INDIE LABELS
New York
Atlantic Records: Ahmet Ertegun, Jerry Wexler, Nesuhi Ertegun, Herb Abramson, Miriam Bienstock
Cadence: Archie Bleyer
Bang Records: Bert Berns
DynoVoice/NewVoice Records: Bob Crewe
Carlton Records: Joe Carlton
Musicor Records: Aaron Schroeder
Rainbow Records: Eddie Heller
Kapp: Dave Kapp
Sue Records: Juggy Murray
Fire/Fury Records: Bobby Robinson
Enjoy Records: Danny Robinson
Kama Sutra Records: Artie Ripp, Phil Steinberg, Hy Mizrahi
Baton Records: Sol Rabinowitz
J&S Records: Zell Sanders (Bronx)
Diamond Records: Phil Kahl, Joe Kolsky, Wes Farrell
Herald/Ember Records: Al Silver
Scepter/Wand Records: Florence Greenberg, Luther Dixon, Marv Schlacter
Apollo Records: Ike and Bess Berman
Laurie Records: Robert and Gene Schwartz, Allan Sussel, Doug Morris
Jubilee: Jerry Blaine, Herb Abramson
Coed Records: Marvin Cane
Beltone Records: Les Cahan
United Artists: Mike Stewart
Amy/Mala/Bell Records: Larry Uttal
Smash Records: Charlie Fach (where I first met Quincy Jones)
Canadian-American Records: Gerry Granahan, Hutch Davie (originally based in North Dakota)
Hull Records: Blanche Casalin
DCP Records: Don Costa, Teddy Randazzo
Chicago
Chess: Leonard and Phil Chess, Marshall Chess, Max Cooperstein (ace promotion man)
Vee-Jay: Vivian Carter, Jimmy Bracken, Ewart Abner
Mercury: Irving Green, Irwin Steinberg
National Records: Al Green, Herb Abramson
Chance Records: Art Sheridan
New Jersey
All Platinum Records: Joe and Sylvia Robinson
T-Neck Records: Isley brothers (Kelly, Rudy, and Ron)
Philadelphia
Cameo/Parkway: Bernie Lowe, Dave Appell
Jamie/Guyden Records: Harold Lipsius, Harry Finfer
Essex Records: Dave Miller
Chancellor: Bob Marcucci, Pete DeAngelis
Swan Records: Bernie Binnick, Tony Mammarella, Dick Clark
Pittsburgh
Calico Records: Herb Cohen, Nick Cenci
Cincinnati
Fraternity Records: Harry Carlson, and, of course, King, Federal, De Luxe & Bethlehem
Detroit
Motown: Berry Gordy, Barney Ales, Smokey Robinson
Golden World: Joanne Bratton
Fortune Records: Jack and Devora Brown
Anna Records: Harvey Fuqua, Gwen Gordy
Minneapolis
Soma: Amos Heilicher
Seattle
Dolton: Bonnie Guitar, Bob Reisdorff
Houston
Duke/Peacock/Backbeat: Don Robey
Nashville
Dot Records: Randy Wood (Gallatin); Nicki Addy (New York office)
Starday Records: Don Pierce
Excello Records: Ernie Young
New Mexico
Nor-Va-Jak Records: Norman Petty (Clovis), one of the few true geniuses. Discovered and/or was first to work with Buddy Holly & the Crickets, Roy Orbison, Waylon Jennings, Buddy Knox, Fireballs, String-A-Longs, and many others.
