Carrere
Encyclopedia
Carrere was a French record label
which specialized in euro disco
and pop
. Claude Carrere was the founder. He started working with Annie Chancel in 1962 and renamed her Sheila, who remained his sole artist for a while. He set up Carrere Productions and the records were distributed by Philips Records
. In the late 60s, he created Disques Carrere. In 1972, he produced and distributed his own releases. A lot of singers would be signed alongside Sheila, the most important ones being Ringo (Sheila's husband), Dalida
and even Claude François
. In 1977, Sheila and B. Devotion
was created and Carrere started exporting his releases.
In 1978, Freddie Cannon, the Managing Director, and Peter Hinton, A&R
Manager, signed power pop
band the Incredible Band
and followed this in 1979 with the NWOBHM band Saxon
, who released their eponymous debut album the following year. In 1981, they also signed the Australian rock band, The Church
.
The label also released the final album by The Buggles
, 1981's Adventures in Modern Recording
. It was distributed in the United States through Columbia Records
. In 1985, Carrere released the four track EP 'Tomorrow Never Comes' by NWOBHM group Scorched Earth, with lead singer Dave Cooper Singer/Songwriter
In 1993, Carrere closed down, but the Carrere family still has the rights for its catalogs.
Other artists of note on the label were Dollar
, who enjoyed a number of hits with the label, Clout, who had a worldwide hit with their 1978 single "Substitute
" and Dutch girl group
Luv'
that scored successful singles (including "Ooh, Yes I Do
" in late 1979
) in Benelux
and German speaking countries. Boney M
and Ottawan
were also be huge hits for the label.
Record label
In the music industry, a record label is a brand and a trademark associated with the marketing of music recordings and music videos. Most commonly, a record label is the company that manages such brands and trademarks, coordinates the production, manufacture, distribution, marketing and promotion,...
which specialized in euro disco
Euro disco
Euro disco is an all encompassing colloquial term used to describe a variety of European electronic dance music that first originated from disco in the 1970s; incorporating elements of pop, New Wave and rock into disco-like continuous dance atmosphere...
and pop
Pop music
Pop music is usually understood to be commercially recorded music, often oriented toward a youth market, usually consisting of relatively short, simple songs utilizing technological innovations to produce new variations on existing themes.- Definitions :David Hatch and Stephen Millward define pop...
. Claude Carrere was the founder. He started working with Annie Chancel in 1962 and renamed her Sheila, who remained his sole artist for a while. He set up Carrere Productions and the records were distributed by Philips Records
Philips Records
Philips Records is a record label that was founded by Dutch electronics company Philips. It was started by "Philips Phonographische Industrie" in 1950. Recordings were made with popular artists of various nationalities and also with classical artists from Germany, France and Holland. Philips also...
. In the late 60s, he created Disques Carrere. In 1972, he produced and distributed his own releases. A lot of singers would be signed alongside Sheila, the most important ones being Ringo (Sheila's husband), Dalida
Dalida
Dalida , born with Italian name of Iolanda Cristina Gigliotti, was a world-famous singer and actress born in Egypt with Italian origins but naturalised French with the name Yolanda Gigliotti. She spent her early years in Egypt amongst the Italian Egyptian community, but she lived most of her adult...
and even Claude François
Claude François
Claude François was a French pop singer, songwriter and dancer. He wrote "Comme d'habitude," the original version of "My Way."-Early life:...
. In 1977, Sheila and B. Devotion
Sheila (and) B. Devotion
Sheila & B. Devotion was a disco group fronted by French singer Sheila between 1977 and 1980. This formation briefly reached popularity in Europe and to a lesser extent in the US club circuit during the disco era...
was created and Carrere started exporting his releases.
In 1978, Freddie Cannon, the Managing Director, and Peter Hinton, A&R
A&R
Artists and repertoire is the division of a record label that is responsible for talent scouting and overseeing the artistic development of recording artists. It also acts as a liaison between artists and the record label.- Finding talent :...
Manager, signed power pop
Power pop
Power pop is a popular musical genre that draws its inspiration from 1960s British and American pop and rock music. It typically incorporates a combination of musical devices such as strong melodies, crisp vocal harmonies, economical arrangements, and prominent guitar riffs. Instrumental solos are...
band the Incredible Band
Incredible Kidda Band
The Incredible Kidda Band were a British power pop band formed in Nuneaton on 10 February 1976, and composed of Alan Hammonds vocals), Graham “Kidder” Hammonds , John Rollason , Les Rollason , Graham “Dick” Millington...
and followed this in 1979 with the NWOBHM band Saxon
Saxon (band)
Saxon are an English heavy metal band, formed in 1976 in Barnsley, Yorkshire. As front-runners of the New Wave of British Heavy Metal, they had 8 UK Top 40 albums in the 1980s including 4 UK Top 10 albums. Saxon also had numerous singles in the Top 20 singles chart...
