Mainstream Records
Encyclopedia
Mainstream Records was an American record label
, which released jazz
, rock music
, and soundtrack
s during the 1970s.
It was founded in 1964 by Bob Shad
, and in its early history reissued material from Commodore Records
and Time Records
in addition to some new jazz material. The label released Big Brother & the Holding Company's first material in 1967, as well as The Amboy Dukes' first albums, whose guitarist, Ted Nugent, would become a successful solo artist in the 1970s. Mainstream acted as the distributing label for Bob Thiele
's Flying Dutchman Records
and continued issuing soundtracks and new jazz material through to 1978, when it ceased.
Shad died in 1985, and his daughter, Tamara Shad, licensed its back catalogue for reissues. In 1991 it was resurrected in order to reissue much of its holdings on compact disc
and, in 1993, it was purchased by Sony
subsidiary Legacy Records.
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 released jazz
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
, rock music
Rock music
Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...
, and soundtrack
Soundtrack
A soundtrack can be recorded music accompanying and synchronized to the images of a motion picture, book, television program or video game; a commercially released soundtrack album of music as featured in the soundtrack of a film or TV show; or the physical area of a film that contains the...
s during the 1970s.
It was founded in 1964 by Bob Shad
Bob Shad
Bob Shad was an American music producer and record label owner. He produced the first album by Big Brother and the Holding Company...
, and in its early history reissued material from Commodore Records
Commodore Records
Commodore Records was a United States-based independent record label known for issuing many well regarded recordings of jazz and swing music....
and Time Records
Time Records
-Labels:As well as the eponymous "Time Records" the company stable includes "Riserec" or "Rise Records and "Oxyd Records".-Rise Records:Founded 1998.Artists include:* Mousse T* Deepswing* Alex Gaudino* Ricky L* Avicii* Dirty South* Riva Starr...
in addition to some new jazz material. The label released Big Brother & the Holding Company's first material in 1967, as well as The Amboy Dukes' first albums, whose guitarist, Ted Nugent, would become a successful solo artist in the 1970s. Mainstream acted as the distributing label for Bob Thiele
Bob Thiele
Bob Thiele was an American record producer who worked on countless classic jazz albums and record labels.-Biography:...
's Flying Dutchman Records
Flying Dutchman Records
Flying Dutchman Records was a jazz record label which was owned by veteran music industry executive, producer and songwriter Bob Thiele. Initially distributed by Atlantic Records, it was later distributed by RCA Records which took over the label in 1976...
and continued issuing soundtracks and new jazz material through to 1978, when it ceased.
Shad died in 1985, and his daughter, Tamara Shad, licensed its back catalogue for reissues. In 1991 it was resurrected in order to reissue much of its holdings on compact disc
Compact Disc
The Compact Disc is an optical disc used to store digital data. It was originally developed to store and playback sound recordings exclusively, but later expanded to encompass data storage , write-once audio and data storage , rewritable media , Video Compact Discs , Super Video Compact Discs ,...
and, in 1993, it was purchased by Sony
Sony
, commonly referred to as Sony, is a Japanese multinational conglomerate corporation headquartered in Minato, Tokyo, Japan and the world's fifth largest media conglomerate measured by revenues....
subsidiary Legacy Records.
Discography
- [MRL 300] Ron Frangipane & His Orchestra - Rated X for Excitement
- [MRL 301] Joe Scott & His Orchestra - Motion Pictures: The NOW Generation
- [MRL 302] Dean Christopher & His Orchestra - Images
- [MRL 303] The Phoenix Authority - Blood, Sweat & Brass
- [MRL 304] Ron Frangipane - The Music of Laura Nyro
- [MRL 305] Ernie WilkinsErnie WilkinsErnest Brooks Wilkins Jr. was a jazz arranger and writer who also played tenor saxophone. He might be best known for his work with Count Basie. He also wrote for Tommy Dorsey, Harry James, and Dizzy Gillespie...
