Polygon Records
Encyclopedia
Polygon Records was one of the first British
independent record labels.
It was started in 1949
as the Polygon Record Company Ltd. by Alan A. Freeman
and Leslie Clark, who was anxious to control distribution of his daughter Petula Clark
's recordings. (Those associated with it fondly referred to the company as "Dead Parrot Records.") The two set up offices on Grosvenor Place in the Sloane Square
section of London
, and arranged Clark's first recording session with Ron Goodwin
and his orchestra and a vocal backing group called The Stargazers. Since Polygon's UK
distribution had not yet been set up, the first 78rpm single - "You Go to My Head" backed with "Out of a Clear Blue Sky" - was released in Australia
, followed by a cover of Teresa Brewer
's "Music! Music! Music!" backed with "Blossoms on the Bough", both on the Esquire
label.
In fact, the first Polygon release in the UK was not by Clark but by Louis Prima
and his orchestra. Clark's first official Polygon release was "You Are My True Love" (b/w "You're the Sweetest in the Land") in 1950. In all, she recorded more than fifty songs for the label, including a few duets with its other major artist, Jimmy Young
.
Near the end of 1955, Polygon was sold to Nixa Records
, then part of Pye Records
, which lead to the establishment of Pye Nixa Records. Nixa utilized a selection of Clark's Polygon tapes to release her first LP album, Petula Clark Sings.
Clark's complete Polygon catalogue is available on CD - The Polygon Years, Volume One (1950–1952) and The Polygon Years, Volume Two (1952-1955).
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
independent record labels.
It was started in 1949
1949 in music
-Events:*February 4 – Ljuba Welitsch makes her Metropolitan Opera début in Salome.*September 5 - Wagnerian tenor Walter Widdop appears at The Proms, singing "Lohengrin's Farewell", the day before his sudden death at the age of 51....
as the Polygon Record Company Ltd. by Alan A. Freeman
Alan A. Freeman
Alan A. Freeman was an English record producer, remembered for being Petula Clark's producer from 1949 until 1963, when his role was taken over by Tony Hatch...
and Leslie Clark, who was anxious to control distribution of his daughter Petula Clark
Petula Clark
Petula Clark, CBE is an English singer, actress, and composer whose career has spanned seven decades.Clark's professional career began as an entertainer on BBC Radio during World War II...
's recordings. (Those associated with it fondly referred to the company as "Dead Parrot Records.") The two set up offices on Grosvenor Place in the Sloane Square
Sloane Square
Sloane Square is a small hard-landscaped square on the boundaries of the fashionable London districts of Knightsbridge, Belgravia and Chelsea, located southwest of Charing Cross, in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea. The square is part of the Hans Town area designed in 1771 by Henry...
section of London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, and arranged Clark's first recording session with Ron Goodwin
Ron Goodwin
Ronald Alfred Goodwin was a British composer and conductor known for his film music. He scored over 70 films in a career lasting over fifty years....
and his orchestra and a vocal backing group called The Stargazers. Since Polygon's UK
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
distribution had not yet been set up, the first 78rpm single - "You Go to My Head" backed with "Out of a Clear Blue Sky" - was released in Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
, followed by a cover of Teresa Brewer
Teresa Brewer
Teresa Brewer was an American pop singer whose style incorporated elements of country, jazz, R&B, musicals and novelty songs. She was one of the most prolific and popular female singers of the 1950s, recording nearly 600 songs. Born Theresa Breuer in Toledo, Ohio, Brewer died of a neuromuscular...
's "Music! Music! Music!" backed with "Blossoms on the Bough", both on the Esquire
Esquire Records
Esquire Records is the name of two defunct record labels:*Esquire Records , jazz record label founded by Carlo Krahmer and Peter Newbrook in 1947. It issued recordings by British musicians, and others, under licence, from the American Prestige label, the Chicago blues label Delmark, and the Swedish...
label.
In fact, the first Polygon release in the UK was not by Clark but by Louis Prima
Louis Prima
Louis Prima was a Sicilian American singer, actor, songwriter, and trumpeter. Prima rode the musical trends of his time, starting with his seven-piece New Orleans style jazz band in the 1920s, then successively leading a swing combo in the 1930s, a big band in the 1940s, a Vegas lounge act in the...
and his orchestra. Clark's first official Polygon release was "You Are My True Love" (b/w "You're the Sweetest in the Land") in 1950. In all, she recorded more than fifty songs for the label, including a few duets with its other major artist, Jimmy Young
Jimmy Young (disc jockey)
Sir Jimmy Young CBE was a British singer, disc jockey and radio interviewer.-Early life:...
.
Near the end of 1955, Polygon was sold to Nixa Records
Nixa Records
Nixa Record Company Ltd. was founded in 1950 by F. H. B. Nixon. Nixa was the second company, after Decca, in Britain to release LP records. At the time, EMI was attempting to promote 45 rpm records over 33 LP records...
, then part of Pye Records
Pye Records
Pye Records was a British record label. In its first incarnation, perhaps Pye's best known artists were Lonnie Donegan , Petula Clark , The Searchers , The Kinks , Sandie Shaw and Brotherhood of Man...
, which lead to the establishment of Pye Nixa Records. Nixa utilized a selection of Clark's Polygon tapes to release her first LP album, Petula Clark Sings.
Clark's complete Polygon catalogue is available on CD - The Polygon Years, Volume One (1950–1952) and The Polygon Years, Volume Two (1952-1955).
Notable Artists
- Petula ClarkPetula ClarkPetula Clark, CBE is an English singer, actress, and composer whose career has spanned seven decades.Clark's professional career began as an entertainer on BBC Radio during World War II...
- Jimmy YoungJimmy Young (disc jockey)Sir Jimmy Young CBE was a British singer, disc jockey and radio interviewer.-Early life:...
- Dorothy SquiresDorothy SquiresDorothy Squires was a Welsh vocalist. Among her recordings were versions of "A Lovely Way to Spend an Evening", "I'm in the Mood for Love", "Anytime", "If You Love Me " and "And So to Sleep Again".-Biography:...