JMI Records

Last updated
JMI Records
Founded1971;53 years ago (1971) (as J-M-I Records)
Founder Jack Clement
Distributor(s)Independent
GenreVarious
Country of origin United States
Location Nashville, Tennessee, U.S.

JMI Records (Jack Music International) was an American record label founded in 1971 by Jack Clement, [1] and was primarily active until 1974, when the catalog was sold to ABC-Dot Records. [2] It was notable for having been the record label that first signed several country music singers and songwriters that would come to dominate the American country music charts of the 1970s, including singer Don Williams, and songwriters Bob McDill and Allen Reynolds. [3]

Contents

History

Background (1964-1971)

Jack Clement was an American singer, songwriter and record producer active between 1954-2013. [4] Clement rose to prominence in the country music scene in the 1950s and 1970s collaborating with such stars as Johnny Cash, Charley Pride, Bobby Bare, Jerry Lee Lewis, Waylon Jennings and Ray Charles. His success allowed him to build his own state of the art recording studio in Nashville, Tennessee in the mid-1960s, and eventually he was able to fulfill his ambition of having his own recording label, J-M-I Records, in 1971. [5]

Active Years (1971-1974)

At the record labels' inception, the goal was to create an atmosphere centered around the inventive talents of a variety of highly skilled Nashville studio musicians and songwriters. [5] In the distribution announcement for the new company, it was noted that the releases would not be marketed under any specific categories. This meant that artists would be free to record whatever styles they wanted, regardless of how the recordings would fit into the existing commercial formats of the early 1970s country music scene. [1]

The first two albums released on the record label were "Short Stories" by Bob McDill and "Finally Getting Home" by Susan Taylor (formerly of the Pozo Seco Singers) in 1972. [6]

Allen Reynolds was brought on as vice-president from the outset, and he can be credited with bringing on Don Williams to J-M-I records in 1972. [2] The labels initial offerings were considered more modern fare by the commercial press, and Williams' first single, released in the summer of 1972, became the first official "country music" release by the label. [7] Williams released his first two albums with J-M-I, but moved to ABC-Dot Records when that company purchased J-M-I's catalog. [2]

Big Ken Smith of Tennessee Pulleybone spoke of the demise of J-M-I Records in a 2002 interview:

'"Our single, “The Door's Always Open,” did well. It was #1 in all the major markets, but never at the same time because JMI didn’t have the distribution. Our 3rd single got some airplay, but it didn’t get the airplay that “The Door's Always Open” did. Right after that, JMI folded because without distribution, it’s tough. Allen Reynolds, who was at JMI at the time, was going to go do a distribution deal with one of the big labels, but it never panned out." [8]

Contributions

Partial List of Artists that have recorded and worked with J-M-I Records:

Discography

Partial list of recordings known to have been released on J-M-I Records, including artist, release name and year.

Albums
ArtistReleaseYearRef.
Bob McDill"Short Stories"1972 [6] [9]
Susan Taylor"Finally Getting Home"1972 [10]
Don Williams"Don Williams Volume One"1973 [11] [12]
Don Williams"Don Williams Volume Two"1974 [11] [12]
Singles
ArtistReleaseYearRef.
Tennessee Pullybone"The Door Is Always Open"1973 [13]
Don Williams"The Shelter Of Your Eyes"1973 [14]
Don Williams"Come Early Morning"1973 [14]
Don Williams"Atta Way to Go"1973 [14]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jack Clement</span> American singer-songwriter and record producer (1934–2013)

Jack Henderson Clement was an American singer-songwriter and record and film producer. He was producer and engineer for Sam Phillips at Sun Records in its early days, and worked with Carl Perkins, Roy Orbison, Jerry Lee Lewis and Johnny Cash.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Don Williams</span> American country music singer-songwriter (1939–2017)

Donald Ray Williams was an American country music singer, songwriter, and 2010 inductee into the Country Music Hall of Fame. He began his solo career in 1971, singing popular ballads and amassing seventeen number one country hits. His straightforward yet smooth bass-baritone voice, soft tones, and imposing build earned him the nickname "The Gentle Giant". In 1975, Williams starred in a movie with Burt Reynolds and Jerry Reed called W.W. and the Dixie Dancekings.

<i>Dreaming My Dreams</i> (Waylon Jennings album) 1975 studio album by Waylon Jennings

Dreaming My Dreams is the twenty-second studio album by American country music artist Waylon Jennings. The album was co-produced with Jack Clement and recorded at Glaser Sound Studio in Nashville, Tennessee, between February and July 1974.

