Hot Wax Records
Encyclopedia
Hot Wax Records was a Detroit
, Michigan
-based record label, created by producers/songwriters Holland–Dozier–Holland (Edward Holland, Jr.
, Lamont Dozier
and Brian Holland
) in 1968 when they left Motown. Their records were distributed by Buddah Records
.
and producers
for Motown, establishing acts like the Supremes
and Four Tops
with many major hits in the mid-1960s. Looking for more control and greater rewards, they left Motown in 1968 to launch Hot Wax Records, along with Invictus Records
. Hot Wax Records.Inc was incorporated with Eddie Holland registered as both the company President and sole shareholder. The company’s administrative offices were situated in Cadillac Tower a 40-story office tower, occupied the corner of Cadillac Square and Bates, one block east of Woodward and two blocks north of the Coleman A. Young Municipal Center
(known then as the City-County Building). It was designed by Architects Bonnah & Chaffee and built in 1927. The original Detroit Historical Museum opened November 19, 1928 on the 23rd floor of the Cadillac Tower (then known as the Barlum Tower) and was referred to as the "highest Museum in the world”. Holland Dozier Holland’s own studio was a converted movie theatre, The Town Theater on Grand River Avenue.
The Hot Wax label, distributed by Buddah Records
, was in full operation for about four years, racking up a series of successful records, such as Honey Cone
's "Want Ads" (a number 1 hit on both the Billboard Hot 100
and Billboard R&B Singles
charts), "Stick Up", and "One Monkey Don't Stop No Show"; "Somebody's Been Sleeping in My Bed" by 100 Proof (Aged in Soul)
; "Westbound Number 9" by Flaming Ember; and "Rip Off" by Laura Lee
. Then towards the mid-70's, like sister label Invictus, Hot Wax was later distributed by CBS Records
.
For contractual reasons, the names Holland/Dozier/Holland were not used on releases until 1970, (songs were initially credited to (Ronald) Dunbar and (Edythe) Wayne). Other writers/producers for the label included Greg Perry, William Weatherspoon, Angelo Bond, and General Johnson, who was also lead singer with the Invictus group Chairmen of the Board.
The first Hot Wax label was black and white with flames coming out of the record at the top. The second Hot Wax label was white with orange swirling flames and black print. In 1973, when Hot Wax finally folded due to cash flow
problems, Holland, Dozier and Holland moved their remaining artists to the Invictus Records
label.
Dozier and the Holland brothers still own the catalogue which is managed by HDH Records.
Detroit, Michigan
Detroit is the major city among the primary cultural, financial, and transportation centers in the Metro Detroit area, a region of 5.2 million people. As the seat of Wayne County, the city of Detroit is the largest city in the U.S. state of Michigan and serves as a major port on the Detroit River...
, Michigan
Michigan
Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
-based record label, created by producers/songwriters Holland–Dozier–Holland (Edward Holland, Jr.
Edward Holland, Jr.
Edward Holland, Jr. is an American singer, songwriter and record producer....
, Lamont Dozier
Lamont Dozier
Lamont Herbert Dozier is an American songwriter and record producer, born in Detroit, Michigan. Dozier has either co-written or produced several US Billboard #1 hits.-Career:...
and Brian Holland
Brian Holland
Brian Holland is an American songwriter and record producer, best known as a member of Holland–Dozier–Holland. That songwriting and production team that was responsible for much of the Motown sound and numerous hit records by artists such as Martha and the Vandellas, The Supremes, The Four Tops,...
) in 1968 when they left Motown. Their records were distributed by Buddah Records
Buddah Records
Buddah Records was founded in 1967 in New York City. The label was born out of Kama Sutra Records, an MGM Records-distributed label, which remained a key imprint following Buddah's founding...
.