& His Orchestra - Hard Mother Blues - [MRL 306] Bob ShadBob ShadBob Shad was an American music producer and record label owner. He produced the first album by Big Brother and the Holding Company...
& The Bad Men - A 65-Piece Rock Workshop - [MRL 308] Sonny TerrySonny TerrySaunders Terrell, better known as Sonny Terry was a blind American Piedmont blues musician. He was widely known for his energetic blues harmonica style, which frequently included vocal whoops and hollers, and imitations of trains and fox hunts.-Career:Terry was born in Greensboro, Georgia...
& Brownie McGheeBrownie McGheeWalter Brown McGhee was a Piedmont blues singer and guitarist, best known for his collaborations with the harmonica player Sonny Terry.-Life and career:...
- Hometown Blues - [MRL 309] Carmen McRae - Carmen McRae
- [MRL 312] Charles Williams - Charles Williams
- [MRL 313] Roy HaynesRoy HaynesRoy Owen Haynes is an American jazz drummer and bandleader. Haynes is among the most recorded drummers in jazz, and in a career lasting more than 60 years has played in a wide range of styles ranging from swing and bebop to jazz fusion and avant-garde jazz...
- Hip Ensemble - [MRL 314] Harold LandHarold LandHarold de Vance Land was an American hard bop and post-bop tenor saxophonist. Land developed his hard bop playing with the Max Roach/Clifford Brown band into a personal, modern style. His tone was strong and emotional, yet displayed a certain fragility that made him easy to...
- A New Shade of Blue - [MRL 315] Blue MitchellBlue MitchellRichard Allen Mitchell was an American jazz, rhythm and blues, soul, rock, and funk trumpeter, known for many albums recorded as leader and sideman for Riverside, Blue Note and then Mainstream Records.-Biography:...
- Blue MitchellBlue Mitchell (album)Blue Mitchell is an album by American trumpeter Blue Mitchell recorded in 1971 and released on the Mainstream label.-Reception:... - [MRL 316] Maynard FergusonMaynard FergusonMaynard Ferguson was a Canadian jazz musician and bandleader. He came to prominence playing in Stan Kenton's orchestra, before forming his own band in 1957...
- Screamin' Blues - [MRL 317] Dave Hubbard - Dave Hubbard
- [MRL 318] Hadley CalimanHadley CalimanHadley Caliman , was an American bebop saxophone and flute player.After studying at the Jefferson High School with trumpeter Art Farmer and fellow saxophonist Dexter Gordon, Caliman performed or recorded with Carlos Santana, Joe Henderson, Earl Hines, Freddie Hubbard, Jon Hendricks, Earl Anderza,...
- Hadley Caliman - [MRL 319] Maxine WeldonMaxine WeldonMaxine Weldon was an American soul and jazz singer.Weldon recorded two full-lengths in 1970-71, with members of The Jazz Crusaders playing as session musicians on the album. She followed these with Some Singin in 1974, which became her best-selling record, reaching #48 on the Billboard R&B albums...
- Right On - [MRL 320] Clark Terry/Bob Brookmeyer Quintet - Straight No Chaser
- [MRL 321] Morgana KingMorgana KingMorgana King is an American singer and actress. She is a noted jazz singer, who is regarded as a "musician's singer." The musical œuvre of her stylized vocal artistry spans a period of more than four decades and has an "appeal that bridges generations, tastes and life styles"."She is, like all...
- A Taste of Honey - [MRL 322] Gloria ColemanGloria ColemanGloria Coleman was an American musician.Coleman played bass, piano then organ. As a jazz organist she released two albums. The first, Soul Sisters, by the Gloria Coleman Quartet was for the Impulse! Records label. It featured drummer Pola Roberts, Leo Wright and Grant Green. It was produced by...
Ltd.- Sings and Swings Organ - [MRL 323] David Young - David Young
- [MRL 324] Sonny RedSonny RedSonny Red was an American alto saxophonist associated with the hard bop idiom among other styles...
