Tabu Records
Encyclopedia
Tabu Productions was an American record label
founded by Clarence Avant
in 1975. The label focused on R&B and funk
.
went out of business in June 1975. Tabu's flagship
release, “Stormin'” by Brainstorm, was released in 1977. Tabu had a short-lived distribution pact with RCA
, which lasted a year before moving to CBS Records
.
The label focused on R&B and funk
but expanded into other genres such as disco
. Its artists included Lalo Schifrin
("No One Home", 1979) and the SOS Band
("Take Your Time (Do it Right)," 1980).
's Solar Records
. Andrews, who had just begun managing the duo Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis (of the Time
), met with Avant and, through her relationship with him, introduced Jam & Lewis, who produced their first recordings for Avant. Jam & Lewis went on to produce several other recordings for Avant under Dina Andrews Management.
The Time
was hired to produce
The SOS Band
's fourth album for Tabu, On the Rise, which was certified gold on January 16, 1984. While recording in SOS's
home stomping grounds in Atlanta, Georgia
, on March 24, 1983, a freak snowstorm hit, grounding all flights from the city. The duo was scheduled to perform as a part of The Time in San Antonio
at the Hemisfair Arena that night but couldn't get away. Prince
, who owned and managed the Time, fired them on April 18, 1983. The duo stayed in Los Angeles and became songwriter-producers at Larrabee Studios in West Hollywood.
Working with Jam and Lewis
gave Tabu a much-needed shot in the arm. They brought Cherelle and Alexander O'Neal
(the original Time
lead vocalist
) to the label and both had done well; O'Neal released his self-titled album in 1985, and Cherelle's "Fragile" hit the American
R&B charts in 1984. The SOS Band had more hits with "Just The Way You Like It" in 1984 and "Sands of Time" in 1986, the album of which was certified gold on April 6, 1987. So influential was the sound that Robert Palmer covered Cherelle's "I Didn't Mean to Turn You On" in 1986 (again produced by Jam & Lewis), and Beats International
covered the SOS Band's "Just Be Good to Me" in 1990. In 1986, Cherelle and Alexander O'Neal dueted on "Saturday Love," which was a hit in the UK but caught on later with American
radio
. Other acts like Kid Fire and Demetrius Perry recorded on this label.
in November 1987 when the Japanese group bought the CBS Records. In this period, Tabu released Diamonds in the Raw by the SOS Band, which performed disappointingly. In 1991, Alexander O'Neal's All True Man was the last album Tabu released under the new Sony
regime; it was certified gold on August 26, 1991.
's A&M Records
, who distributed it from 1991 until 1993, releasing four albums and about 20 singles. Avant was hired to run Motown (another PolyGram label), and, in August 1993, he brought Tabu under its aegis. It released collections by the SOS Band, Alexander O'Neal and Cherelle, while signing other artists such as Lucky Dube
and Identity Crisis. However, this reappearance was short-lived as well.
In 1999, Seagram
bought PolyGram
and merged it with the MCA family of labels, which became Universal Music Group
. Shortly after, Tabu was absorbed into A&M Records
.
's reissue label the Right Stuff, which began to re-release Tabu's catalogue.
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,...
founded by Clarence Avant
Clarence Avant
Clarence Avant is an American music executive, entrepreneur, and film producer. He was also known as the Godfather of Black Music.Avant's 75th birthday was celebrated by Billboard magazine, on its February 2006 issue....
in 1975. The label focused on R&B and funk
Funk
Funk is a music genre that originated in the mid-late 1960s when African American musicians blended soul music, jazz and R&B into a rhythmic, danceable new form of music. Funk de-emphasizes melody and harmony and brings a strong rhythmic groove of electric bass and drums to the foreground...
.
Founding
Avant founded the label after Sussex RecordsSussex Records
-History:It was founded December 18, 1969 by Clarence Avant. Initially, it was located first at 6430 W Sunset Blvd at the corner of Sunset and Cahuenga Blvds. In 1972, it moved to 6255 W Sunset Blvd Suite 1902 both in Hollywood. From 1969 to 1974, all records were distributed by Buddah Records &...
went out of business in June 1975. Tabu's flagship
Flagship
A flagship is a vessel used by the commanding officer of a group of naval ships, reflecting the custom of its commander, characteristically a flag officer, flying a distinguishing flag...
release, “Stormin'” by Brainstorm, was released in 1977. Tabu had a short-lived distribution pact with RCA
RCA Records
RCA Records is one of the flagship labels of Sony Music Entertainment. The RCA initials stand for Radio Corporation of America , which was the parent corporation from 1929 to 1985 and a partner from 1985 to 1986.RCA's Canadian unit is Sony's oldest label...
