Laurie Records
Parent companyCapitol Music Group/Universal Music Group
FoundedMarch 1958 (1958-03)
FounderRobert Schwartz
Gene Schwartz
Allan I. Sussel
GenrePop, rock
Country of originU.S.
LocationNew York City

Laurie Records was an American record label established in New York City in 1958, by brothers Robert and Gene Schwartz, and Allan I. Sussel. Among the recording artists on Laurie's roster were Dion and the Belmonts (both together and as separate acts), The Chiffons, The Jarmels, The Mystics, Bobby Goldsboro, and The Royal Guardsmen.

History

Sussel's earlier record company, Jamie Records (named after his elder daughter), had been unsuccessful, and as a result, Sussel (1924–2003) joined forces with Gene Schwartz (1920–1999) to found Laurie Records, named after his other daughter, Laura Sue Sussel. By the early 1960s, Elliot Greenberg, an arranger and friend of Schwartz's, gained a 12% ownership of the company, and Gene's younger brother Bob Schwartz also became involved. Songwriter Ernie Maresca also played an active role in the company.[1] The company grew to include subsidiary labels, most notably Andie Records, named after Sussel's youngest daughter, Andrea Jo Sussel; it later changed its name to Rust Records.

Dion and the Belmonts were responsible for the first of Laurie's hit singles with their 1958 doo-wop song, "I Wonder Why". Using top New York session musicians in leading recording studios, and produced by Gene Schwartz, Dion and the Belmonts had several national hits on Laurie. When Dion started a solo career, the hits on Laurie continued with "Runaround Sue" and "The Wanderer". The label had continuing success especially with the Chiffons ("He's So Fine" and "One Fine Day", both 1963), and the Royal Guardsmen ("Snoopy vs. the Red Baron", 1966). Then, with Dion's return to the company after several years with Columbia, he had further success with "Abraham, Martin and John" (1968). The company also licensed English records during the British Invasion period, including "Don't Let the Sun Catch You Crying" (1964) and "Ferry Cross the Mersey" (1965) by Gerry and the Pacemakers.[1] Jo Siopis, a well known record producer and wife of Gerry & the Pacemakers' bass player, Les Chadwick, was instrumental in the distribution of Laurie Records albums in the United States.

Being a small independent record label, Laurie's chart successes usually occurred one at a time and, for the most part, with one-off hits, as was the case with the Mystics, Randy & the Rainbows, and the Jarmels. Another sizable hit for the label was the controversial song "Once You Understand", written and produced by the songwriting team of Lou Stalmman and Bobby Susser and released by the duo in 1971 under the pseudonym Think. In 1966, Laurie released a psychedelic single, "Charity" by the Gray Things, which appears on multiple compilation albums, including Mindrocker, a 13-CD anthology of US 1960s psychedelic recordings released in Germany in 1982. "Charity" was issued in limited quantities.

The label also distributed records under several subsidiary labels, including Rust, Legrand, Calico, President, Providence,[2] Dolphin (not to be confused with the Liberty-owned Dolphin/Dolton label).

Laurie changed its name in the early 1980s to 3C Records. 3C stands for Continental Communications Corporation and the master recordings that 3C produced are owned by the Capitol Records unit of Universal Music Group.

Label variations

The label variations for Laurie singles were of three types: First, a grey label with Laurie Records written across the top. This was used for first release only, #3013. It then changed to a sky blue label, with the same basic printing of Laurie Records, from #3013 thru #3020. After the first few singles had been released, it changed to the typically recognized label of four red corners with the black square at the hole punch, with Laurie written at the top, from #3021 onward. Of those earlier releases, only #3013 and #3015, both releases by Dion & the Belmonts, were regular re-issues as part of the more familiar label design.

Laurie Records artists

See also

References

  1. 1 2 Mike Callahan and David Edwards, The Laurie Story, BSN, 2009. Retrieved 2 July 2020
  2. ↑ Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. 1967-07-08.
  3. ↑ The Discography of Laurie Records show "Charity" by the "Gray Things" as record No. LR 3367
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