New Labels Gathering Steam Despite Industry Slowdown

(continued from page 7, tion on the Pop Album chart. The album's dent in that area," says pianist/compos- ternber" also achieved #1 status on the Black sented on the Cash Box charts include New second single, "Reunited," has occupied er/arranger Dave Grusin, who, along with Contemporary Singles chart and the #6 England, whose "Don't Ever Want To Lose the #1 position on the Pop Singles chart for partner Larry Rosen, last year formed GRP position on the Pop Singles chart. Another Ya" single is poised at #52 bullet on the Top the past three weeks and has held the top to provide a concentrated marketing base top selling record for ARC is the single en- 100 chart and whose self -titled debut LP spot on the Black Contemporary Singles for the artists they had been working with titled "Boogie Wonderland," an Earth, Wind stands at #90 bullet on the Top 200 chart; chart for one month. through Grusin -Rosen Productions. and Fire/Emotions collaboration. The Spyro Gyra, whose latest LP occupies the "Reunited" has been certified platinum "We've had two releases so far," adds single is currently shooting up the Pop #3 position of the Top 40 Jazz Album chart and "2 Hot" itself is nearing double pla- Grusin, a masterful jazz player and sound- Singles chart at #32 bullet. and #51 spot on the Top 200 chart; and Or- tinum status, while the LP's first single, track composer for film and television who ARC, which is not quite a year old, will leans, whose "Love Takes Time" single sits "Shake Your Groove Thing," has received a plans to release a solo album on GRP early soon release a new LP by Earth, Wind & at #17 on the pop singles chart and whose gold certification. "Shake Your Groove next year. "Both Angela Bofill and Dave Fire; new Deniece Williams and Pockets "Forever" LP stands at #59 bullet on the Thing" rose to the #5 spot on the Cash Box Valentin did well on the jazz charts, and LPs in June; and a double album by pro- Pop Album chart. Pop Singles chart and the #2 bullet slot on Angela made a successful crossover into gressive jazz heavyweight Weather Report Not quite one year old, Infinity has in- the Black Contemporary Singles chart. in mid -summer. An album by the Emotions creased the size of its roster to 25 acts with Perren, who through his independent Valentin's "Legends" LP reached the #31 will probably be released in August. Other the recent signings of rock group Screams Grand Slam production company, has position of the Jazz chart, but it is Bofill who ARC artists include Valerie Carter, Deniece and solo artist Tom Jans. recently produced such acts as Gloria makes the strongest point for jazz cross- Williams, John Hall (formerly of Orleans), Infinity's latest staff addition is Mike Gaynor, Yvonne Elliman and Tavares over. Her debut album, "Angie," climbed to Reggie Knighton, Pockets, D.J. Rogers, Atkinson, who has assumed the position of for other labels. He is currently laying #4 on the Jazz chart, #32 on the Black Caston and Majors, Ren Woods and Peter A&R director for the west coast. Although down track with MCA's Adrissi Brothers, Contemporary chart and #73 on the Pop McCann. the company's east coast staff recently and will be going into the studio shortly to chart. Logan Westbrook's Source Records, moved into permanent headquarters, the produce the second Peaches and Herb GRP's roster now includes, in addition to which was financed through matching west coast staff will be housed in tempo- album. Bofill and Valentin, Roland Vasquez's funds from MCA's New Ventures program rary quarters until the new MCA Universal Richard Perry's Planet Records is Urban Ensemble, Jay Hoggard and Tom and the Federal government, received gold City building is finished in January. The another company that has enjoyed suc- Browne. The label has increased its staff to certifications for the latest album and single label will soon be making personnel addi- cess with its first releases from a re- six, with the newest members being by Chuck Brown & The Soul Searchers, tions east and west in the areas of artist vitalized act, The Pointer Sisters. The Rhonda Shore, director of publicity, and both titled "Bustin' Loose." development, publicity and creative Pointers, famous for reviving the hit tunes Bonnie Feingold, director of A&R. Source Expansion services. of the '30s and '40s, have changed their At the opposite end of the spectrum from In operation for less than a year, Source Producer Labels musical direction to one of interpreting the GRP is EMI America/UA, the Capitol -EMI has seen its roster swell to five acts while Three newly formed labels - MVP, classics of contemporary rock. subsidiary which greatly expanded its the staff has increased from four to 12. Planet and GRP - are spearheaded by The trio (Bonnie having gone off to pur- roster size and staff with the recent ac- While some new labels have established leading record producers - Freddie sue a solo career) received gold certifica- quisition of United Artists Records. themselves and continue to flourish, others Perren, Richard Perry and Dave Grusin, tions for both the "Energy" LP and its first In the nine months prior to its merger are just getting started. One such label is respectively. Both MVP and Planet have re- single, "Fire." with UA, EMI America signed Michael Nashville -based Free Flight Records. The leased hit records by reemerging artists, Planet, which is distributed by Elek- Johnson, Robert Johns, Gambler, Pam label was established on Jan. 4, the 50th while GRP has made strong inroads into the tra/Asylum, will be releasing the debut Stanley, and the J. Geils Band. All of the anniversary of parent RCA. jazz -pop crossover market with new artists album from Night shortly, as well as the acts found some degree of chart success. Free Flight will be releasing six singles in such as Angela Bofill and