, which lasted a year before moving to CBS Records
CBS Records
CBS Records is a record label founded by CBS Corporation in 2006 to take advantage of music from its entertainment properties owned by CBS Television Studios. The initial label roster consisted of only three artists; rock band Señor Happy and singer/songwriters Will Dailey and P.J...
.
The label focused on R&B and funk
Funk
Funk is a music genre that originated in the mid-late 1960s when African American musicians blended soul music, jazz and R&B into a rhythmic, danceable new form of music. Funk de-emphasizes melody and harmony and brings a strong rhythmic groove of electric bass and drums to the foreground...
but expanded into other genres such as disco
Disco
Disco is a genre of dance music. Disco acts charted high during the mid-1970s, and the genre's popularity peaked during the late 1970s. It had its roots in clubs that catered to African American, gay, psychedelic, and other communities in New York City and Philadelphia during the late 1960s and...
. Its artists included Lalo Schifrin
Lalo Schifrin
Lalo Schifrin is an Argentine composer, pianist and conductor. He is best known for his film and TV scores, such as the "Theme from Mission: Impossible". He has received four Grammy Awards and six Oscar nominations...
("No One Home", 1979) and the SOS Band
The SOS Band
The SOS Band is an American musical ensemble, founded in Atlanta, Georgia in 1977. Originally known as Santa Monica, the 'SOS' initialism in the band's name stands for Sounds of Success.-History:...
("Take Your Time (Do it Right)," 1980).
Dina Andrews
The label languished in 1982, and Avant nearly lost his home in 1983 before discovering Dina R. Andrews, a young music executive who had worked for Dick GriffeyDick Griffey
Richard Gilbert "Dick" Griffey was an American record producer and promoter who founded SOLAR Records, an acronym for "Sound of Los Angeles Records", which played a major role in developing a funk-oriented blend of disco, R&B and soul music during the 1970s and 1980s...
's Solar Records
SOLAR Records
S.O.L.A.R. Records was an American record label founded in 1977 by Dick Griffey, reconstituted out of Soul Train Records only two years after it was founded with Soul Train television show host and creator Don Cornelius.-Company history:In 1975, Soul Train Records was founded by Dick Griffey and...
. Andrews, who had just begun managing the duo Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis (of the Time
The Time (band)
The Time is a funk and dance-pop ensemble formed in 1981. They are close Prince associates and arguably the most successful artists who have worked with him.-Prince, Formation and Success:...
), met with Avant and, through her relationship with him, introduced Jam & Lewis, who produced their first recordings for Avant. Jam & Lewis went on to produce several other recordings for Avant under Dina Andrews Management.
The Time
The Time (band)
The Time is a funk and dance-pop ensemble formed in 1981. They are close Prince associates and arguably the most successful artists who have worked with him.-Prince, Formation and Success:...
was hired to produce
Record producer
A record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music...
The SOS Band
The SOS Band
The SOS Band is an American musical ensemble, founded in Atlanta, Georgia in 1977. Originally known as Santa Monica, the 'SOS' initialism in the band's name stands for Sounds of Success.-History:...
's fourth album for Tabu, On the Rise, which was certified gold on January 16, 1984. While recording in SOS's
The SOS Band
The SOS Band is an American musical ensemble, founded in Atlanta, Georgia in 1977. Originally known as Santa Monica, the 'SOS' initialism in the band's name stands for Sounds of Success.-History:...
home stomping grounds in Atlanta, Georgia
Atlanta, Georgia
Atlanta is the capital and most populous city in the U.S. state of Georgia. According to the 2010 census, Atlanta's population is 420,003. Atlanta is the cultural and economic center of the Atlanta metropolitan area, which is home to 5,268,860 people and is the ninth largest metropolitan area in...
, on March 24, 1983, a freak snowstorm hit, grounding all flights from the city. The duo was scheduled to perform as a part of The Time in San Antonio
San Antonio, Texas
San Antonio is the seventh-largest city in the United States of America and the second-largest city within the state of Texas, with a population of 1.33 million. Located in the American Southwest and the south–central part of Texas, the city serves as the seat of Bexar County. In 2011,...
at the Hemisfair Arena that night but couldn't get away. Prince
Prince (musician)
Prince Rogers Nelson , often known simply as Prince, is an American singer, songwriter, musician, and actor. Prince has produced ten platinum albums and thirty Top 40 singles during his career. Prince founded his own recording studio and label; writing, self-producing and playing most, or all, of...