Allen Reynolds is an American record producer and songwriter who specializes in country music. He has been inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame and the Musicians Hall of Fame and Museum.

Robert Lee McDill is a retired American songwriter, active from the 1960s until 2000. During his career he wrote or co-wrote 31 number one country hits. His songs were also recorded by popular artists of the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s, including The Grateful Dead, Ray Charles, Joe Cocker, Anne Murray, and B. J. Thomas. His music credits in film include Primary Colors, The Thing Called Love, Texasville, and the documentary Grizzly Man. In addition to four Grammy nominations McDill received Songwriter of the Year awards from Broadcast Music Incorporated, the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers, and the Nashville Songwriters Association International. In October 2012, McDill was awarded ASCAP's Golden Note Award in recognition of his "extraordinary place in American popular music." In September 2015 he received the Academy of Country Music's Poet's Award for lifetime achievement. In April 2023 he was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame. He is the author of two books: Tales of the Old River Rod and Gun, Bloody Mary Society andGentleman's Club and The Ancestors and Descendants of Robert Nathanial McDill.

"Catfish John" is a song written by Bob McDill and Allen Reynolds first released on McDill's album Short Stories, and subsequently recorded and released by American country music artist Johnny Russell. It was released in November 1972 as the fourth single from the album, "Catfish John"/"Chained". The song is credited with propelling Bob McDill into the front ranks of country songwriters.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Don Williams discography</span>

This is a detailed discography for American country music singer-songwriter Don Williams that includes information on all of his studio albums, singles, greatest hits compilations and live albums. Don Williams was active from 1967 until his death in 2017. He was one of the best-selling male vocalists in country music in the 1970s and early 1980s.

Tennessee Pulleybone was a band formed in Cookeville, Tennessee. The original group featured "Big" Ken Smith (Bass), Jerry Tuttle (Instrumentalist), Biff Watson (Guitar), and John Wolters (Drums). Later members were Dave Gillon (Guitar), Tom Hamilton, and Thomas "Bones" Kaelin (Drums). Their recording of "The Door Is Always Open" on JMI Records hit the Billboard Country chart on September 8, 1973 and peaked at 75. Other singles on JMI Records were "I Ain't In A Long, Long Time", and "Clean Your Own Tables". After JMI Records closed, the band went on to sign with RCA Records and began touring with Willie Nelson, Bobby Bare, Freddy Fender, Gary Stewart and numerous others. Still today they are often referred to as the first country band to sign to a major label. Some of their songs were written by Dave Gillon who also wrote hits for other artists such as Roy Clark, and Kenny Rogers.

"The Door is Always Open" is a country song written by Dickey Lee and Bob McDill. First recorded by Tennessee Pulleybone for JMI Records, it went to number 75 on the Hot Country Songs chart in 1973. A version by Lois Johnson, also in 1975, went to number 70 on the country music chart.

"If Hollywood Don't Need You (Honey I Still Do)" is a song written by Bob McDill, and recorded by American country music artist Don Williams. It was released in November 1982 as the third single from the album Listen to the Radio. The song was Williams' thirteenth number one single on the country chart. The single went to number one for one week and spent a total of twelve weeks on the chart.

Fletcher Bangs "Biff" Watson is an American guitarist, songwriter, and producer. His musicianship has been a part of recording sessions for many artists.

<i>Don Williams Volume One</i> 1973 studio album by Don Williams

Don Williams Volume One is the debut studio album by American country music singer Don Williams. Released in 1973 on the JMI Records label, the album reached number five on the US Country Albums Chart. It was re-issued in 1974 on the ABC DOT label and subsequently in 1980 on the MCA label. "The Shelter of Your Eyes" and "Come Early Morning" were released as singles in 1973.

<i>Don Williams Volume Two</i> 1974 studio album by Don Williams

Don Williams Volume Two is the second studio album by American country music singer and songwriter Don Williams. Released in January of 1974 on the JMI Records label, the album reached number thirteen on the US Country Albums Chart. "Atta Way to Go" was released in 1973 as a single preceding the album, and "We Should Be Together" and "Down the Road I Go" were released as singles in 1974.

<i>Youre My Best Friend</i> (album) 1975 studio album by Don Williams

You're My Best Friend is the fourth studio album by American country music singer-songwriter Don Williams. Released in April 1975 on the ABC-Dot label, the album reached number five on the US Country Albums chart. "You're My Best Friend" and "(Turn Out the Light And) Love Me Tonight" were released as singles in 1975, both reaching number one on the Billboard country singles chart.

<i>Short Stories</i> (Bob McDill album) 1972 studio album by Bob McDill

Short Stories is the first LP album by the award-winning American songwriter Bob McDill, released in 1972 by J-M-I Records. It is notable for being the only known album recorded by the successful country music writer. It is also notable as being the first full-length album released on the short lived J-M-I Records label. Several of the songs from the album, including "Catfish John" and "Come Early Morning" would go on to have chart success covered by other artists, including Don Williams and Johnny Russell.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Come Early Morning (Bob McDill song)</span> 1973 single by Don Williams

"Come Early Morning" is a song written by Bob McDill, which was initially recorded by McDill for his JMI Records album Short Stories, released in 1972. It was subsequently recorded by American country music artist Don Williams. It was released in April 1973 as the second single from his debut album Don Williams Volume One, and it would be a number twelve country chart hit.

"The Shelter of Your Eyes" is a song written and recorded by American country music artist Don Williams. It was released in December 1972 as his debut single and the first from his album Don Williams Volume One. The single release would be the first commercial single released by 1970s country star Don Williams, and it would be a number twelve country chart hit.

"Atta Way To Go" is a song written and recorded by American country music singer Don Williams. It was in November 1973 as the first single from the album Don Williams Volume Two. The single would reach number thirteen on the Billboard hot country chart. The track was produced by Allen Reynolds, who also produced Williams' previous top 20 chart hits.

<i>Visions</i> (Don Williams album) 1977 studio album by Don Williams

Visions is the sixth studio album by American country music singer-songwriter Don Williams. Released on January 17, 1977, on the ABC-Dot label, the album reached number four on the US Country Albums chart. "Some Broken Hearts Never Mend" was released as a single in 1977, reaching number one on the Billboard country singles chart. Visions was the first of two Don Williams albums released in 1977, along with Country Boy, which was released later the same year.

"We Must Believe in Magic" is a song written by Allen Reynolds and Bob McDill and originally released by Crystal Gayle on her fourth studio album We Must Believe in Magic (1977).

References

  1. 1 2 "Clements' JMI Records Turns Best Foot Forward". Billboard. Vol. 83, no. 47. Nov 20, 1971. p. 82.
  2. 1 2 3 Stambler and Landon, Irwin and Grelun (1997). Country Music: The Encyclopedia. New York, NY: St. Martin's Griffin. p. 539. ISBN   0312151217.
  3. ↑ Kingsbury, Paul (Dec 16, 2004). The Encyclopedia of Country Music. New York, New York: Oxford University Press. p. 589. ISBN   9780195176087.
  4. ↑ "Country Hall of Fame Elects Kenny Rogers, Bobby Bare, Jack Clement". CMT.COM. April 10, 2013. Archived from the original on July 11, 2015. Retrieved November 17, 2019.
  5. 1 2 "Jack Clement Leads Varied Life In Music". Billboard. Vol. 84, no. 24. Jun 10, 1972. pp. JC-4.
  6. 1 2 Bottstein, Dan (May 20, 1972). "New York". Billboard. Vol. 84, no. 21. p. 18.
  7. ↑ "JMI Issues First Country". Billboard. Vol. 84, no. 27. Jul 1, 1972. p. 35.
  8. ↑ Freeman, Anne (December 15, 2002). "The Tennessee Pulleybone: A Forgotten Piece of Country Music History". Music Dish. Retrieved November 23, 2019.
  9. ↑ "Bob McDill - Short Stories". AllMusic. November 23, 2019. Retrieved November 23, 2019.
  10. ↑ "Finally Getting Home - Susan Taylor". AllMusic. November 23, 2019. Retrieved November 23, 2019.
  11. 1 2 "Volume One/Volume Two - Don Williams". AllMusic. November 23, 2019. Retrieved November 23, 2019.
  12. 1 2 "Artist Chart History – Don Williams". Billboard . Retrieved 2010-12-02.
  13. ↑ "Billboard Hot Country Singles". Billboard. Vol. 85. No. 38. September 22, 1973. p. 30 – via Google Books.
  14. 1 2 3 Whitburn, Joel (2008). Hot Country Songs 1944 to 2008. Record Research, Inc. pp. 463–464. ISBN   978-0-89820-177-2.
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