San Francisco
Autumn Records: Tom Donahue, Bobby Mitchell, Sylvester “Sly Stone” Stewart
LA
Liberty Records: Si Waronker, Snuff Garrett
Imperial: Lew Chudd
Specialty Records: Art Rupe
Modern: Bihari brothers (Jules, Saul, and Joel)
Aladdin: Eddie and Leo Mesner
Era Records: Herb Newman
Doré Records: Lou Bedell
Keen Records: Bob Keane
4 Star Records: William A. McCall, Jr., Clifford McDonald, and Richard A. Nelson
Exclusive Records: Leon Rene
Class Records: Googie Rene
Dootone Records: Dootsie Williams
Philles Records: Phil Spector, Lester Sill
New Orleans
Minit Records: Aaron Neville
J&M Recording Studio: Cosimo Matassa
Shreveport
Jewel/Paula Records: Stan Lewis
Memphis
Sun Records: Sam Phillips, Shelby and John Singleton
Stax/Volt: Jim Stewart, Estelle Axton
Hi Records: Joe Cuoghi
Miami
TK Records: Henry Stone and Steve Alaimo
Massachusetts
Rounder Records: Ken Irwin, Bill Nowlin, Marian Leighton-Levy
Mississippi
Ace Records: Johnny Vincent (Jackson)
Virginia
Legrand Records: Frank Guida (Norfolk)
BRILL BUILDING / 1650 BROADWAY FOLKS
Doc Pomus
Otis Blackwell
Mort Shuman
Dion DiMucci
Neil Sedaka and Howie Greenfield
Barry Mann and Cynthia Weil
Gerry Goffin and Carole King
Johnny Marks (“Mr. Christmas”)
Bob Feldman and Jerry Goldstein
Neil Diamond
Tommy Boyce
Bobby Hart
Toni Wine
Tony Orlando
Frank Slay
Hank Medress and Mitchell Margo (the Tokens)
Kenny Vance, Jay Black (Jay and the Americans)
Joel Diamond
Al Kooper
Hal Fein (Roosevelt Music)
Brooks Arthur
Stanley Catron
Auction Houses
Sotheby’s: Roberta Louckx, Pittman Shay, Ben Doller, Jodi Pollack, Lydia Cresswell-Jones, Philippe Garner
Christie’s (London): Victoria Wolcough, Martin Beisly
Bonhams (LA): Scot Levitt
Rago Arts (New Jersey): David Rago
Swann (New York): Nicholas “Nico” Lowry, Todd Weyman
Freeman’s (Philadelphia): Alasdair Nichol
Neal’s (New Orleans): Lisa Weisdorffer
And the folks at all the great auction houses in Paris:
Millon
Aguttes
Tajan
Artcurial
Félix Marcilhac
Bukowski (Stockholm): Eva Seeman
Dorotheum (Vienna)
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
The year of Siren Song’s publication figures closely with Sire’s fiftieth anniversary, and also just a bit over my sixtieth year in the music business. Looking back on where and when my great journey in music began, I recall memories, adventures, good and bad times, and most importantly of all, the people who helped me along the way. Some of them, but unfortunately not all, are mentioned in these paragraphs. First, my parents, David and Dora, my daughter Samantha, who passed away in 2013, my granddaughters Dora Wells and Leia and India Logan, my late ex-wife, Linda, my sister, Ann, and her husband, Marty Wiederkehr, my cousins Arland and Kay Weisberg, Herman Weisberg, my nieces Susan and Robin Katz and their husbands, Barry and Jonathan, and their offspring, as well.
Also, my GP, Dr. Alan Pollock, who has kept me alive and well over many years, in spite of myself, and George Goldner, who I worked for at Red Bird Records with Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller. Most of all, my daughter Mandy, a constant source of inspiration and the driving force who helped pick and secure most of the great photos in this book, selecting great photographers like Bob Gruen, Roberta Bayley, and Bobby Grossman.
My success in music is due directly to the mentors who taught me and handed down what they learned about music, and, in particular, great songs and artists and the courage to be a leader and not just follow along. Fortunately, perhaps because I began my quest (career) at such a young age, I had many mentors, mostly indie record label founders and folks I was fortunate enough to meet at Billboard when I first worked up the courage to visit their offices when I was no more than t
hirteen or fourteen years old. Some of them are mentioned on the pages that follow.
Some of their careers stretched back to the 1920s. Chief among them, in addition to Tom Noonan and Paul Ackerman at Billboard, were Syd Nathan of King Records, Jerry Wexler, and Ahmet and Nesuhi Ertegun at Atlantic Records.
Finally, Jerry Lieber, Mike Stoller, George Goldner, Ellie Greenwich, Jeff Barry, Shadow Morton, Steve Venet, all at Red Bird Records. Super important, because that is where I first met Richard Gottehrer, with whom I started Sire Records several years later. Red Bird was on the 8th floor and Richard’s company, with his partners Bobbly Feldman and Jerry Goldstone, FGG Productions, was on the 9th floor. We’d often meet riding the elevators up and down to work. We were partners in Sire for the first seven years, and they were among the roughest, but some of the best as well.
Sire’s first assistant was a young Englishwoman, Helen Glatt, who I brought over from Red Bird. She was followed by many great women on both sides of the Atlantic to whom I owe so much: Risa Morley, Sandy Alouete, Geraldine Oakley (Lines), Maxine Conroy (Forrest), Karen Rooney, Ellen Zucker, Deirdre Allen, Ellie Smith, Susanne Emil.
