Gotham Records was an American

record label A record label, or record company, is a brand or trademark of music recordings and music videos, or the company that owns it. Sometimes, a record label is also a publishing company that manages such brands and trademarks, coordinates the pr ...

formed by Sam Goode (Goody) and Ivin Ballen in

New York City New York, often called New York City or NYC, is the List of United States cities by population, most populous city in the United States. With a 2020 population of 8,804,190 distributed over , New York City is also the L ...

in 1946. In January 1948 Ballen acquired the interest of Goode and became the sole owner. He then moved the company to

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Philadelphia, often called Philly, is the largest city in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, the sixth-largest city in the U.S., the second-largest city in both the Northeast megalopolis and Mid-Atlantic regions after New York City. Since ...

where the label was based for the rest of its existence until 1956. The label specialized in

rhythm and blues Rhythm and blues, frequently abbreviated as R&B or R'n'B, is a genre of popular music that originated in African-American communities in the 1940s. The term was originally used by record companies to describe recordings marketed predominantly ...

. Ivin Ballen died in Miami Beach, Florida, in February 1978.

Artists

;Dan Pickett Gotham's most notable contribution to American music was the release of recordings by the acoustic bluesman

Dan Pickett Daniel T. Pickett III (born July 27, 1968) is an American technology entrepreneur, and private equity investor. Pickett is the co-founder, president and CEO of , a digital behavioral health company. He is the former CEO of Hudson River Capital Ho ...

, originally recorded in 1949. ; Doug Quattlebaum Another artist who recorded for Gotham included

Doug Quattlebaum Elijah Douglas Quattlebaum (January 22, 1929 – March 1, 1996), better known as Doug Quattlebaum, was an American Piedmont blues guitarist, singer and songwriter. He recorded one single for Gotham Records in 1953, but was offered another opp ...

. His song "Lizzie Lou" was one of the last releases for the label. ; Doris Browne, The Capris Doris Browne was a singer who around the 1949/1950 period had she performed on a weekly show which was broadcast by WPEN-AM in Philadelphia. The hour long show was called the Parisian Tailor Kiddie Hour.Vocal Group Harmony
Spotlight on the Gotham Label – Part One
/ref> In 1953, the label appeared to be keen to push Browne's profile with her single "Please Believe Me" bw "Oh Baby". She was backed by

Doc Bagby Harry "Doc" Bagby ''(né'' Harry Camilus Bagby; 1 August 1917 Philadelphia – 3 September 1970 Manhattan) was an American studio musician who played piano and organ, and backed many artists in pop and jazz. He played a major part in the music scen ...

on that recording. He also backed her on her single, "Until The End Of Time" bw "Why Don't You Love Me Now, Now, Now?" Gotham G-296, and another recording "The Game Of Love" bw "My Cherie" which was released on Gotham G-7298 as a 45. The single, "Until The End Of Time" / "Why Don't You Love Me Now", originally credited to Doris Browne, Doc Bagby Orchestra, was re-released on

Collectables Records Collectables is a reissue record label founded in 1980 by Jerry Greene. Jerry Greene formed Lost Nite and Crimson record labels. Soul Survivors gained the hit "Expressway to Your Heart" (1967) while on Crimson Records. History It maintains a ca ...

, but this time credited to Doris Browne & The Capris. Gotham records also had a Capris group of their own which would release their debut single "

God Only Knows "God Only Knows" is a song by American rock band the Beach Boys from their 1966 album '' Pet Sounds''. Written by Brian Wilson and Tony Asher, it is a Baroque-style love song distinguished for its harmonic innovation and its subversion of typi ...

" bw "That's What You're Doing To Me", Gotham 304 in 1954. They also had two other singles released. They were "It Was Moonglow" bw "Too Poor To Love", Gotham 306, and "It's A Miracle" bw "Let's Linger A While" Gotham 308.

Santa Monica-based label

A same-named label is available in Santa Monica. It was founded by Patrick Arn in New York City in 1994. The label specializes in newcomer rock bands. Some of the older bands who signed at this Gotham Records signed later at

Columbia Records Columbia Records is an American record label owned by Sony Music Entertainment, a subsidiary of Sony Corporation of America, the North American division of Japanese conglomerate Sony. It was founded on January 15, 1889, evolving from the A ...

(for example: Flybanger) or to

Lava Records Lava Records (Lava Music, LLC) is an American record label owned by Jason Flom in partnership with Universal Music Group. Company history In 1995, Flom launched Lava Records in partnership with Atlantic Records. For the next decade, he continu ...

(

Liquid Gang A liquid is a nearly incompressible fluid that conforms to the shape of its container but retains a (nearly) constant volume independent of pressure. As such, it is one of the four fundamental states of matter (the others being solid, gas, ...

The Loose Nutz ''The'' () is a grammatical article in English, denoting persons or things already mentioned, under discussion, implied or otherwise presumed familiar to listeners, readers, or speakers. It is the definite article in English. ''The'' is the m ...

produced their first Gold Record ''Wishen'' at Gotham Records.

Background

In 2013, the label was releasing 8 LPs and 8 CDs a year. Its distribution was being handled by Sony RED.

Artists

Around 2007, it was announced in punknews.org that

Red Horizon Red is the color at the long wavelength end of the visible spectrum of light, next to orange and opposite violet. It has a dominant wavelength of approximately 625–740 nanometres. It is a primary color in the RGB color model and a second ...

had signed to the label and recently released their album ''Across the World''.''punknews.org''
Red Horizon sign to Gotham Records
/ref> ;Bands and artists currently signed at Gotham Records *

* Supafuzz * The day after... ;Bands who were signed at Gotham Records * Flybanger * Fear The Clown *

* Chiba-Ken

References

External links

Gotham Records Official homepage
{{Authority control Record labels established in 1946 Rhythm and blues record labels American record labels 1946 establishments in New York City