Sonny Red - [MRL 325] Dizzy GillespieDizzy GillespieJohn Birks "Dizzy" Gillespie was an American jazz trumpet player, bandleader, singer, and composer dubbed "the sound of surprise".Together with Charlie Parker, he was a major figure in the development of bebop and modern jazz...
& The Mitchell Ruff Duo - In Concert - [MRL 326] Lightning Hopkins - Dirty Blues
- [MRL 327] Stan Hope - Stan Hope
- [MRL 328] LaMont JohnsonLaMont JohnsonLaMont Johnson was an American jazz pianist who played in the hard bop and post-bop genres. He recorded extensively with Jackie McLean during the 1960s, and also recorded with Ornette Coleman, Kenny Burrell, Bud Shank, Paul Beaver, and Bernie Krause, among others.- Biography :Johnson was born in...
- Sun, Moon and Stars - [MRL 329] Charles McPhersonCharles McPherson (musician)Charles McPherson is an American jazz alto saxophonist born in Joplin, Missouri and raised in Detroit, Michigan, most notable for his work from 1960-1972 with Charles Mingus....
- Charles McPherson - [MRL 330] John White - John White
- [MRL 331] Charles KynardCharles KynardCharles Kynard was an American soul jazz/acid jazz organist born in St. Louis, Missouri, probably better known for his album as leader on Reelin' With the Feelin for Prestige Records...
- Charles Kynard - [MRL 332] Art FarmerArt FarmerArthur Stewart "Art" Farmer was an American jazz trumpeter and flugelhorn player. He also played flumpet, a trumpet/flugelhorn combination designed for him by David Monette. His identical twin brother, Addison Farmer Arthur Stewart "Art" Farmer (August 21, 1928, Council Bluffs, Iowa –...
- Homecoming - [MRL 333] Curtis FullerCurtis FullerCurtis DuBois Fuller is an American jazz trombonist, known as a member of Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers and contributor to many classic jazz recordings.-Biography:...
- Crankin' - [MRL 334] Michael Longo - Matrix
- [MRL 335] Mitchell-Ruff - Strayhorn: A Mitchell-Ruff Interpretation
- [MRL 336] Buddy Terry - Awareness
- [MRL 337] Hal GalperHal Galper-Biography:He studied classical piano as a boy, but switched to jazz which he studied at the Berklee College of Music from 1955 to 1958. He hung out at Herb Pomeroy's club, The Stable, hearing local Boston musicians like Jackie Byard, Alan Dawson and Sam Rivers. Galper started sitting in and became...
- The Guerilla Band - [MRL 338] Carmen McRaeCarmen McRaeCarmen Mercedes McRae was an American jazz singer, composer, pianist, and actress. Considered one of the most influential jazz vocalists of the 20th century, it was her behind-the-beat phrasing and her ironic interpretations of song lyrics that made her memorable...
- Gold - [MRL 339] Maxine WeldonMaxine WeldonMaxine Weldon was an American soul and jazz singer.Weldon recorded two full-lengths in 1970-71, with members of The Jazz Crusaders playing as session musicians on the album. She followed these with Some Singin in 1974, which became her best-selling record, reaching #48 on the Billboard R&B albums...
- Chilly Wind - [MRL 340] Sarah Vaughan - A Time in My LifeA Time in My LifeA Time in My Life is a 1971 studio album by Sarah Vaughan, arranged by Ernie Wilkins.-Reception:The Allmusic review by Bruce Eder awarded the album three and a half stars and said that Vaughan "brings an almost chameleon-like presence to this album...which encompasses a decidedly – almost...