Over the years, there were others at Sire who stood out: Paul McNally, Randy Miller, Ken Kushnick, Michael Rosenblatt, Kenny Ostin, Mark Kamins, Lyle Preslar, Craig Winkler, Steve Savoca, John Montgomery, Larry Demellier, Phil Greenop, and Selwin Turnbull. There were folks at the various labels from whom Sire licensed music. At EMI: L. G. Wood, Roger Ames (whose credits I always touted and who eventually became my boss at WMG for several years), and David Croker. Among the artists, Climax Blues Band, Renaissance, Barclay James Harvest, Stackridge, Kevin Ayers, and others that helped keep Sire’s doors open. At the Rough Trade store in London: Geoff Travis (the Smiths), Peter, Judith, and Steve (I never knew their surnames) and Daniel Miller at Mute Records, whom I met there and who entrusted Sire with Depeche Mode, Erasure, Yaz[oo], Silicon Teens, and the Normal. At Beggar’s Banquet and 4AD: Martin Mills, Ivo Watts-Russell (the Cult, Modern English). At Creation Records: Alan McGee (Primal Scream, My Bloody Valentine, Ride). At Transatlantic: Nat and Sarah Joseph (the Deviants, the Johnstons) and others from my early UK days—John Gillespie, Neil Slaven, John Reid, and Phil Greenop.
Prior to hooking up with Warner Bros. in 1977, we were distributed by several labels: London Records, where we had fond memories of working with Herb Goldfarb, Mimi Trepel, and Diana Weller. At Polydor Records, with Jerry Schoenbaum, at Paramount with Tony Martell and Aaron Levy. At British Decca, with Hugh Mendl, a great music man who signed Moody Blues and, together with Dick Rowe, the Rolling Stones, Geoffrey Milne, and Sir Edward Lewis. At ABC, there was a great, old-school music man and mentor from back in the days of the Decca branch in Chicago, Jay Lasker, and a support team that included Charlie Minor and Dennis Lavinthal.
At Warner, the most supportive over the years have been Dion Singer, Michael Nance, Craig Kostich, Lenny Waronker, Ted Templeman, Carl Scott, Liz Rosenberg, Tom Ruffino, Andrew Wickham, Steve Baker, Bob Regehr, Bobby Shaw, Bob Merlis, Michael Hill, Peter Standish, John Esposito, Steve Margo, Tom Draper, Benny Medina, Brian Bumbery, and most recently Robin Hurley, James Steven, Nicole Smith, and Bob Kaus. In Warner’s UK office: Rob Dickins, Max Hole, Paul Conroy, Moira Bellas, Barbara Charone. Across the Channel in Warner France: Neeky Kergraisse. Eliah Seton, and everyone at ADA, the greatest indie distributor in the world. Finally, Jon Platt, not just a great publisher but a great song man.
Labels Sire was closely involved with: Blue Horizon Records: Mike and Richard Vernon (Peter Green’s Fleetwood Mac, Chicken Shack, Duster Bennett, and some of the greatest blues artists of all time); Jem Records: Marty Scott (Nektar, Synergy); Real Records: Dave Hill (the Pretenders); Hansa Records: Trudy Meisel (Boney M), who also hooked me up with the wonderful folks at Ariola/BMG, including Hartwig Masuch and Kate Hyman. Also, Dag Haeggqvist at Sonet.
My lawyers over the years, and in particular, my current attorney, friend, and advisor Jess Drabkin. I’m not being at all modest when I say, without his help, understanding, and support, this book most probably would never have been written. Also, the legendary Allen Grubman, Alan Stein—no relation—who was Sire’s first lawyer and guided Richard and me through uncharted waters, Jim Mosher, Rick Streicker at Warner’s, Sire’s in-house lawyer, Jonathan Brett, and my family lawyer and cousin, Arland Weisberg, and his wife, Kay (some family photographs taken by Arland’s late Brother Brian are included in this book), and my accountants, Peter Fairley and Anand Viswanath at CohnReznick.
Other dear friends and supporters in and out of the industry: Danny Fields, Linda Moran of Songwriters Hall of Fame and her husband, Mike Moran, one of Elvis’ key engineers at RCA Victor, Charlie Feldman at BMI, Jerry Blavat (the Geator with the Heater), Ian “Molly” Meldrum, legendary Philadelphia disc jockey Freddie Gershon, Bill Paxton, Brett Ratner, Mandar Thakur, Tony Wilson, Dave Pichilingi, Li Hui at Modernsky in China, Atul Churamani, Blaise Fernandes, Viraj Sawant, Jimi Wang, Mohammed Hamzeh, Paolo Della Puppa, Shep Gordon, Christine Semba/WOMEX, Jeremy Hulsh, Ed Peto, Mark Potter, Eric and Wanda Ramos, Gary Kurfirst, Sat Bisla, Guy Oseary, Jorge Hinojosa, Andrew Loog Oldham, Linda Ramone, Hilly Kristal, Arturo Vega, Frank Barsalona, Suzan Evans and Rabbi Chaim Kramer, Martin Elbourne from Great Escape and Glastonbury Festival, Sat Bisla from MUSEXPO, Jasper Donat from BRANDED, Michael Gudinski and Michael Chugg in Australia, and Neill Dixon from Canadian Music Week.
