Prelude Records was a New York–based

independent record label An independent record label (or indie label) is a record label that operates without the funding or distribution of major record labels; they are a type of small and medium-sized enterprise, small- to medium-sized enterprise, or SME. The labels ...

that was active from 1976 to 1986. At one time,

François Kevorkian François Kevorkian (; born 10 January 1954), also known by the stage name François K, is a French DJ, producer, remixer and label owner of Armenian descent and based in the United States of America, who started his career DJing in clubs such ...

held an A&R position at Prelude. The label's owner was Marvin Schlachter, and his business partner was Stan Hoffman, who had worked with him at

Janus Records Janus Records was a record label owned by GRT Records, also known as General Recorded Tape. The label was in operation from 1969 to 1979. History Janus was founded in July 1969, as a joint venture of GRT and British label Pye Records. In its ...

, and later Pye/ATV. Hoffman eventually became a noted

boxing Boxing is a combat sport and martial art. Taking place in a boxing ring, it involves two people – usually wearing protective equipment, such as boxing glove, protective gloves, hand wraps, and mouthguards – throwing Punch (combat), punch ...

promotor.

History

Prelude was first launched in 1977, renamed from

Pye International Records Pye International Records was a record label founded in 1958, as a subsidiary of Pye Records. The company distributed many American labels in the UK, including Chess, Kama Sutra, Buddah, Colpix and King. (There was also an American label of t ...

, a US division of UK-based

Pye Records PYE or Pye Records is an independent British record label. It was first established in 1955 and played a major role in shaping rock 'n' roll and pop music history. The Pye name was dropped in 1980 due to trademark issues, after which it produced ...

which had begun in 1974. The name was derived from the music group Prelude, which recorded for Pye at the time. At the outset, Prelude's LP and 45 catalogue numbers were the same as had begun under Pye (US), with the prefix changed from PYE- to PRL-. For a very short period at the start, Pye's then-parent,

ATV Music Sony Music Publishing LLC (formerly Sony/ATV Music Publishing) is an American music publisher. Responsible for publishing the largest quantity of music, with over five million songs owned or administered as of end March 2021, it is part of Sony ...

, owned Prelude.It first made its small release with a large name called JUMBO, which spawned a minor hit with "Turn On To Love". As disco music declined, Prelude was one of the few disco labels to survive its demise. In 1981 they pioneered the mastermix. with Shep Pettibone's "Kiss Mastermix 2x12". Having recruited Kevorkian, the label was able to focus on remixes; to change up an existing song by altering it slightly. "Disco Circus" by Martin Circus (1979) was and still is a cult classic, but failed to make significant sales according to Michael Gomes who began working for Prelude in 1979. Prelude's biggest hits included "In the Bush" by Musique (1978), "Come to Me" by

France Joli France Joli (; née Joly; born February 2, 1963) is a Canadian singer, best known for the disco classics " Come to Me" and "Gonna Get Over You". Teen stardom Born France Joly in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, Joli grew up in Dorion. Her father wa ...

(1979), "A Little Bit of Jazz" by the

Nick Straker Band The Nick Straker Band were an English pop music group from London, England, led by musician and vocalist Nick Straker, who had earlier gained experience by playing in Dennis Bovell's Matumbi, a dub and roots reggae band. Several members of th ...

and "Must Be the Music" by Secret Weapon (1981). After its closure in 1986, Prelude's back catalogue was purchased by

Unidisc Unidisc Music is a Canadian independent record label. The label is known for releasing rare music, that was made between the mid-1960s and late 1980s. Genres include rock, electronic, funk, soul, hip hop, jazz, reggae, Latin, disco and a cappel ...

Artists

* 9th Creation *

Gayle Adams Gayle Adams is an American urban contemporary and house music musician, who is best known for her hit singles " Love Fever", "Stretch'in Out" and "Your Love Is a Lifesaver." She recorded two albums for the dance-oriented Prelude record label in ...

Jocelyn Brown Jocelyn Lorette Brown (born November 25, 1950), sometimes credited as Jocelyn Shaw, is an American Rhythm and blues, R&B and dance music, dance singer. She has a Billboard Hot 100, ''Billboard'' Hot 100 chart entry solely in her name. Brown sang ...

* CD IIICD-III
Retrieved 29 December 2023 * D-Train * Gerald Mallory * Jeanette "Lady" Day * Hi-Gloss * Inner Life *

* L.A.X. * Lorraine Johnson (1977, 78) *

Macho Machismo (; ; ; ) is the sense of being " manly" and self-reliant, a concept associated with "a strong sense of masculine pride: an exaggerated masculinity". Machismo is a term originating in the early 1940s and 1950s and its use more wi ...

* Dianne Marie * Dorothy Moore (1985) * Musique *

Passion Passion, the Passion or the Passions may refer to: Emotion * Passion (emotion), a very strong feeling about a person or thing * Passions (philosophy), emotional states as used in philosophical discussions * Stoic passions, various forms of emotio ...

* Peter Jacques Band *

Sharon Redd Sharon Redd (October 19, 1945 – May 1, 1992) was an American singer from New York City. She was the half sister of Snap! singer Penny Ford. Life and career Redd was born on October 19, 1945, in Norfolk, Virginia, to Gene and Katherine Redd. Ge ...

* Vicki Sue Robinson * Saturday Night Band * Secret Weapon * The Strikers *

Linda Taylor Linda Taylor (born Martha Louise White; January 1926 – April 18, 2002) was an American woman who committed extensive welfare fraud and, after the publication of an article in the ''Chicago Tribune'' in fall 1974, became identified as the "wel ...

* Unique *

Unlimited Touch Unlimited Touch was an American, New York–based disco and post-disco group, most active in the early 1980s. The group's most famous song in its short lifespan was "I Hear Music in the Streets", which made number 6 on US Dance chart in 1981. O ...

* Theo Vaness * Wuf Ticket

References

External links

Prelude at Discogs
American independent record labels Rhythm and blues record labels Disco record labels Defunct record labels of the United States Post-disco record labels Record labels established in 1977 1976 establishments in New York (state) {{US-independent-record-label-stub

History

Artists

See also

References

External links