- [MRL 341] Reggie Moore - Wishbone
- [MRL 342] Hadley CalimanHadley CalimanHadley Caliman , was an American bebop saxophone and flute player.After studying at the Jefferson High School with trumpeter Art Farmer and fellow saxophonist Dexter Gordon, Caliman performed or recorded with Carlos Santana, Joe Henderson, Earl Hines, Freddie Hubbard, Jon Hendricks, Earl Anderza,...
- Iapetus - [MRL 343] Blue Mitchell - Vital BlueVital BlueVital Blue is an album by American trumpeter Blue Mitchell recorded in 1971 and released on the Mainstream label.-Reception:The Allmusic review awarded the album 3 stars.-Track listing:# "Booty Shakin'" - 5:20...
- [MRL 344] Harold LandHarold LandHarold de Vance Land was an American hard bop and post-bop tenor saxophonist. Land developed his hard bop playing with the Max Roach/Clifford Brown band into a personal, modern style. His tone was strong and emotional, yet displayed a certain fragility that made him easy to...
- Choma (Burn) - [MRL 345] Charles Williams- Trees, Grass and Things
- [MRL 347] Clark TerryClark TerryClark Terry is an American swing and bop trumpeter, a pioneer of the fluegelhorn in jazz, educator, NEA Jazz Masters inductee, and recipient of the 2010 Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award...
- Angyumaluma Bongliddleany Nannyany Awhan Yi! - [MRL 348] The Night Blooming Jazzmen, featuring Kittie DoswellKittie DoswellKittie Doswell was an American R&B, Soul and Jazz vocalist from Houston, Texas who later in life began a public service career.-Music Career:...
- The Night Blooming Jazzmen - [MRL 349] Frank FosterFrank Foster (musician)Frank Foster was an American tenor and soprano saxophonist, flautist, arranger, and composer. Foster collaborated frequently with Count Basie and worked as a bandleader from the early 1950s.-Biography:...
- The Loud Minority - [MRL 351] Roy HaynesRoy HaynesRoy Owen Haynes is an American jazz drummer and bandleader. Haynes is among the most recorded drummers in jazz, and in a career lasting more than 60 years has played in a wide range of styles ranging from swing and bebop to jazz fusion and avant-garde jazz...
- Senyah - [MRL 352] Carmen McRae - In Person
- [MRL 353] Barry Miles - White Heat
- [MRL 354] Hal GalperHal Galper-Biography:He studied classical piano as a boy, but switched to jazz which he studied at the Berklee College of Music from 1955 to 1958. He hung out at Herb Pomeroy's club, The Stable, hearing local Boston musicians like Jackie Byard, Alan Dawson and Sam Rivers. Galper started sitting in and became...
- Wild Bird - [MRL 355] Morgana King - Cuore di Mama
- [MRL 356] Buddy Terry - Pure Dynamite
- [MRL 357] Mike LongoMike LongoMichael Josef "Mike" Longo is a jazz pianist, composer, and author. He is most known for his work with Dizzy Gillespie.-Early life:...
- The Awakening - [MRL 358] Zoot SimsZoot SimsJohn Haley "Zoot" Sims was an American jazz saxophonist, playing mainly tenor and soprano.-Biography:He was born in Inglewood, California, the son of vaudeville performers Kate Haley and John Sims. Growing up in a performing family, Sims learned to play both drums and clarinet at an early age...
- Otra Vez - [MRL 359] Maynard Ferguson - Dues
- [MRL 360] Arbee StidhamArbee StidhamArbee Stidham was an American blues singer and multi-instrumentalist, most successful in the late 1940s and 1950s....
- A Time for Blues - [MRL 361] Sarah Vaughan - Sarah Vaughan with Michel LegrandSarah Vaughan with Michel LegrandSarah Vaughan with Michel Legrand is a 1972 studio album by Sarah Vaughan, arranged by Michel Legrand.All the songs on the album bar two were composed by Legrand with lyrics by Alan and Marilyn Bergman.-Reception:...
