In 2017, Capitol Records will be turning 75. In celebration
of this milestone, the iconic record label will be launching a year-long,
75-album reissue campaign that includes titles from some of their most iconic
artists, as well as a photo and essay book and a documentary series. They will
also become the first record label to get a star near the Hollywood Walk of
Fame, located right in front of Capitol Tower.
Join Vinyl Bay 777 in taking a brief look back at the rise
of Capitol Records and its impact on the music industry.
Capitol Records was created in 1942 by songwriter Johnny
Mercer, songwriter/producer Buddy DeSylva and record store owner Glenn
Wallichs, and grew pretty rapidly from the start. Within four months of its
launch, it already had a number one hit under its belt with Ella Mae Morse’s “Cow-Cow
Boogie.” In its first eight years, they had signed such artists as Peggy Lee,
Tennessee Ernie Ford, Les Paul, Sammy Davis Jr. and more, and became one of the
“Big Six” record labels. And by the 1950s, EMI acquired a lion’s share of
Capitol, giving them the option of releasing a number of British recordings in
the United States.
In the 1960s, two iconic bands called Capitol Records home;
the Beach Boys and the Beatles. The
Beach Boys, who had been releasing music on the label since they formed in
1962, put out many of their most well-known albums with them, including ‘Surfin’
Safari,’ ‘Surfin’ U.S.A’ and ‘Pet Sounds.’ As a subsidiary of EMI, Capitol
chose to release The Beatles’ music in the United States, guaranteeing that
Beatlemania would flourish stateside.
Over the years, Capitol has acquired and merged with several
smaller labels, continuing to expand the scope of artists they could sign. The
1960s saw a surge in rock bands, while the 2000s, thanks to a merger with Priority
Records, saw the addition of hip-hop and R&B artists to the roster.
Not only has Capitol Records’ roster been filled with iconic
names in music, but their building is iconic as well. The first circular office
building in California, the building is 13 floors with a shape that
unintentionally looks like records stacked above a phonograph. It includes
several recording studios, underground echo chambers and a pyre that blinks the
word “Hollywood” in Morse code. The building was featured in several films, as
well as on the labels of many Capitol Records pressings, and is a Los Angeles
Historic Cultural Monument and landmark.
Capitol Records has been the home of many iconic artists for
nearly 75 years. Having released some of the most iconic albums in pop culture,
the label’s impact will be felt for years to come as new generations keep
discovering what makes music so great.
Find music from Capitol Records’ past and present rosters at
in store at Vinyl Bay 777 and online at vinylbay777.com. We carry thousands of
new and used titles on vinyl, CD, cassette and more!
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