Manhattan Records
Encyclopedia
Manhattan Records is a United States
record label, owned by EMI
and operates as a subsidiary of The Blue Note Label Group
.
by Bruce Lundvall, and was later renamed EMI Manhattan Records after absorbing EMI America Records
imprint. In addition to being a fully functional label in its own right, EMI Manhattan was also used to reissue back catalogue titles from Capitol Records, as well as other EMI imprints, such as United Artists Records
and Liberty Records
. It also distributed new albums from Gamble and Huff
's Philadelphia International Records
during the later half of the 1980's as well, after a 15 year stint with CBS Records
. The deal also gave EMI the distribution rights to PIR's back catalog from 1976 onward (CBS, later Sony, would retain the rights to PIR's catalog up to 1975).
The primary artist released on EMI Manhattan Records was Kenny Rogers
. His hugely successful United Artists Records and Liberty albums, including "The Gambler" and "We've Got Tonight" were reissued on CD via EMI Manhattan. The label was also used to reissue singles (at that time, issued on vinyl 45s). Again, the main artist was Rogers. His biggest hits, including "The Gambler," "Lucille," and "Lady" were reissued on singles in the 1980s.
Notable artists signed to EMI Manhattan Records included: Richard Marx
, Queensrÿche
, Red Hot Chili Peppers
, Robbie Nevil
, Natalie Cole
(her two Manhattan albums would later be bought by Elektra Records
), Anoushka Shankar
, Baltimora
, and Thomas Dolby
. Pet Shop Boys
were also distributed in North America on the label, being signed and distributed in the UK by Parlophone. In 1992
, EMI Manhattan was dismantled and absorbed into Capitol Records with the catalog bearing the EMI label.
In 2001
, the Manhattan label was relaunched (sans the “EMI” prefix) as a division of Capitol Jazz
and Classics by veteran record producer Arif Mardin
. Richard Marx, one of its flagship artists during the label's heyday, returned to the label upon its revival. In 2006
, EMI reorganized its adult music operations and put the Manhattan label in the Blue Note Label Group.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
record label, owned by EMI
EMI
The EMI Group, also known as EMI Music or simply EMI, is a multinational music company headquartered in London, United Kingdom. It is the fourth-largest business group and family of record labels in the recording industry and one of the "big four" record companies. EMI Group also has a major...
and operates as a subsidiary of The Blue Note Label Group
The Blue Note Label Group
The Blue Note Label Group was formed in late 2006 by major record company EMI. It contains the following labels it is home to many alternative, classical and jazz artists.-Labels under Blue Note Label Group:* Angel Records* Back Porch Records...
.
Company history
Manhattan Records was formed in 19841984 in music
This is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 1984.-Janury-March:*January 21 – "Relax" by Frankie Goes to Hollywood reaches number one in the UK singles chart, despite being banned by the BBC; it spends a total of forty-two weeks in the Top 40.*January 27 – Michael Jackson's...
by Bruce Lundvall, and was later renamed EMI Manhattan Records after absorbing EMI America Records
EMI America Records
EMI America Records was started in 1978 by EMI as a second US label next to Capitol Records. It absorbed Liberty Records in 1984. In the late 1980s EMI America was consolidated with Manhattan Records to form EMI Manhattan Records, which later became known simply as EMI in 1990, then part of EMI...
imprint. In addition to being a fully functional label in its own right, EMI Manhattan was also used to reissue back catalogue titles from Capitol Records, as well as other EMI imprints, such as United Artists Records
United Artists Records
United Artists Records was a record label founded by Max E. Youngstein of United Artists in 1957 initially to distribute records of its movie soundtracks, though it soon branched out into recording music of a number of different genres.-History:...
and Liberty Records
Liberty Records
Liberty Records was a United States-based record label. It was started by chairman Simon Waronker in 1955 with Al Bennett as president and Theodore Keep as chief engineer. It was reactivated in 2001 in the United Kingdom and had two previous revivals.-1950s:...
. It also distributed new albums from Gamble and Huff
Gamble and Huff
Kenneth Gamble and Leon A. Huff are an American songwriting and record production team who have written and produced over 170 gold and platinum records. They were pioneers of Philadelphia soul and the in-house creative team for the Philadelphia International record label...
's Philadelphia International Records
Philadelphia International Records
Philadelphia International Records is a record label founded by writer-producers, Kenneth Gamble and Leon Huff in 1971. It was famous for showcasing the sub-genre of Philadelphia soul music and released a string of worldwide hits during the decade.-History:...
during the later half of the 1980's as well, after a 15 year stint with CBS Records
Sony Music Entertainment
Sony Music Entertainment ' is the second-largest global recorded music company of the "big four" record companies and is controlled by Sony Corporation of America, the United States subsidiary of Japan's Sony Corporation....
