Reaction Records was an independent

British British may refer to: Peoples, culture, and language * British people, nationals or natives of the United Kingdom, British Overseas Territories and Crown Dependencies. * British national identity, the characteristics of British people and culture ...

record label "Big Three" music labels A record label or record company is a brand or trademark of Sound recording and reproduction, music recordings and music videos, or the company that owns it. Sometimes, a record label is also a Music publisher, ...

, run by music executive Robert Stigwood in 1966 and 1967. Although Reaction released only three albums, one EP and eighteen singles in its brief existence, its roster included two of the most popular British bands of the time,

The Who The Who are an English Rock music, rock band formed in London in 1964. Their classic lineup (1964–1978) consisted of lead vocalist Roger Daltrey, guitarist Pete Townshend, bassist John Entwistle and drummer Keith Moon. Considered one of th ...

and

Cream Cream is a dairy product composed of the higher-fat layer skimmed from the top of milk before homogenization. In un-homogenized milk, the fat, which is less dense, eventually rises to the top. In the industrial production of cream, this proces ...

. The label's first single, The Who's " Substitute", was released several times with different B-sides due to the band's legal dispute with their former

record producer A record producer or music producer is a music creating project's overall supervisor whose responsibilities can involve a range of creative and technical leadership roles. Typically the job involves hands-on oversight of recording sessions; ensu ...

, Shel Talmy. This experience could be seen as one of the deciding factor in the Who's manager's Kit Lambert and Chris Stamp deciding to form their own Track Records label which was also distributed by

Polydor Records Polydor Limited, also known as Polydor Records, is a British record label that operates as part of Universal Music Group. It has a close relationship with Universal's Interscope Geffen A&M Records label, which distributes Polydor's releases in ...

. Polydor's involvement with these two labels (as well as Giorgio Gomelsky's

Marmalade Marmalade (from the Portuguese ''marmelada'') is a fruit preserves, fruit preserve made from the juice and peel of citrus fruits boiled with sugar and water. The well-known version is made from bitter orange. It also has been made from lemons ...

label) can be seen as a learning process by Polydor who were interested in expanding their base and had little or no experience in the 1960s pop/ rock market; at the time, most of their business was done in the

easy listening Easy listening (including mood music) is a popular music genre and radio format that was most popular during the 1950s to the 1970s. It is related to middle of the road (MOR) music and encompasses instrumental recordings of standards, hit s ...

genre, as exemplified by Bert Kaempfert. Stigwood operated the RSO Records label in the 1970s and 1980s. As with Reaction, RSO was distributed through

Discography

Albums

# Cream: '' Fresh Cream'' (Reaction 593 001 mono/594 001 stereo) # The Who: '' A Quick One'' (Reaction 593 002 mono, no UK stereo) # Cream: '' Disraeli Gears'' (Reaction 593 003 mono/594 003 stereo)

Singles

# The Who: " Substitute" / "Circles" / "Instant Party" (Reaction 591 001) Released 4 March 1966 #* The Who: "Substitute" / The Who Orchestra: "Waltz for a Pig" (Reaction 591 001) Re-released 14 March 1966 # Paul Dean: "She Can Build A Mountain" / "A Day Gone By" (Reaction 591 002) #

Oscar Oscar, OSCAR, or The Oscar may refer to: People and fictional and mythical characters * Oscar (given name), including lists of people and fictional characters named Oscar, Óscar or Oskar * Oscar (footballer, born 1954), Brazilian footballer ...

: "Club of Lights" / "Waking Up" (Reaction 591 003) # The Who: " I'm a Boy" / "In the City" (Reaction 591 004) # Birds Birds: "Say Those Magic Words" / "Daddy Daddy" (Reaction 591 005) #

: "Join My Gang" / "A Day Gone By" (Reaction 591 006) # Cream: " Wrapping Paper" / "Cat's Squirrel" (Reaction 591 007)http://www.ginger-baker.com/ look under Section ''Singles'' # Lloyd Banks: "We'll Meet Again" / "Look Out Girl" (Reaction 591 008) # The Maze: "Hello Stranger" / "Telephone" (Reaction 591 009) # The Who: " Happy Jack" / "I've Been Away" (Reaction 591 010) # Cream: " I Feel Free" / "N.S.U." (Reaction 591 011) #

: "Over The Wall We Go" / "Every Day of My Life" (Reaction 591 012) # West Point Supernatural: "Time Will Tell" / "Night Train" (Reaction 591 013) (produced and written by Howard Conder) # Billy J. Kramer & the Dakotas: "Chinese Girl" / "Town of Tuxley Toymaker" (Reaction 591 014) # Cream: " Strange Brew" / " Tales of Brave Ulysses" (Reaction 591 015) #

: "Holiday" / "Give Her All She Wants" (Reaction 591 016) # The Sands: "Mrs Gillespie's Refrigerator" / "Listen to the Sky" (Reaction 591 017) # Marion Montgomery: "Love Makes Two People Swing" / "Monday Thru Sunday" (Reaction 591 018)

EP

# The Who: " Ready Steady Who" (Reaction 592 001)

References

{{Authority control British record labels Record labels established in 1966 Record labels disestablished in 1967 Rock record labels

Discography

Albums

Singles

EP

See also

References