- [MRL 362] Alice Clark - Alice Clark
- [MRL 363] Pete YellinPete YellinPeter Michael Yellin is an American jazz saxophonist, flautist, and clarinetist.Yellin is the son of an NBC studio pianist. He turned down an athletic scholarship at the University of Denver to study at Juilliard under Joseph Allard and Harold Bennett...
- Dance of Allegra - [MRL 365] Charles McPherson - Siku Ya Bibi (Day of the Lady)
- [MRL 366] Charles Kynard - Woga
- [MRL 367] Harold Land - Damisi
- [MRL 368] Charles Brown - Driftin' Blues
- [MRL 369] Ruth Brown - Softly
- [MRL 370] Curtis Fuller - Smokin'
- [MRL 371] Art Farmer - Gentle Eyes
- [MRL 372] Maynard Ferguson - Six by Six
- [MRL 374] Blue Mitchell - Blues' BluesBlues' BluesBlues' Blues is an album by American trumpeter Blue Mitchell recorded in 1972 and released on the Mainstream label.-Reception:The Allmusic review by Scott Yanow awarded the album 2½ stars stating "the music overall is listenable and funky, but not particularly memorable...
- [MRL 375] Shelley Manne - Mannekind
- [MRL 376] Paul JeffreyPaul JeffreyPaul Jeffrey is an American jazz tenor saxophonist, arranger, and educator born in New York City. Perhaps best known for performing with Thelonious Monk from 1970–1975, Jeffrey also worked with musicians including Charles Mingus, Dizzy Gillespie, Clark Terry, Lionel Hampton, B.B...
- Family - [MRL 377] Ellerine Harding - Ellerine
- [MRL 378] Mel Dancy - A Little Lovin'
- [MRL 379] Sarah Vaughan - Feelin' GoodFeelin' Good (Sarah Vaughan album)Feelin' Good is a 1972 studio album by Sarah Vaughan, featuring arrangements by Allyn Ferguson, Jack Elliott, Michel Legrand, Peter Matz -Track listing:# "And the Feeling's Good" Feelin' Good is a 1972 studio album by Sarah Vaughan, featuring arrangements by Allyn Ferguson, Jack Elliott, Michel...
- [MRL 380] Reggie Moore - Furioso
- [MRL 381] Charles Williams - Stickball
- [MRL 382] Barry Miles - Scatbird
- [MRL 384] Jay BerlinerJay BerlinerJay Berliner is an American guitarist and multi-instrumentalist. Starting with his first television experience at age 7 on NBC’s The Children’s Hour with sister Eve, his career has spanned the globe: from the Metropolitan Opera house , where he was house guitarist and mandolinist; to...
- Bananas Are Not Created Equal - [MRL 386] Max Roach/Clifford Brown - DaahoudDaahoudDaahoud is an album by Max Roach and Clifford Brown, released on Mainstream Records in 1954.-Track listing:#"Daahoud"#"I Don't Stand a Ghost of a Chance with You"#"Joy Spring"#"I Get a Kick out of You"#"These Foolish Things "...
- [MRL 388] The Night Blooming Jazzmen - Freedom Jazz Dance
- [MRL 389] Charles KynardCharles KynardCharles Kynard was an American soul jazz/acid jazz organist born in St. Louis, Missouri, probably better known for his album as leader on Reelin' With the Feelin for Prestige Records...
- Your Mama Don't Dance - [MRL 391] Buddy Terry - Lean On Him
- [MRL 392] Blue Mitchell - The Last Tango=Blues
- [MRL 393] Barry (Bagelman) Sisters - Our Way (Tahka - Tahka)
- [MRL 394] Afrique - Soul Makossa
- [MRL 395] Charles McPhersonCharles McPherson (musician)Charles McPherson is an American jazz alto saxophonist born in Joplin, Missouri and raised in Detroit, Michigan, most notable for his work from 1960-1972 with Charles Mingus....