History
Until 1967, Holland, Dozier, and Holland were the top composersSongwriter
A songwriter is an individual who writes both the lyrics and music to a song. Someone who solely writes lyrics may be called a lyricist, and someone who only writes music may be called a composer...
and producers
Record producer
A record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music...
for Motown, establishing acts like the Supremes
The Supremes
The Supremes, an American female singing group, were the premier act of Motown Records during the 1960s.Originally founded as The Primettes in Detroit, Michigan, in 1959, The Supremes' repertoire included doo-wop, pop, soul, Broadway show tunes, psychedelic soul, and disco...
and Four Tops
Four Tops
The Four Tops are an American vocal quartet, whose repertoire has included doo-wop, jazz, soul music, R&B, disco, adult contemporary, hard rock, and showtunes...
with many major hits in the mid-1960s. Looking for more control and greater rewards, they left Motown in 1968 to launch Hot Wax Records, along with Invictus Records
Invictus Records
Invictus Records was an American record label based in Detroit, Michigan created by Edward Holland, Jr., Lamont Dozier and Brian Holland...
. Hot Wax Records.Inc was incorporated with Eddie Holland registered as both the company President and sole shareholder. The company’s administrative offices were situated in Cadillac Tower a 40-story office tower, occupied the corner of Cadillac Square and Bates, one block east of Woodward and two blocks north of the Coleman A. Young Municipal Center
Coleman A. Young Municipal Center
The Coleman A. Young Municipal Center is a class-A office building in downtown Detroit, near Hart Plaza, One Detroit Center and the Renaissance Center. Originally called the City-County Building, it was renamed for former Detroit Mayor Coleman A. Young, shortly after his death in 1997...
(known then as the City-County Building). It was designed by Architects Bonnah & Chaffee and built in 1927. The original Detroit Historical Museum opened November 19, 1928 on the 23rd floor of the Cadillac Tower (then known as the Barlum Tower) and was referred to as the "highest Museum in the world”. Holland Dozier Holland’s own studio was a converted movie theatre, The Town Theater on Grand River Avenue.
The Hot Wax label, distributed by Buddah Records
Buddah Records
Buddah Records was founded in 1967 in New York City. The label was born out of Kama Sutra Records, an MGM Records-distributed label, which remained a key imprint following Buddah's founding...
, was in full operation for about four years, racking up a series of successful records, such as Honey Cone
Honey Cone
Honey Cone was an American R&B and soul all girl vocal group, who are best remembered for their Billboard #1 hit single, "Want Ads". They were the premier female group for Hot Wax Records, operated by Holland–Dozier–Holland after they had departed from Motown Records.-Career:Honey Cone comprised...
's "Want Ads" (a number 1 hit on both the Billboard Hot 100
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
and Billboard R&B Singles
Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs
Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs, is a chart released weekly by Billboard in the United States.The chart, initiated in 1942, is used to track the success of popular music songs in urban, or primarily African American, venues. Dominated over the years at various times by jazz, rhythm and blues, doo-wop, soul,...
charts), "Stick Up", and "One Monkey Don't Stop No Show"; "Somebody's Been Sleeping in My Bed" by 100 Proof (Aged in Soul)
100 Proof (Aged in Soul)
100 Proof was a funk/soul group formed in Detroit, Michigan in 1969. Put together by Motown songwriting team Holland-Dozier-Holland, they signed to Hot Wax Records and went on to release several hit singles between 1969 and 1972. The biggest of these, "Somebody's Been Sleeping", reached #8 on the...
; "Westbound Number 9" by Flaming Ember; and "Rip Off" by Laura Lee
Laura Lee
Laura Lee is an American soul and gospel singer and songwriter, most successful in the 1960s and 1970s and influential for her records which discussed and celebrated women’s experience.-Career:...
. Then towards the mid-70's, like sister label Invictus, Hot Wax was later distributed by CBS Records
Sony Music Entertainment
Sony Music Entertainment ' is the second-largest global recorded music company of the "big four" record companies and is controlled by Sony Corporation of America, the United States subsidiary of Japan's Sony Corporation....
.