, who released their eponymous debut album the following year. In 1981, they also signed the Australian rock band, The Church
The Church (band)
The Church is an Australian rock band formed in Sydney in 1980. Initially associated with new wave and the neo-psychedelic sound of the mid 1980s, their music later became more reminiscent of progressive rock, featuring long instrumental jams and complex guitar interplay...
.
The label also released the final album by The Buggles
The Buggles
The Buggles were an English New Wave band consisting of Trevor Horn and Geoff Downes . They are remembered chiefly for their 1979 debut single "Video Killed the Radio Star" that was #1 on the singles chart in 16 countries. Its music video was the first to be shown on MTV in the U.S...
, 1981's Adventures in Modern Recording
Adventures in Modern Recording
Adventures in Modern Recording is the second and last studio album by the British synthpop duo The Buggles released in 1981 on Carrere Records. Made one year after their stint as members of Yes, the album contains nine tracks, including a stripped-down version of Yes's "Into the Lens", here...
. It was distributed in the United States through Columbia Records
Columbia Records
Columbia Records is an American record label, owned by Japan's Sony Music Entertainment, operating under the Columbia Music Group with Aware Records. It was founded in 1888, evolving from an earlier enterprise, the American Graphophone Company — successor to the Volta Graphophone Company...
. In 1985, Carrere released the four track EP 'Tomorrow Never Comes' by NWOBHM group Scorched Earth, with lead singer Dave Cooper Singer/Songwriter
In 1993, Carrere closed down, but the Carrere family still has the rights for its catalogs.
Other artists of note on the label were Dollar
Dollar (band)
Dollar are a pop vocal duo from the UK, consisting of David Van Day and Thereza Bazar. The duo were successful in the late 1970s and 1980s.-Career:...
, who enjoyed a number of hits with the label, Clout, who had a worldwide hit with their 1978 single "Substitute
Substitute (Clout song)
"Substitute" is a song by Willie H. Wilson, covered in 1978 by the South African band Clout.Recorded first by The Righteous Brothers and released in 1975 on their album The Sons of Mrs. Righteous, and the song was also covered by Gloria Gaynor...
" and Dutch girl group
Girl group
A girl group is a popular music act featuring several young female singers who generally harmonise together.Girl groups emerged in the late 1950s as groups of young singers teamed up with behind-the-scenes songwriters and music producers to create hit singles, often featuring glossy production...
Luv'
Luv'
Luv is a Dutch pop girl group that scored a string of hit records in Continental Europe as well as South Africa, Australia, New Zealand, Canada and Mexico in the late 1970s and early 1980s. In 1979, Luv' was "Holland's best export act" and thus received the "Conamus Export Prize"...
that scored successful singles (including "Ooh, Yes I Do
Ooh, Yes I Do
Ooh, Yes I Do is the ninth single by Dutch girl group Luv', released in the autumn of 1979 by CNR/Carrere Records. This song appears on the formation's third studio album True Luv'. It was a successful hit record in Benelux and Denmark and reached the Top 50 in Germany and France...
" in late 1979
1979 in music
See also:Record labels established in 1979* 1979 in music This is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 1979.-January–February:*January 1...
) in Benelux
Benelux
The Benelux is an economic union in Western Europe comprising three neighbouring countries, Belgium, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg. These countries are located in northwestern Europe between France and Germany...
and German speaking countries. Boney M
Boney M
Boney M. is a Eurodisco group created by German record producer Frank Farian. Originally based in Germany, the four original members of the group's official line-up were Jamaicans Liz Mitchell and Marcia Barrett, Maizie Williams from Montserrat and Bobby Farrell from Aruba...
and Ottawan
Ottawan
Ottawan were a French eurodisco duo in the late 1970s and early 1980s.-Career:They were fronted by lead singer Jean Patrick and Annette , with Daniel Vangarde and Jean Kluger the main songwriters. They are best known for their two hit singles "D.I.S.C.O." and "Hands Up "...
were also be huge hits for the label.