, who owned and managed the Time, fired them on April 18, 1983. The duo stayed in Los Angeles and became songwriter-producers at Larrabee Studios in West Hollywood.
Working with Jam and Lewis
Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis
James Samuel "Jimmy Jam" Harris III and Terry Steven Lewis are an American R&B and pop-music songwriting and record production team...
gave Tabu a much-needed shot in the arm. They brought Cherelle and Alexander O'Neal
Alexander O'Neal
Alexander O'Neal is an American R&B singer. He is best-known for the songs "If You Were Here Tonight" and "Fake", and the duets with Cherrelle, "Saturday Love" and "Never Knew Love Like This".-Biography:...
(the original Time
The Time (band)
The Time is a funk and dance-pop ensemble formed in 1981. They are close Prince associates and arguably the most successful artists who have worked with him.-Prince, Formation and Success:...
lead vocalist
Lead vocalist
The lead vocalist is the member of a band who sings the main vocal portions of a song. They may also play one or more instruments. Lead vocalists are sometimes referred to as the frontman or frontwoman, and as such, are usually considered to be the "leader" of the groups they perform in, often the...
) to the label and both had done well; O'Neal released his self-titled album in 1985, and Cherelle's "Fragile" hit the American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
R&B charts in 1984. The SOS Band had more hits with "Just The Way You Like It" in 1984 and "Sands of Time" in 1986, the album of which was certified gold on April 6, 1987. So influential was the sound that Robert Palmer covered Cherelle's "I Didn't Mean to Turn You On" in 1986 (again produced by Jam & Lewis), and Beats International
Beats International
Beats International was a British electronic music band, formed in the late 1980s by Norman Cook , after his departure from The Housemartins.-Career:...
covered the SOS Band's "Just Be Good to Me" in 1990. In 1986, Cherelle and Alexander O'Neal dueted on "Saturday Love," which was a hit in the UK but caught on later with American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
radio
Radio
Radio is the transmission of signals through free space by modulation of electromagnetic waves with frequencies below those of visible light. Electromagnetic radiation travels by means of oscillating electromagnetic fields that pass through the air and the vacuum of space...
. Other acts like Kid Fire and Demetrius Perry recorded on this label.
Sony era
Tabu, in its deal with CBS, became associated with Sony Music EntertainmentSony 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....
in November 1987 when the Japanese group bought the CBS Records. In this period, Tabu released Diamonds in the Raw by the SOS Band, which performed disappointingly. In 1991, Alexander O'Neal's All True Man was the last album Tabu released under the new Sony
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....
regime; it was certified gold on August 26, 1991.
A&M era
In 1991, the label reappeared through PolyGramPolyGram
PolyGram was the name of the major label recording company started by Philips from as a holding company for its music interests in 1945. In 1999 it was sold to Seagram and merged into Universal Music Group.-Hollandsche Decca Distributie , 1929-1950:...
's A&M Records
A&M Records
A&M Records is an American record label owned by Universal Music Group that operates under the mantle of its Interscope-Geffen-A&M division.-Beginnings:...
, who distributed it from 1991 until 1993, releasing four albums and about 20 singles. Avant was hired to run Motown (another PolyGram label), and, in August 1993, he brought Tabu under its aegis. It released collections by the SOS Band, Alexander O'Neal and Cherelle, while signing other artists such as Lucky Dube
Lucky Dube
Lucky Philip Dube was a South African reggae musician. He recorded 22 albums in Zulu, English and Afrikaans in a 25-year period and was South Africa's biggest selling reggae artist...
and Identity Crisis. However, this reappearance was short-lived as well.
In 1999, Seagram
Seagram
The Seagram Company Ltd. was a large corporation headquartered in Montreal, Quebec, Canada that was the largest distiller of alcoholic beverages in the world. Toward the end of its independent existence it also controlled various entertainment and other business ventures...
bought PolyGram
PolyGram
PolyGram was the name of the major label recording company started by Philips from as a holding company for its music interests in 1945. In 1999 it was sold to Seagram and merged into Universal Music Group.-Hollandsche Decca Distributie , 1929-1950:...
and merged it with the MCA family of labels, which became Universal Music Group
Universal Music Group
Universal Music Group is an American music group, the largest of the "big four" record companies by its commanding market share and its multitude of global operations...
. Shortly after, Tabu was absorbed into A&M Records
A&M Records
A&M Records is an American record label owned by Universal Music Group that operates under the mantle of its Interscope-Geffen-A&M division.-Beginnings:...
.
Re-issues
In 2002, Avant brought Tabu to EMIEMI
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...
's reissue label the Right Stuff, which began to re-release Tabu's catalogue.