Tony Middleton & Polydor ?

[Tlscapital]

Only noticed now that 'Paris Blues' has that (Polydor Series) quote under the title and artist's credit. But what's that all about ? Or what's that supposed to address  ?

His predating release 'to the end of the earth' on USA M-G-M was indeed released in the UK on Polydor due to the license deal between M-G-M USA and Polydor UK.

Then this following release of his with 'Paris Blues' on Mala USA featuring this (Polydor Series) annotation was also then released in Canada but on Polydor (evidently).

What's the deal with that (Polydor Series) annotation on the Mala 45 ? Is there a specific tale about these two Tony Middleton's Claus Ogerman productions and Polydor ?

Or is it a German thing (like Polydor was originally like Claus was) that resurged back there in the USA with these Tony Middleton's sessions under Ogerman's production ?

[Dobber]

I’ve owned the Paris blues on Canadian polydor(shockingly rare) but often wondered why no uk release?

[The Yank]

I'm guessing that "Paris Blues" was originally recorded for Polydor International. The Polydor ad (Cashbox - July 2, 1966) states that Claus recorded his 1st singles for Polydor in the U.S.

    In the 2nd article, (Cashbox June 11, 1966) it appears that Helios Music ( which published "Paris Blues) was looking to lease their masters to "a host of key labels".

   So once again, I'm guessing Polydor had international rights to Claus Ogerman productions and they were free to lease them to any company in the U.S. 

Edited June 10 by The Yank

[Tlscapital]

5 hours ago, The Yank said:

I'm guessing that "Paris Blues" was originally recorded for Polydor International. The Polydor ad (Cashbox - July 2, 1966) states that Claus recorded his 1st singles for Polydor in the U.S.

    In the 2nd article, (Cashbox June 11, 1966) it appears that Helios Music ( which published "Paris Blues) was looking to lease their masters to "a host of key labels".

   So once again, I'm guessing Polydor had international rights to Claus Ogerman productions and they were free to lease them to any company in the U.S. 

So Claus Ogerman's Ilios and Glamorous Productions where recorded in the USA for the Polydor group as a co-production venture. But by then Polydor in the USA was not established as a record company yet. Tony Middleton's previous M-G-M release 'to the end of the earth' from April 1966 was evidently not registered under such Claus Ogerman's Publishing copyright's company that was not settled yet.

Explaining why they had to lease these venture productions post 1966  to third party labels. Explaining this sole's Tony Middleton and Claus Ogerman's recording released by October 1966. Strange as it seems for the American market such 'bizarre' (Polydor Series) credentia on an Amy recordl didn't mean much as it does for us in Europe used to associate Polydor as a self standing label on its own for what it is. 

[Sebastian]

The "Polydor Series" thing can be found on lots of 45s:

https://www.discogs.com/search/?q=POLYDOR+SERIES+&type=all&format_exact=7"&country_exact=US&decade=1960

Edited June 12 by Sebastian

[Mal C]

Polydor Down Under if its of use...

[Tlscapital]

1 hour ago, Sebastian said:

The "Polydor Series" thing can be found on lots of 45s:

https://www.discogs.com/search/?q=POLYDOR+SERIES+&type=all&format_exact=7"&country_exact=US&decade=1960

Thanks for that interesting link. But that not exhaustive cataloging presents mostly european recordings previously released in europe on some Polydor or subs labels.

Only the Carolines there on Roulette is not that and could match the Polydor series of American production by mid 1966 to other labels before Polydor records constitutes itself.

[Sebastian]

On 12/06/2024 at 15:07, Tlscapital said:

Thanks for that interesting link. But that not exhaustive cataloging presents mostly european recordings previously released in europe on some Polydor or subs labels.

Only the Carolines there on Roulette is not that and could match the Polydor series of American production by mid 1966 to other labels before Polydor records constitutes itself.

Interestingly both the Carolines 45 on Roulette and "Paris Blues" were released in 1966 on Polydor in Canada with successive numbers:

POLYDOR CANADA 1075 - Tony Middleton - Out Of This World / Paris Blues
POLYDOR CANADA 1076 - Carolines - Can't Stop Lovin' The Boy / You're My Baby

Did Mala and Roulette perhaps license them in some way from the Canadian branch of Polydor (which had been a label outside of the US since the mid-1950s)?
 

 

[Tlscapital]

1 hour ago, Sebastian said:

Interestingly both the Carolines 45 on Roulette and "Paris Blues" were released in 1966 on Polydor in Canada with successive numbers:

POLYDOR CANADA 1075 - Tony Middleton - Out Of This World / Paris Blues
POLYDOR CANADA 1076 - Carolines - Can't Stop Lovin' The Boy / You're My Baby

Did Mala and Roulette perhaps license them in some way from the Canadian branch of Polydor (which had been a label outside of the US since the mid-1950s)?

Likely the Polydor Canada got the releases directly through their Polydor regular channel USA offices.