- Today's Man - [MRL 396] Jack WilkinsJack WilkinsJack Wilkins is a guitarist born on June 3, 1944 in Brooklyn, New York. He has played with many jazz greats including Stanley Turrentine, Jimmy Heath, Epitaph , and bassist Eddie Gomez, as well as with singers Mel Tormé, Ray Charles, Morgana King, Sarah Vaughan, Tony Bennett, The Manhattan...
- Windows - [MRL 397] Pete Yellin - It's the Right Thing
- [MRL 398] Hal Galper - Inner Journey
- [MRL 399] Andy Kirk & His 12 Clouds of Joy - March 1936
- [MRL 400] Blue Mitchell - Graffiti BluesGraffiti BluesGraffiti Blues is an album by American trumpeter Blue Mitchell recorded in 1973 and released on the Mainstream label.-Reception:The Allmusic review by Scott Yanow awarded the album 3 stars stating "Although not up to the same level as Blue Mitchell's earlier Blue Note dates, this accessible set...
- [MRL 401] Sarah VaughanSarah VaughanSarah Lois Vaughan was an American jazz singer, described by Scott Yanow as having "one of the most wondrous voices of the 20th century."...
- Live in Japan - [MRL 402] Blue MitchellBlue MitchellRichard Allen Mitchell was an American jazz, rhythm and blues, soul, rock, and funk trumpeter, known for many albums recorded as leader and sideman for Riverside, Blue Note and then Mainstream Records.-Biography:...
- Many Shades of Blue - [MRL 403] Carmen McRae - Live and Doin' It
- [MRL 404] Sarah Vaughan - Sarah Vaughan with the Jimmy Rowles QuintetSarah Vaughan with the Jimmy Rowles QuintetSarah Vaughan and the Jimmy Rowles Quintet is a 1974 live album by Sarah Vaughan, accompanied by pianist Jimmy Rowles and his quintet.-Reception:...
- [MRL 406] Paul Jeffrey - Paul Jeffrey
- [MRL 408] Various Artists - Jazz
- [MRL 409] Various Artists - Billie Holiday Revisted By
- [MRL 412] Sarah Vaughan - Send in the ClownsSend in the Clowns (1974 album)Send in the Clowns is a 1974 album by Sarah Vaughan.This album was re-issued as a Compact Disc by Columbia/Legacy/Sony in 1995.- Track listing :# "Send in the Clowns" - 3:27...
- [MRL 413] Blue Mitchell/Roy Haynes - Booty
- [MRL 414] The Amboy Dukes - Dr. Slingshot
- [MRL 415] The Stroziers - Red Light
- [MRL 417] Jeannie LewisJeannie LewisJeannie Lewis is an Australian musician and stage performer whose work covers many different styles such as folk, jazz, Latin, blues, opera, rock, fusion. Her music often includes a strong social consciousness and she is capable of making very strong political statements in her work.-Early...
- Looking Back to Tomorrow - [MRL 418] Black Blood - A.I.E. (A Mwana)
- [MRL 419] Sarah Vaughan - More Sarah Vaughan/Live in Japan
- [MRL 420] Terry Huff & Special Delivery - The Lonely One
- [MRL 421] Ted NugentTed NugentTheodore Anthony "Ted" Nugent is an American guitarist, musician, singer, author, reserve police officer, and activist. From Detroit, Michigan, he originally gained fame as the lead guitarist of The Amboy Dukes, before embarking on a lengthy solo career...
& The Amboy DukesThe Amboy DukesThe Amboy Dukes were an American rock music band of the late 1960s and early 1970s from Detroit, Michigan, best remembered for their hit single "Journey to the Center of the Mind", and for launching the career of Ted Nugent...
- Ted Nugent & The Amboy DukesThe Amboy Dukes (album)The Amboy Dukes is the first studio album released by The Amboy Dukes featuring Ted Nugent. It was released in November 1967 on Mainstream Records .A remastered CD reissue was released in 1992 by Mainstream Direct Ltd...