For contractual reasons, the names Holland/Dozier/Holland were not used on releases until 1970, (songs were initially credited to (Ronald) Dunbar and (Edythe) Wayne). Other writers/producers for the label included Greg Perry, William Weatherspoon, Angelo Bond, and General Johnson, who was also lead singer with the Invictus group Chairmen of the Board.
The first Hot Wax label was black and white with flames coming out of the record at the top. The second Hot Wax label was white with orange swirling flames and black print. In 1973, when Hot Wax finally folded due to cash flow
Cash flow
Cash flow is the movement of money into or out of a business, project, or financial product. It is usually measured during a specified, finite period of time. Measurement of cash flow can be used for calculating other parameters that give information on a company's value and situation.Cash flow...
problems, Holland, Dozier and Holland moved their remaining artists to the Invictus Records
Invictus Records
Invictus Records was an American record label based in Detroit, Michigan created by Edward Holland, Jr., Lamont Dozier and Brian Holland...
label.
Dozier and the Holland brothers still own the catalogue which is managed by HDH Records.
Discography
- HA-701 - Take Me with YouTake Me with YouTake Me with You is the debut studio album by American R&B/Soul/Funk Girl group the Honey Cone. It was released by Hot Wax/Invictus Records in 1970 .-Album information:...
- Honey ConeHoney ConeHoney Cone was an American R&B and soul all girl vocal group, who are best remembered for their Billboard #1 hit single, "Want Ads". They were the premier female group for Hot Wax Records, operated by Holland–Dozier–Holland after they had departed from Motown Records.-Career:Honey Cone comprised...
[1970] - HA-702 - Westbound Number 9 - The Flaming EmberThe Flaming EmberThe Flaming Ember was an American white soul band from Detroit, Michigan, who found commercial success starting in the late 1960's.The group originally formed in Detroit, Michigan in 1964. At that time, they were known as The Flaming Embers...
[1970] - HA-703 - When Will It End - Honey Cone [unissued]
- HA-704 - Someone's Been Sleeping In My Bed - 100 Proof (Aged in Soul)100 Proof (Aged in Soul)100 Proof was a funk/soul group formed in Detroit, Michigan in 1969. Put together by Motown songwriting team Holland-Dozier-Holland, they signed to Hot Wax Records and went on to release several hit singles between 1969 and 1972. The biggest of these, "Somebody's Been Sleeping", reached #8 on the...
[1970] - HA-705 - Sunshine - The Flaming Ember [1971]
- HA-706 - Sweet RepliesSweet RepliesReviews for Sweet Replies have been positive. Robert Christgau rated it a B+, stating that "most of this is pure Vandellas." He also stated that the producer "uses every H-D-H [Holland-Dozier-Holland] trick and comes up with a few electronic effects of his own". In a retrospective review, Andrew...
- Honey Cone [1971] - HA-707 - Soulful TapestrySoulful TapestrySoulful Tapestry is the third studio album by Girl group the Honey Cone. It was released by Hot Wax/Invictus Records in 1971 .-Album information:...
- Honey Cone [1972] - HA-708 - Woman's Love Rights - Laura LeeLaura LeeLaura Lee is an American soul and gospel singer and songwriter, most successful in the 1960s and 1970s and influential for her records which discussed and celebrated women’s experience.-Career:...
[1972] - HA-709 - Deliciously Yours - 100 Proof (Aged in Soul)
- HA-710 - Hot Wax Greatest Hits - Various Artists [1972]
- HA-711 - The Politicians featuring McKinley Jackson - The Politicians [1972]
- HA-712 - 100 Proof - 100 Proof (Aged in Soul) [1972]
- HA-713 - Love, Peace & SoulLove, Peace & SoulLove, Peace & Soul is the fourth and final studio album by American R&B/Soul/Funk Girl group the Honey Cone. It was released by Hot Wax/Invictus Records in 1972 .-Album information:...
- Honey Cone [1972] - HA-714 - Two Sides of Laura Lee - Laura Lee [1972]
- HA-715 - Best of Laura Lee - Laura Lee [1972]
- HA-716 - Think of the Children - Satisfaction Unlimited [1973]