce By ED OCHS, SOUL SLICES:, Album Happenings:
  8. ↑ Rockasteria, Sunday, May 14, 2023 - Ben Atkins - Patchouli (1971 us, sweet silky folk r 'n' b, 2021 korean remaster)
  9. ↑ Both Sides Now Publications - Enterprise Album Discography by David Edwards and Mike Callahan, ENTERPRISE ALBUM DISCOGRAPHY, 1000 series:, ENS-1021 - Patchouli - Ben Atkins (1971)
  10. ↑ Billboard, May 12, 1973 - Page 27 Country Music, Stax Country Group In Expansion Surge
  11. ↑ Record World, June 23, 1973 - Page 44 THE R&B LP CHART, 3. LIVE AT THE SAHARA TAHOE
  12. ↑ Record World, June 30, 1973 - THE R&B LP CHART, 1. LIVE AT THE SAHARA TAHOE
  13. ↑ Record World, July 7, 1973 - Page 42 THE R&B LP CHART, 1. LIVE AT THE SAHARA TAHOE
  14. ↑ Billboard, May 25, 1974 - Page 40 Country Music, Stax Expanding Enterprise, Signs Country Artists
  15. ↑ Billboard, May 25, 1974 - Page 40 Country Music, Nashville Scene By BILL WILLIAMS

See also

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.