Amaret Records was a record label that operated between 1968 and 1973. Among the artists that had their recordings released on the label were hard rock group
Crow
A crow is a bird of the genus ''Corvus'', or more broadly, a synonym for all of ''Corvus''. The word "crow" is used as part of the common name of many species. The related term "raven" is not linked scientifically to any certain trait but is rathe ...
, Country singer
Judy Lynn and singer
Mrs Miller.
Background
The label was located on Highland Avenue,
Hollywood, California
Hollywood, sometimes informally called Tinseltown, is a List of districts and neighborhoods in Los Angeles, neighborhood and district in the Central Los Angeles, central region of Los Angeles County, California, within the city of Los Angeles. ...
. It was formed by
Kenny Myers in 1968 who had left
Dot Records
Dot Records was an American record label founded by Randy Wood (record producer), Randy Wood and Gene Nobles that was active between 1950 and 1978. The original headquarters of Dot Records were in Gallatin, Tennessee. In its early years, Dot sp ...
and its subsidiary Acta Records in August that year to form the new label. Ronnie Granger formerly of
Capitol Records
Capitol Records, LLC (known legally as Capitol Records, Inc. until 2007), and simply known as Capitol, is an American record label owned by Universal Music Group through its Capitol Music Group imprint. It was founded as the first West Coast-base ...
was brought in as sales and promotion director.
Overseas distribution was handled by
London Records
London Recordings (or London Records and London Music Stream) is a British record label that marketed records in the United States, Canada, and Latin America for Decca Records from 1947 to 1980 before becoming semi-independent. The London nam ...
. Australian distribution was handled by
Astor Records
Astor Records was an Australian recorded music manufacturer and distributor that operated from the early 1960s to the early 1980s. Astor was the trade name of the consumer electronics manufacturer Radio Corporation Pty. Ltd., a division of Electro ...
. South African and Spanish distribution were handled by Gallo and Hispavox respectively. By November 1968, he has 30 domestic distributors lined up. The non-exclusive duplication rights for reel-reel, eight-track and cassette were assigned to
Ampex
Ampex Data Systems Corporation is an American electronics company founded in 1944 by Alexander M. Poniatoff as a spin-off of Dalmo-Victor. The name ''AMPEX'' is an acronym, created by its founder, which stands for Alexander M. Poniatoff Excell ...
. In an article in an April 1971 issue of ''Billboard'', Myers said that all of the label's releases would be lyric oriented. He felt that people wanted to get back to the basics. He also said that this was the era of the writer and songs, where songs that were being bought were the ones that concentrated on the message rather than any particular instrumental approach. He used the film ''
Love Story
Love Story or A Love Story may refer to:
Arts, entertainment, and media Genres
* Romance (love)
** Romance film
** Romance novel
Films
* ''Love Story'' (1925 film), German silent film
* ''Love Story'' (1942 film), Italian drama film
* ''Love ...
'' as an example of having a message that everyone could understand.
By 1973, the label was bankrupt.
Artists
Other early artists on the label included rock group New Life and the bubblegum rock acts of Ginny Tieu and Tom & Jerry. There was a pop-rock group from Chicago called Raintree Minority, a pop singer Lilith O'Leary, Triangle a western blues group and
Johnny Cymbal
Johnny Cymbal (born John Hendry Blair; February 3, 1945 – March 16, 1993) was an American songwriter, singer and record producer who had numerous hit records, including his signature song, "Mr. Bass Man".
Overview
During a 33-year career, Cym ...
. There was also
Mrs Miller. 1970, looked to be a busier year, according to an article in the August 1 edition of ''
Billboard Magazine
''Billboard'' (stylized in lowercase since 2013) is an American music and entertainment magazine published weekly by Penske Media Corporation. The magazine provides music charts, news, video, opinion, reviews, events and styles related to th ...
'', the label was putting an emphasis on increasing outside production, and within the next 90 days, a plan to double the number of outside packs. Part of that effort in expansion was the proposed signing of artist
Gil Bernal
Gil Bernal (February 4, 1931–July 17, 2011) was an American singer and session musician. His saxophone can be heard on recordings such as "Searchin'" by The Coasters. In the 1950s he played on Duane Eddy's 1958 album '' Have 'Twangy' Guitar W ...
under the production of
Joe Porter and
Jerry Styner
Jerry Howard Styner (June 18, 1936 - March 9, 2024) was an American songwriter, musician, and former record producer. He has written scores for or had his compositions featured in over 30 films. Some of the artists he has worked with include Chet ...
. There was also the signing of a two-man rock act called Honk. There was also some potential promise with Nick Anthony, an artist referred to in ''Billboard'' as possibly "another
Tom Jones
Tom Jones may refer to:
Arts and entertainment
*Tom Jones (singer) (born 1940), Welsh singer
*Tom Jones (writer) (1928–2023), American librettist and lyricist
*''The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling'', a novel by Henry Fielding published in 1 ...
" who had the album ''High Voltage'' released.
In 1972,
Judy Lynn had her single "Winterwood" which was a departure from her previous country sound to a more pop MOR sound.
Catalogue (Selective)
Albums
* Mrs. Miller - ''Mrs. Miller Does Her Thing'' - Amaret ST-5000 - (1970)
* Triangle - ''How Now Blue Cow'' - Amaret ST-5001 - (1970)
* Crow - '' Crow Music'' - Amaret ST-5002 - (1970)
* Randy Johnson - ''The Gift of Randy Johnson'' - ST-5003 - (1970)
* New Life - ''The New Life Sings the Sidehackers'' - ST-5004 - (1970)
* Fresh Air - ''Fresh Air'' - ST-5005 - (1970)
* Crow - ''Crow By Crow'' - ST-5006 - (1970)
* Dave Antrell - ''Dave Antrell'' - ST-5007 - (1970)
* Nick Anthony - ''High Voltage'' - ST-5008 - (1970)
* Crow - ''Mosaic By Crow'' - ST-5009 - (1971)
*
Dian Hart
Dian Hart was a singer and recording artist who recorded during 60s and early 1970s. In the late 60s, things looked promising for her. ''Cashbox Magazine'' once commented that she sounded like a teen version of Petula Clark. She was also a well ...
- ''Girl for All Reasons'' - ST-5010 - (1971)
* Judy Lynn - ''Parts of Love'' - ST-5011 - (1971)
* Crow - ''Best of Crow'' - ST-5012 - (1972)
* David Wagner - '' David Wagner D/B/A Crow''- ST-5013 - (1972)
* Judy Lynn - '' Naturally'' - ST-5014 - (1972)
[Global Dog Production]
''Amaret Album Discography''
/ref>
Links
Amaret singles on 45Cat
References
{{reflist
Record labels based in California