Post by Portland Road on Jan 9, 2018 8:42:46 GMT
Aficionados of 1960s music will know of Tony Calder, who co-founded Immediate Records with Andrew Loog Oldham.
It was one of the first independent labels and sought a looser ethic than the established majors (e.g. Columbia, Decca) which descended from the earliest days of recorded music.
A lot of it was tinny-sounding pop in the characteristic style of the time (mono with orchestral backing, and booming bass guitar). Artists like Billy Nicholls, Rod Stewart and Murray Head recorded singles for the label, without chart success.
Though within this limited set-up, there were many gems, including hits for Chris Farlowe and P.P. Arnold, and eventually the Small Faces, The Nice, Amen Corner and Fleetwood Mac.
Indeed, these artists may have continued as they were had Immediate not imploded in 1969. Oldham and Calder was mischievous and manic and the bills mounted. It led to royalties disputes.
In his subsequent career, Calder handled an early incarnation of the Bay City Rollers and then became Eddy Grant's manager during his solo hit-making period in the 80s.
He vigorously promoted 'I don't Wanna Dance' and it became a big number one hit. I am not sure if Calder was involved financially with Grant's label Ice Records.
R.I.P. Tony Calder, aged 74.
It was one of the first independent labels and sought a looser ethic than the established majors (e.g. Columbia, Decca) which descended from the earliest days of recorded music.
A lot of it was tinny-sounding pop in the characteristic style of the time (mono with orchestral backing, and booming bass guitar). Artists like Billy Nicholls, Rod Stewart and Murray Head recorded singles for the label, without chart success.
Though within this limited set-up, there were many gems, including hits for Chris Farlowe and P.P. Arnold, and eventually the Small Faces, The Nice, Amen Corner and Fleetwood Mac.
Indeed, these artists may have continued as they were had Immediate not imploded in 1969. Oldham and Calder was mischievous and manic and the bills mounted. It led to royalties disputes.
In his subsequent career, Calder handled an early incarnation of the Bay City Rollers and then became Eddy Grant's manager during his solo hit-making period in the 80s.
He vigorously promoted 'I don't Wanna Dance' and it became a big number one hit. I am not sure if Calder was involved financially with Grant's label Ice Records.
R.I.P. Tony Calder, aged 74.
