Revolution Records (Canada)

Last updated
Revolution Records
Founded1968;55 years ago (1968)
FounderMort Ross, Doug Riley, Terry Brown
Distributor(s) Compo Co.
GenrePopular music
Country of originCanada

Revolution Records was a Canadian Record company. It was also the parent company for the Revolver label. It had success with hits from artists such as Dianne Brooks and Motherlode.

Contents

Background

Incorporated in October 1968, the company was co-founded by Mort Ross, Doug Riley and Terry Brown. [1] The company started up in February, 1969. [2] They were located at 31 Prince Arthur Avenue, Toronto. [3] [4]

Ross was a veteran Canadian composer, instrumentalist and arranger. He also composed advertising jingles.

In the beginning, the intention was not to start off as a record company. They wanted to build a recording facility with equipment superior to that of other Canadian studios at the time. But with the studio having been built and ready for business in August 1969, two Doug Riley demos that had been recorded with Dianne Brooks as the vocalist. Impressed with what they had heard and the demos being "So good they had to be released", Revolver Records came into being. [5]

Revolution's label for releases was Revolver Records. [6] In addition to Brooks and Motherlode, artists to have recordings released on the Revolver label also included Leigh Ashford, Chimo! and Moe Koffman. [7]

History

1960s

By March Dianne Brooks' single, "Walkin' on My Mind" had been released by their subsidiary Revolver. [8] By 21 April, the song had entered the RPM Weekly Canadian Content Chart at No. 10. [9] By May 2, it made it to No. 4 on the RPM chart. It peaked at No. 67 nationally. [10] Mort Ross had travelled to New York to set up the distribution deal with Ray Charles's Tangerine label for the United States distribution of Brooks' new record single. The deal also involved any future releases from Brooks. A distribution deal was set up for England with Morgan Records handling that task. For distribution in Canada, the Compo Company was chosen. They were also negotiating US and UK distribution deals and package tours for Motherlode. [11]

Also in May, Motherlode's new single "When I Die" had been released on Revolver REVS-002. [12] The label incorporated a promo using gimmick mailers in their extensive campaign for the group. [13]

By September 1969, "When I Die" had got to No. 12 on the Cash Box Top 100. [14] It got to No.1 on the RPM Weekly chart. [15]

As it appeared in Billboard's October 25, 1969 issue, due to corporate disagreements between partners, the company would be splitting. Terry Brown and Doug Riley who would continue to work together had split with Mort Ross. [16] By the end of November, Ross had total control of Revolution Records Limited and Revolution Music Limited. At the time, artists under contract to the label included Motherlode, Dianne Brooks, Moe Koffman and Hagood Hardy. [17]

1970s

In 1970, Hagood Hardy's single, "New World in the Morning" bw "Soon", was released on REVS-007. [18] [19] It was the artist's first single for the label. [20] The songs were performed live on The Barbara McNair Show on November 29, 1970. [21]

As of February 1971, Mort Ross was president of Revolution Music Ltd. and Doug Riley was president of Dr. Music Productions. [22]

In December 1970, the group Leigh Ashford had their single out on the Revolver label. A distribution deal between Revolver and RCA had been signed. In addition to Leigh Ashford, other acts included Chimo!, Motherlode and Jam Jar. [23] By early 1971, Leigh Ashford's single "Dickens" was charting at CKOC. It was also making its way up the RPM100 Singles chart. [24] [25]

Further reading

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References

  1. ↑ Billboard, May 24, 1969 - Page C-34 Radio Legislation Should Better Recording Studios
  2. ↑ Billboard, October 25, 1969 - Page 82 Canadian News Report, Two Revolution Partners Split With 3d; Co. Revamps
  3. ↑ RPM Weekly, Volume 12, No. 15, November 29, 1969 - Page 5 ROSS GAINS CONTROL OF REVOLUTION
  4. ↑ Record World, December 6, 1969 - Page 50 Independent Record Producers
  5. ↑ Billboard, May 24, 1969 - Page C-34 Radio Legislation Should Better Recording Studios
  6. ↑ RPM Weekly, Volume 12, No. 5, September 20th, 1969 - Page 9 Special Section, REVOLUTION IS HERE TO STAY
  7. ↑ Discogs - Revolver (2)
  8. ↑ Billboard , March 15, 1969 - Page 64 From The Music Capitals of the World, College Music Contest Opens Talent Hunt
  9. ↑ RPM Weekly , Volume 11, No. 8, Week of April 21st. 1969 - Page 4 RPM Weekly Canadian Content Chart
  10. ↑ Canaukstan Music - Dianne Brooks, Walkin' on My Mind / Need to Belong - 7" by Michael Panontin
  11. ↑ Billboard, May 24, 1969 - Page C-34 Radio Legislation Should Better Recording Studios
  12. ↑ Billboard, May 3, 1969 - Page 6 Canadian News Report, From The Music Capitals Of The World, Compo List of New Releases
  13. ↑ Billboard, May 3, 1969 - Page 6 Canadian News Report, From The Music Capitals Of The World, TORONTO
  14. ↑ Tropicalglen.com - CASH BOX Top 100 Singles, Week ending SEPTEMBER 27, 1969
  15. ↑ Library and Archives Canada - Image : RPM Weekly, RPM 100, Page 5
  16. ↑ Billboard, October 25, 1969 - Page 82 Canadian News Report, Two Revolution Partners Split With 3d; Co. Revamps
  17. ↑ RPM Weekly, Volume 12 No. 15, November 29, 1969 - Page 5 ROSS GAINS CONTROL OF REVOLUTION
  18. ↑ 45Cat - Revolver - Label Discography
  19. ↑ The Canadian Pop Music Encyclopedia - HARDY, Hagood, Singles
  20. ↑ Billboard, July 18, 1970 - Page 70 International News Reports, From The Music Capitals of the World
  21. ↑ Lights, Camera, Backbeat - New World In The Morning, Soon
  22. ↑ Billboard, February 6, 1971 - Page 68 Canadian News Report, CIRPA Lists, Aims, Objectives by RITCHIE YORKE
  23. ↑ Billboard, December 19, 1970 - Page 57 Canadian News Report, Ross Label & RCA in a Deal
  24. ↑ RPM Weekly, Volume 14 No 23 January 23, 1971 - Page 9 RPM100 SINGLES
  25. ↑ Billboard, February 6, 1971 - Page 68 Canada's Content Rule For Radio in 1st Week
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