The 'mainstream' Label (s)

Posted May 23, 200618 yr

How many labels called 'Mainstream' have there been?

When did they run from and what were their significant releases?

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Created 18 yr18 yr
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Simon T 2 posts
Russ Vickers 2 posts
Tsu Tomatoes 1 post
soulfulsaint 1 post

May 23, 200618 yr

How many labels called 'Mainstream' have there been?

When did they run from and what were their significant releases?

There has only ever been one Mainstream label, which started in late 1963/early 1964 and ran till 1976. No matter what design of label you see, or numbering series, all the variations of Mainstream were owned by the same man, Bob Shad. Shad also owned the Brent and Time labels, which brought us great records by the Moovers, Brenton Wood, Bertha Tillman et al.

There are a couple of hundred records on Mainstream, covering all genres of music. Probably from a commerical point of view, the label's biggest discoveries were Ted Nugent and the Amboy Dukes and Janis Joplin and Big Brother & the Holding Company, but fortunately they also signed some good acts along the way :yes: :yes: :yes:

For me the best record on Mainstream is Special Delivery's "I Destroyed Your Love" , one of the greatest sweet soul records ever made...

TONE

May 23, 200618 yr

Author

There has only ever been one Mainstream label, which started in late 1963/early 1964 and ran till 1976. No matter what design of label you see, or numbering series, all the variations of Mainstream were owned by the same man, Bob Shad. Shad also owned the Brent and Time labels, which brought us great records by the Moovers, Brenton Wood, Bertha Tillman et al.

# Many thanks Tony, very interesting stuff.

. Probably from a commerical point of view, the label's biggest discoveries were Ted Nugent and the Amboy Dukes and Janis Joplin and Big Brother & the Holding Company,

# Whooooo? Only heard of JJ and that's because of her early tragic death.

For me the best record on Mainstream is Special Delivery's "I Destroyed Your Love" , one of the greatest sweet soul records ever made...

# Clarence Hill for me.

May 23, 200618 yr

How many labels called 'Mainstream' have there been?

When did they run from and what were their significant releases?

How about one of the best 70's tracks ever,definitely significant to the Modern crowd, Almeta Lattimore - These Memories

May 23, 200618 yr

Dramatics - No rebate on Love & Alice Clark LP

May 23, 200618 yr

Quite partial to Linda Perry's 'Its All In the Back of Me Now' from 1974.

May 23, 200618 yr

Author

Quite partial to Linda Perry's 'Its All In the Back of Me Now' from 1974.

Nice music, lyrics and production, but I always find these type of song a bit too 'shouty', if you get what I mean?

May 24, 200618 yr

How many labels called 'Mainstream' have there been?

When did they run from and what were their significant releases?

Sarah Vaughan "I Need You More Than Ever Now" is my fave Mainstream 45.

Simply Gorgeous!

Sean Hampsey

May 24, 200618 yr

Dramatics - No rebate on Love & Alice Clark LP

Yes, but exactly WHO was in this apparently bogus line-up of the Dramatics ???

I have copies of Blues & Soul and Black Music from the time and they never clearly stated what the personnel was on this record ? :thumbsup:

May 24, 200618 yr

There has only ever been one Mainstream label, which started in late 1963/early 1964 and ran till 1976. No matter what design of label you see, or numbering series, all the variations of Mainstream were owned by the same man, Bob Shad. Shad also owned the Brent and Time labels, which brought us great records by the Moovers, Brenton Wood, Bertha Tillman et al.

There are a couple of hundred records on Mainstream, covering all genres of music. Probably from a commerical point of view, the label's biggest discoveries were Ted Nugent and the Amboy Dukes and Janis Joplin and Big Brother & the Holding Company, but fortunately they also signed some good acts along the way

For me the best record on Mainstream is Special Delivery's "I Destroyed Your Love" , one of the greatest sweet soul records ever made...

TONE

My perspective on the label is obviously based on a handful of soul records, but was a lot of the product licenced in from else where ???, as opposed to being recorded for the label ?.

Russ

May 24, 200618 yr

There has only ever been one Mainstream label, which started in late 1963/early 1964 and ran till 1976. No matter what design of label you see, or numbering series, all the variations of Mainstream were owned by the same man, Bob Shad. Shad also owned the Brent and Time labels, which brought us great records by the Moovers, Brenton Wood, Bertha Tillman et al.

For me the best record on Mainstream is Special Delivery's "I Destroyed Your Love" , one of the greatest sweet soul records ever made...

TONE

Is there a full discography somewhere Tony ???.

Russ

May 24, 200618 yr

Is there a full discography somewhere Tony ???.

Russ

Hi Russ,

I have a pretty much complete one, but it's in a format that I can't reproduce here (and anyway, even if I could, nearly 200 singles takes up a lot of posting!)

If you want to PM me with your home or office e-mail address, however, I'll gladly send it to you there as an attachment..

To answer your earlier question, I think that the majority of records on Mainstream were actually recorded for the label in that very few seem to have been on other labels previously...

TONY :thumbsup:

May 24, 200618 yr

Yes, but exactly WHO was in this apparently bogus line-up of the Dramatics ???

I have copies of Blues & Soul and Black Music from the time and they never clearly stated what the personnel was on this record ?

I have a feeling that it's something to to with Wee Gee Howard from the actual Dramatics, who had temporarily left the group at that time. It's certainly a Detroit recording...

TONE :thumbsup: