Threshold Records was a

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, ...

created by the

rock music Rock is a Music genre, genre of popular music that originated in the United States as "rock and roll" in the late 1940s and early 1950s, developing into a range of styles from the mid-1960s, primarily in the United States and the United Kingdo ...

group

Moody Blues Moody may refer to: Places * Moody, Alabama, U.S. * Moody, Missouri, U.S. * Moody, Texas, U.S. * Moody County, South Dakota, U.S. * Port Moody, British Columbia, Canada * Hundred of Moody, a cadastral division in South Australia ** Moody, Sout ...

. The name of the label came from their 1969

album An album is a collection of audio recordings (e.g., music) issued on a medium such as compact disc (CD), Phonograph record, vinyl (record), audio tape (like 8-track cartridge, 8-track or Cassette tape, cassette), or digital distribution, dig ...

On the Threshold of a Dream ''On the Threshold of a Dream'' is the fourth album by the Moody Blues, released in April 1969 on the Deram label. The album reached the top of the album charts, the group's first No. 1 album in the UK. According to guitarist Justin Hayward, " ...

''. The

band Band or BAND may refer to: Places *Bánd, a village in Hungary * Band, Iran, a village in Urmia County, West Azerbaijan Province, Iran * Band, Mureș, a commune in Romania * Band-e Majid Khan, a village in Bukan County, West Azerbaijan Province, ...

formed this label to allow for artistically packaged gatefold covers for their LP releases, and for releasing band members' solo efforts. Threshold was distributed by

Decca Records Decca Records is a British record label established in 1929 by Edward Lewis (Decca), Edward Lewis after his acquisition of a gramophone manufacturer, The Decca Gramophone Company. It set up an American subsidiary under the Decca name, which bec ...

in the UK and 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 ...

in the

United States The United States of America (USA), also known as the United States (U.S.) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It is a federal republic of 50 U.S. state, states and a federal capital district, Washington, D.C. The 48 ...

. The first band to be signed up on this label were Westcountry rockers Asgard in 1972 who released two

singles Singles are people not in a committed relationship. Singles may also refer to: Film and television * ''Singles'' (miniseries), a 1984 Australian television series * ''Singles'' (1992 film), written and directed by Cameron Crowe * ''Singles'' ...

from their

, ''In the Realm of Asgard''.

Genesis Genesis may refer to: Religion * Book of Genesis, the first book of the biblical scriptures of both Judaism and Christianity, describing the creation of the Earth and of humankind * Genesis creation narrative, the first several chapters of the Bo ...

, encouraged by Mike Pinder, also considered signing with the label in 1970. According to Tony Banks, they recorded a version of "Looking for Someone", a song which later appeared on their second album ''

Trespass Trespass is an area of tort law broadly divided into three groups: trespass to the person (see below), trespass to chattels, and trespass to land. Trespass to the person historically involved six separate trespasses: threats, assault, battery ...

'', but shelved it due to a mistake in the organ performance toward the end which Pinder argued did not demand another take. Bassist John Lodge produced the band

Trapeze A trapeze is a short horizontal bar hung by ropes, metal straps, or chains, from a ceiling support. It is an aerial apparatus commonly found in circus performances. Trapeze acts may be static, spinning (rigged from a single point), swinging or ...

for the Threshold label. The rock sextet Providence also recorded for Threshold. After 1976, the Moody Blues went back to having their albums manufactured by Decca Records (and later PolyGram and

Universal Records Universal Music Group N.V. (often abbreviated as UMG and referred to as Universal Music Group or Universal Music) is a Netherlands, Dutch–United States, American multinational Music industry, music corporation under Law of the Netherlands, ...

), but the Threshold company and logo were maintained over the years as a means of selling their records through their own record shop in Cobham,

Surrey Surrey () is a Ceremonial counties of England, ceremonial county in South East England. It is bordered by Greater London to the northeast, Kent to the east, East Sussex, East and West Sussex to the south, and Hampshire and Berkshire to the wes ...

. There was also a Threshold record shop in Swindon, England in the late 1970s. The Moody Blues subsequent albums, up to and including 1999's '' Strange Times'', were branded 'in association with Threshold Records'.