. The deal also gave EMI the distribution rights to PIR's back catalog from 1976 onward (CBS, later Sony, would retain the rights to PIR's catalog up to 1975).
The primary artist released on EMI Manhattan Records was Kenny Rogers
Kenny Rogers
Kenneth Donald "Kenny" Rogers is an American singer-songwriter, photographer, record producer, actor, and entrepreneur...
. His hugely successful United Artists Records and Liberty albums, including "The Gambler" and "We've Got Tonight" were reissued on CD via EMI Manhattan. The label was also used to reissue singles (at that time, issued on vinyl 45s). Again, the main artist was Rogers. His biggest hits, including "The Gambler," "Lucille," and "Lady" were reissued on singles in the 1980s.
Notable artists signed to EMI Manhattan Records included: Richard Marx
Richard Marx
Richard Noel Marx is an American adult contemporary and pop/rock singer, songwriter, musician, and record producer. He had a string of hit singles in the late 1980s and 1990s, including "Endless Summer Nights", "Right Here Waiting", "Now and Forever", and "Hazard"...
, Queensrÿche
Queensrÿche
thumb|250px|right|Queensrÿche's classic line-up performing at the [[Sauna Open Air Metal Festival]] 2011 in [[Tampere]], [[Finland]]. Left to right: bass Eddie Jackson, lead vocals Geoff Tate, drums Scott Rockenfield and guitars Michael Wilton....
, Red Hot Chili Peppers
Red Hot Chili Peppers
Red Hot Chili Peppers is an American rock band, formed in Los Angeles in 1983. The group's musical style primarily consists of rock with an emphasis on funk, as well as elements from other genres such as punk, hip hop and psychedelic rock...
, Robbie Nevil
Robbie Nevil
Robert S. "Robbie" Nevil is an American pop singer, songwriter, producer and guitarist. He is best known for his 1986 Billboard Hot 100 #2 hit, "C'est La Vie".-Life and career:...
, Natalie Cole
Natalie Cole
Natalie Maria Cole , is an American singer, songwriter and performer. The daughter of jazz legend Nat King Cole, Cole rode to musical success in the mid-1970s as an R&B artist with the hits "This Will Be ", "Inseparable" and "Our Love"...
(her two Manhattan albums would later be bought by Elektra Records
Elektra Records
Elektra Records is an American record label owned by Warner Music Group. In 2004, it was consolidated into WMG's Atlantic Records Group. After five years of dormancy, the label was revived by Atlantic in 2009....
), Anoushka Shankar
Anoushka Shankar
Anoushka Shankar is a British Indian sitar player and composer who lives between the United States, the United Kingdom, and India. She is the daughter of Indian sitar player Ravi Shankar and Sukanya Shankar...
, Baltimora
Baltimora
Baltimora were an Italian New Wave dance outfit active in the mid to late 1980s. The group comprised Jimmy McShane , Maurizio Bassi , Giorgio Cocilovo , Claudio Bazzari , Pier Michelatti and Gabriele Melotti...
, and Thomas Dolby
Thomas Dolby
Thomas Dolby is an English musician and producer. Best known for his 1982 hit "She Blinded Me with Science", and 1984 single "Hyperactive!", he has also worked extensively in production and as a session musician.-Early life:Dolby was born in London, England, contrary to information in early 1980s...
. Pet Shop Boys
Pet Shop Boys
Pet Shop Boys are an English electronic dance music duo, consisting of Neil Tennant, who provides main vocals, keyboards and occasional guitar, and Chris Lowe on keyboards....
were also distributed in North America on the label, being signed and distributed in the UK by Parlophone. In 1992
1992 in music
This is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 1992.-January–February:*January 11**Nirvana's Nevermind album goes to #1 in the US Billboard 200 chart, establishing the widespread popularity of the Grunge movement of the 1990s....
, EMI Manhattan was dismantled and absorbed into Capitol Records with the catalog bearing the EMI label.
In 2001
2001 in music
See also:* 2001 in music Record labels established in 2001-Events:*January 1**Comeback of Guns N' Roses in House of Blues**Hum disbands.*January 17 – Bass player Jason Newsted leaves Metallica after 14 years with the band....
, the Manhattan label was relaunched (sans the “EMI” prefix) as a division of Capitol 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...
and Classics by veteran record producer Arif Mardin
Arif Mardin
Arif Mardin was a Turkish-American music producer, who worked with hundreds of artists across many different styles of music, including jazz, rock, soul, disco, and country...
. Richard Marx, one of its flagship artists during the label's heyday, returned to the label upon its revival. In 2006
2006 in music
This is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 2006.-January:*January 10 – Eric Burdon releases his album Soul of a Man and begins touring with a new band....
, EMI reorganized its adult music operations and put the Manhattan label in the Blue Note Label Group.