Special thanks to my personal assistant of nearly thirty years, Rodney Richardson, one of the most brilliant people I’ve ever known, from whom I’ve learned so much about art. Rodney helped me build up an amazing collection and, more importantly, kept me healthy in spite of myself. Together, we shared many exciting and important adventures and talent searches over the past thirty years. Also, on those trips, we met so many great international music men and women.
Also, my previous assistants, Jean-Michel Coletti, who went on to have a career at Warner Music France, Ron Maida, and Alistair Coia. Also, current Sire staffers Robin Hurley, Eric McLellan, Mike Kain, and Teasha Edwards.
There are so many people whose paths I have been privileged to cross during my sixty-year career in music. I’ve listed many of them in the appendix to this book, which also contains a list of the auction houses that are some of my favorite places to spend time.
—Seymour Stein
Gareth Murphy would like to acknowledge the help and support of:
Elizabeth Beier, Jeff Capshew, Chris Frantz, Brian Powers, Risa Morley, Rodney Richardson, Michael Rosenblatt, Ken Kushnick, Danny Fields, Andy Wickham, Arlene Adler, Mandy Stein, Richard Gottehrer, Craig Lyon, Marty Scott, Maxine Forrest, Geraldine Lines, Ann Wiederkher, Arland Weisberg, Sandy Alouete, Rabbi Chaim Kramer, Mike Vernon, Richard Vernon, Jean-Michel Coletti, Daniel Miller, Geoff Travis, Martin Mills, Nicole Williams, Mark Fowler, Don Bajema, Ivo Watts-Russell, Judith Azoulay, and James Azoulay-Murphy.
INDEX
The index that appeared in the print version of this title does not match the pages in your eBook. Please use the search function on your eReading device to search for terms of interest. For your reference, the terms that appear in the print index are listed below.
Aberbach, Jean
Aberbach, Julian
Abner, Ewart
Abramson, Herb
AC/DC
Ace, Johnny
Ace Records
Ackerman, Paul
the Ad Libs
Addy, Nicki
Adler, Linda. See Stein, Linda
Adler, Lou
Adler, Mabel
Aerosmith
Aguttes
Aha
AIDS
“Ain’t That a Shame” (Domino)
Akens, Jewel
Akkerman, Jan
Aladdin
Alaimo, Steve
“Albatross” (Fleetwood Mac)
Ales, Barney
Alexenburg, Ron
All Platinum Records
Allen, Karen
Alpert, Herb
Althea & Donna
A&M
Ambition
“America” (Simon & Garfunkel)
American Independence
Ames, Roger
Amy Records
Anchor Records
Anderson, Laurie
the Angels
Anka, Paul
“Annie, I’m Not Your Daddy” (Kid Creole and the Coconuts)
Anthrax
Aphex Twin
Apollo Records
Appell, Dave
A&R
Are You Experienced? (Hendrix)
Ariola
Arista
Artcurial
Arthur, Brooks
“Ashes to Ashes” (Bowie)
the Associates
Astbury, Ian
Asylum Records
Atco
Atlantic Records
auction houses
Austro-Hungarian Empire
Autumn Records
the Avalanches
Avigdor, Seymour
Axton, Estelle
Azoff, Irving
Azzoli, Val
the B-52’s
“Back on the Chain Gang” (Pretenders)
Backbeat
Baker, Barbara
Baker, Mickey
Baker, Steve
Balfe, David
Ballard, Hank
Bang Records
bar mitzvah
Barclay James Harvest
Barri, Steve
Bart, Ben
Basil, Toni
Basquiat, Jean-Michel
Bass, Ralph
Baton Records
Bauhaus
Bayley, Roberta
the Beach Boys
the Beatles
Beckenbauer, Franz
Bedell, Lou
the Bee Gees
Beer, Lenny
Beggars Banquet
Beisly, Martin
Belew, Adrian
Bell, Andy
Bell Records
Bellas, Moira
Belle and Sebastian
Bel-Tone Records
Benitez, Jellybean
Bennett, Pete
Bennett, Tony
Berlin, Irving
Berman, Bess
Berman, David
Berman, Ike
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