Label variations

* White label with blue logo in box with "DISTRIBUTED BY LONDON" at top of label * White label with magenta (singles) or dark purple (albums) logo at top of label * Blue label with multi-colour logo swirling from the inner edge of the label to the outer edge * Black logo at bottom of Polydor labels * Custom labels were also used for some releases, such as The Moody Blues' ''

Long Distance Voyager ''Long Distance Voyager'' is the tenth album by the Moody Blues, first released in May 1981 on the group's Threshold record label. It was the group's first album featuring keyboardist Patrick Moraz (who previously had worked with bands such as ...

'' release. The Threshold Records shop closed its doors to the public in February 2011.

Discography

* THS-1

The Moody Blues The Moody Blues were an English rock band formed in Birmingham in May 1964. The band initially consisted of Graeme Edge (drums), Denny Laine (guitar/vocals), Mike Pinder (keyboards/vocals), Ray Thomas (multi-instrumentalist/vocals) and Clint W ...

: ''

To Our Children's Children's Children ''To Our Children's Children's Children'' is the fifth album by the Moody Blues, released in November 1969. Background The album was the first released on the group's newly formed Threshold record label, which was named after the band's previ ...

'' (1969) * THS-2

: ''

'' (1970) * THS-3

: ''

A Question of Balance ''A Question of Balance'' is the sixth album by the Moody Blues, released in 1970. The album reached No. 1 in the United Kingdom and No. 3 in the United States. Background The album was an attempt by the group to strip down their previously l ...

'' (1970) * THS-4

: ''

Medusa In Greek mythology, Medusa (; ), also called Gorgo () or the Gorgon, was one of the three Gorgons. Medusa is generally described as a woman with living snakes in place of hair; her appearance was so hideous that anyone who looked upon her wa ...

'' (1970) * THS-5

: '' Every Good Boy Deserves Favour'' (1971) * THS-6 Asgard: ''In the Realm of Asgard'' (1972) * THS-7

: ''

Seventh Sojourn ''Seventh Sojourn'' is the eighth album by the Moody Blues, released in October 1972. The album reached No. 5 in the United Kingdom, and became the band's first American chart-topper, spending five weeks at No. 1 there to close out 1972. Backg ...

'' (1972) * THS-8

: '' You Are the Music...We're Just the Band'' (1972) * THS-9 Providence: ''Ever Sense the Dawn'' (1972) * THS-10

Nicky James Nicky James (2 April 1943 – 8 October 2007), born Michael Clifford Nicholls, was a British musician and songwriter. Biography James was born in Tipton, Staffordshire, England. He attended Park Lane School, and at age sixteen moved to Scunthor ...

: ''Every Home Should Have One'' (1972) * THS-11

: '' The Final Swing'' (1974) * THS-12/13

: ''

This Is The Moody Blues ''This Is The Moody Blues'' is a two LP (later two CDs) compilation album by the Moody Blues, released in late 1974 while the band was on a self-imposed sabbatical. Though all of the songs were previously released on albums (with the exception ...

'' (1974) * THS-14

Justin Hayward David Justin Hayward (born 14 October 1946) is an English musician. He was the guitarist and frontman of the rock band the Moody Blues from 1966 until its dissolution in 2018. He became the group's principal vocalist and its most prolific son ...

& John Lodge: '' Blue Jays'' (1975) * THS-15 The

Graeme Edge Graeme Charles Edge (30 March 1941 – 11 November 2021) was an English musician, songwriter and poet, best known as the co-founder and drummer of the English band the Moody Blues. In addition to his work with the Moody Blues, Edge worked as th ...

Band Featuring Adrian Gurvitz: '' Kick Off Your Muddy Boots'' (1975) * THS-16

Ray Thomas Raymond Thomas (29 December 1941 – 4 January 2018) was an English musician, singer and songwriter. He was best known as a founding member of the English progressive rock band the Moody Blues. His flute solo on the band's 1967 hit single " Ni ...

: '' From Mighty Oaks'' (1975) * THS-17

: '' Hopes, Wishes and Dreams'' (1976) * THS-18

Mike Pinder Michael Thomas Pinder (27 December 1941 – 24 April 2024) was an English rock musician. He was a founding member and the original keyboard player of the rock group the Moody Blues. He left the group following the recording of the band's nint ...

: '' The Promise'' (1976) * THS-19

: '' Thunderthroat'' (1976) * TRL-1-2901

: ''

'' (1981) * TRL-1-2902

: '' The Present'' (1983) * 820155

: '' Voices in the Sky: The Best of The Moody Blues'' (1984)

References

{{Authority control Defunct record labels of the United Kingdom Vanity record labels Progressive rock record labels London Records The Moody Blues

Label variations

Discography

See also

References