Dave Valentin. soundtrack to the film, "The Champ." The J. Geils Band led the pack as its "Sanc- the next eight weeks, according to market- Peaches and Herb, the only act on MVP, 'Boutique' Approach tuary" album reached #54 spot on the Pop ing vice president Joe Galante, as well as has been one of the major comeback stor- The Arista Records-distributed GRP Album chart and its single. "Just One Last debut albums by Mychael, Bama, FCC and ies in recent years. Herb, who had several label exemplifies the "boutique" approach Kiss," attained the #37 position on the Pop Alex. Label releases to date include Pamela hits in the mid -'60s, found a new Peaches in to record manufacturing. By concentrating Singles chart. Michael Johnson's "Bluer Neal's "Charlie Hustle," a novelty record Linda Greene in 1976. its efforts on a limited number of artists with Than Blue" was the label's first release and about baseball star Pete Rose, and "Boogie The duo's first collaboration on the re- broad based appeal, GRP has had chart- charted top ten. With Your Baby," a disco 45 by Debbie cently formed MVP label was "2 Hot," which ing records on the Cash Box Jazz and Pop "Originally, the label was to be a west Peters. was released in October, 1978. The "2 Hot" LP charts. coast rock 'n' roll label that looked for Another new label that only recently re- LP remained on top of the Cash Box Black "We're not in the. pop mainstream, but authentic talent, allowing true artists to rise leased its first product is the Atlantic -dis- Contemporary Album chart for one month there seems to be a healthy market for jazz through the system," says EMI/UA presi- tributed Hilltak Records. Founded by and is currently holding down the #3 posi- crossover, and we're beginning to make a dent Jim Mazza. "Since we have con- industry veterans Tom Takoyoshi and Hil- solidated, we have a much bigger and lary Johnson, Hilltak began as a black - broader musical spectrum that now takes oriented label but is now branching out into Ocean Records Debuts With Style in R&B, jazz and country." the pop arena. (continued from page 8) New York. A third is planned for Atlanta. A Management Label The first records from Hilltak have all with, every one has hit it big so far. Ocean is national promotion director will be an- ARC Records, a company formed by the been by new acts, including albums by going to be a big competitor out here. We'll nounced soon. management team of Cavallo and Ruffalo Dalton and Dubarri, Broadway, Patty keep the roster small so we can give each of Label's First Artist in association with Maurice White of Earth, Williams and The Guess Who (a familiar our artists the special attention they need to Kreiner and Cossie are particularly en- Wind and Fire, is a label that has also had its name with all new personnel). make it big." thusiastic about the label's first artist, share of triumphs. Says Takayoshi of his nine -month old Echoing his partner's philosophy, Cos - Ullanda, with Kreiner predicting, "She's go- Distributed by CBS, the label's first label's performance during a rough period sie added, "We want quality, not quantity. ing to be a superstar. The number of peo- success came with Earth, Wind and Fire's for the industry in general, "Just the fact This is what's made us successful so far: we ple she's recorded with is phenomenal. gold selling single, "September," from its that we are still going forward is quite an ac- formulate and put together very well - She's backed up Chic, Carly Simon, Diana platinum -certified "Best Of" album. "Sep- complishment." planned marketing campaigns. We don't Ross, Bette Midler. She makes good just throw a piece of product out. And the singers sound even better." artists we work with are not treated like Ullanda will receive wider exposure pieces of product. They're artists who we when she goes on a 40 -city tour with Ash- try to develop into an entity. A lot of people ford & Simpson, who wrote the title track in the disco business predicate everything from her "Love Zone" LP. on the record. We base our foundation on our artist. Artist visibility is vital." Ocean has offices on both coasts, one in NARAS Elects Beverly Hills and another on Broadway in New Governors Lord Delfont, Brooke (continued from page 8) (instrumentalists & musicians), Archie Jor- Named To EMI Posts dan (arrangers), Bob Schanz LONDON - Sir John Read, EMI Ltd. chair- (photographers), Brad McCuen (spoken man of the board, announced the recent word), Chic Doherty (associate), John appointments of Lord Delfont as chief ex- Denny, Mervin Littlefield, Jerry Teifer and ecutive of the company and Roger Brooke Roger Sofine (at -large). as managing director of the EMI Group. Incumbent governors in Nashville are Lord Delfont's appointment was effective Buzz Cason, Bill Justis, Jerry Gillespie, May 17, while Brooke will join the company Mari john Wilkin, Les Ladd, Charlie McCoy, on June 4. Bill Purcell, Lynn Schults, Ed Penny, Aaron Commenting on his appointment, Lord Brown, Don Butler, John Sturdivant, Delfont said, "I am delighted in the board's Sheldon Kurland and John McCarthy.

confidence in me. I am particularly pleased Incumbent L.A. governors include RINGING BELLS Anita Ward, whose new single "Ring My Bell" from her "Songs of to continue my long association with Sir Marilyn Baker, Garnett Brown, Jackie Love "/LP, both on Juana Records, recently dropped in at T.K. Productions main offices in

John Read ... and I look forward to work- DeShannon, Bruce Johnson, Mauri Hialeah, Florida, and chatted with T.K. president Henry Stone. Pictured enjoying them- ing closely with Roger Brooke, who will be Lathower, Tom Noonan, Benny Powell, Sue selves above are (l-r): Henry Stone, Ward, producer Frederick Knight and manager Chuck joining the company soon." Raney, Al Schmitt and Alfred Schlesinger. Holmes.

Cash Box/June 2,1979 45 www.americanradiohistory.com