Chi Sound Records
Encyclopedia
Chi-Sound Records is an independent record label set up in 1976 by established Chicago record producer Carl Davis
. He had been involved in the music industry since the early 1960s working with locally-based labels including Vee-Jay
and Okeh
, a subsidiary of the major Columbia Records
. He produced Gene Chandler's number One hit, "Duke Of Earl" for Vee-Jay. Later, as A&R chief for Okeh, he produced a run of hits with writer/singer Curtis Mayfield, for another Chicago artist, Major Lance, including "The Monkey Time" and "Um, Um, Um, Um, Um, Um". Davis left Okeh after it was merged with Epic Records
in a dispute with Epic management over side projects outside Epic/Okeh.
(at that time a sublabel of Decca Records
) and oversaw many hits for that label and another label Davis founded, Dakar Records
, over the next five to six years for Chicago artists like The Chi-Lites, Tyrone Davis (no relation), Barbara Acklin, The Artistics, Young-Holt, and Gene Chandler, as well as Jackie Wilson. When Brunswick/Dakar folded in 1974, Davis decided to start his own label.
Originally distributed as a custom label by United Artists Records
during 1976
and 1977
, the output, including several albums by Walter Jackson, was moderately successful. In 1978, it switched its distribution to 20th Century Records
, which saw Davis signing up other previously successful Chicago-based artists. Gene Chandler recorded the #3 Billboard R&B hit, "Get Down", a huge disco hit in 1978/79, and Davis then brought on board The Chi-Lites (with lead vocalist and producer Eugene Record also taking an executive post), The Dells and The Impressions. Other important R&B hits included "Does She Have A Friend" by Chandler and "Hot On A Thing" by The Chi-Lites.
When the 20th Century deal ended in 1981 (at the same time was sold to PolyGram in 1981 and absorbed into Casablanca Records), Chi-Sound was wound down with Davis using independent distribution for spasmodic releases for 2 years. Gene Chandler stayed for one more minor hit but the other acts moved on. Due to financial problems, it closed down in 1983. It had a brief revival in 1989, but closed down again in 1990.
Davis reopened Chi Sound Record label in January 2007. This time, it also ventured into Hip Hop.
Carl Davis (record producer)
Carl H. Davis is an American record producer and music executive, who was particularly active in Chicago in the 1960s and 1970s when he was responsible for hit R&B records by Gene Chandler, Major Lance, Jackie Wilson, The Chi-Lites, Barbara Acklin, Tyrone Davis and others.-Life and career:He was...
. He had been involved in the music industry since the early 1960s working with locally-based labels including Vee-Jay
Vee-Jay Records
Vee-Jay Records is a record label founded in the 1950s, specializing in blues, jazz, rhythm and blues and rock and roll. It was owned and operated by African Americans.-History:...
and Okeh
Okeh Records
Okeh Records began as an independent record label based in the United States of America in 1918. From 1926 on, it was a subsidiary of Columbia Records.-History:...
, a subsidiary of the major Columbia Records
Columbia Records
Columbia Records is an American record label, owned by Japan's Sony Music Entertainment, operating under the Columbia Music Group with Aware Records. It was founded in 1888, evolving from an earlier enterprise, the American Graphophone Company — successor to the Volta Graphophone Company...
. He produced Gene Chandler's number One hit, "Duke Of Earl" for Vee-Jay. Later, as A&R chief for Okeh, he produced a run of hits with writer/singer Curtis Mayfield, for another Chicago artist, Major Lance, including "The Monkey Time" and "Um, Um, Um, Um, Um, Um". Davis left Okeh after it was merged with Epic Records
Epic Records
Epic Records is an American record label, owned by Sony Music Entertainment. Though it was originally conceived as a jazz imprint, it has since expanded to represent various genres. L.A...
in a dispute with Epic management over side projects outside Epic/Okeh.
History
In the mid-60s, Davis took over creative control of Brunswick RecordsBrunswick Records
Brunswick Records is a United States based record label. The label is currently distributed by E1 Entertainment.-From 1916:Records under the "Brunswick" label were first produced by the Brunswick-Balke-Collender Company...
(at that time a sublabel of Decca Records
Decca Records
Decca Records began as a British record label established in 1929 by Edward Lewis. Its U.S. label was established in late 1934; however, owing to World War II, the link with the British company was broken for several decades....
) and oversaw many hits for that label and another label Davis founded, Dakar Records
Dakar Records
Dakar Records was a record label started by Carl Davis in 1967, while employed at Brunswick Records. The label was initially distributed by Atlantic Records subsidiary Cotillion Records, and was based in Chicago. All releases after late 1971 were distributed by Brunswick Records.Notable artists on...
, over the next five to six years for Chicago artists like The Chi-Lites, Tyrone Davis (no relation), Barbara Acklin, The Artistics, Young-Holt, and Gene Chandler, as well as Jackie Wilson. When Brunswick/Dakar folded in 1974, Davis decided to start his own label.
Originally distributed as a custom label by United Artists Records
United Artists Records
United Artists Records was a record label founded by Max E. Youngstein of United Artists in 1957 initially to distribute records of its movie soundtracks, though it soon branched out into recording music of a number of different genres.-History:...
during 1976
1976 in music
-January–February:*January 5 – Former Beatles road manager Mal Evans is shot dead by Los Angeles police after refusing to drop what police only later determine is an air rifle....
and 1977
1977 in music
This is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 1977.-January–February:*January 1 – The Clash headline the gala opening of the London music club, The Roxy....
, the output, including several albums by Walter Jackson, was moderately successful. In 1978, it switched its distribution to 20th Century Records
20th Century Records
20th Century Fox Records, also known as 20th Fox Records and 20th Century Records, was a subsidiary of film studio 20th Century Fox.-History:It began in 1958 as 20th Fox Records. In 1963, 20th Fox Records became 20th Century-Fox Records...
, which saw Davis signing up other previously successful Chicago-based artists. Gene Chandler recorded the #3 Billboard R&B hit, "Get Down", a huge disco hit in 1978/79, and Davis then brought on board The Chi-Lites (with lead vocalist and producer Eugene Record also taking an executive post), The Dells and The Impressions. Other important R&B hits included "Does She Have A Friend" by Chandler and "Hot On A Thing" by The Chi-Lites.
When the 20th Century deal ended in 1981 (at the same time was sold to PolyGram in 1981 and absorbed into Casablanca Records), Chi-Sound was wound down with Davis using independent distribution for spasmodic releases for 2 years. Gene Chandler stayed for one more minor hit but the other acts moved on. Due to financial problems, it closed down in 1983. It had a brief revival in 1989, but closed down again in 1990.
Davis reopened Chi Sound Record label in January 2007. This time, it also ventured into Hip Hop.