Prelude Records (record label)
Encyclopedia
Prelude Records was a New York
-based dance
independent record label
, active from 1976 to 1986. At one time, François Kevorkian
held an A&R
position at Prelude. The label owner was Marvin Schlachter.
, a US division of UK-based Pye Records
which had begun in 1974. The name was derived from the music group Prelude
which had recorded for Pye at the time. At the outset, Prelude's LP and 45
catalogue numbers were the same as had begun under Pye (US), with the prefix changed from PYE- to PRL-. For a very short period at the start, Pye's then-parent, ATV Music
, owned Prelude.
It first made its small release with a large name called JUMBO, which spawned a minor hit with "Turn On To Love".
Prelude was one of the few labels to survive after the death of disco and in 1981 had pioneered the "Mastermix". With Shep Pettibone's "Kiss Mastermix 2x12", the label was the first to shine light on the Remix, to change up an existing song by altering it slightly. "Disco Circus" was and still is a cult classic.
Prelude's biggest hits included "In the Bush" by Musique
(1978), "Come to Me" by France Joli
(1979), "A Little Bit Of Jazz" by the Nick Straker Band
and "Must Be the Music" by Secret Weapon (1981).
After its closure in 1986, the back catalogue of Prelude was sold to Unidisc
.
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
-based dance
Dance music
Dance music is music composed specifically to facilitate or accompany dancing. It can be either a whole musical piece or part of a larger musical arrangement...
independent record label
Independent record label
An independent record label is a record label operating without the funding of or outside the organizations of the major record labels. A great number of bands and musical acts begin on independent labels.-Overview:...
, active from 1976 to 1986. At one time, François Kevorkian
François Kevorkian
François Kevorkian, alias François K, is a French DJ of Armenian origin, remixer, producer and record label owner. Having started his career in renowned clubs such as the Paradise Garage and Studio 54, the New York City resident is widely considered as one of the forefathers of house...
held an A&R
A&R
Artists and repertoire is the division of a record label that is responsible for talent scouting and overseeing the artistic development of recording artists. It also acts as a liaison between artists and the record label.- Finding talent :...
position at Prelude. The label owner was Marvin Schlachter.
History
Prelude was first launched in 1976, renamed from Pye International RecordsPye International Records
Pye International Records was a record label founded in 1958, as a subsidiary of Pye Records. The company distributed many American labels in the UK, including Chess, Kama Sutra, Buddah, Colpix and King...
, a US division of UK-based Pye Records
Pye Records
Pye Records was a British record label. In its first incarnation, perhaps Pye's best known artists were Lonnie Donegan , Petula Clark , The Searchers , The Kinks , Sandie Shaw and Brotherhood of Man...
which had begun in 1974. The name was derived from the music group Prelude
Prelude (band)
Prelude are an English based vocal folk group, who in their most famous line-up consisted of Brian Hume , his wife Irene Hume and Ian Vardy...
which had recorded for Pye at the time. At the outset, Prelude's LP and 45
Gramophone record
A gramophone record, commonly known as a phonograph record , vinyl record , or colloquially, a record, is an analog sound storage medium consisting of a flat disc with an inscribed, modulated spiral groove...
catalogue numbers were the same as had begun under Pye (US), with the prefix changed from PYE- to PRL-. For a very short period at the start, Pye's then-parent, ATV Music
Associated TeleVision
Associated Television, often referred to as ATV, was a British television company, holder of various licences to broadcast on the ITV network from 24 September 1955 until 00:34 on 1 January 1982...
, owned Prelude.
It first made its small release with a large name called JUMBO, which spawned a minor hit with "Turn On To Love".
Prelude was one of the few labels to survive after the death of disco and in 1981 had pioneered the "Mastermix". With Shep Pettibone's "Kiss Mastermix 2x12", the label was the first to shine light on the Remix, to change up an existing song by altering it slightly. "Disco Circus" was and still is a cult classic.
Prelude's biggest hits included "In the Bush" by Musique
Musique (Patrick Adams)
Musique was a studio project by Patrick Adams, best known for the song, "In the Bush". It consisted of five singers, Christine Wiltshire, Angela Howell, Gina Taylor Pickens, Mary Seymour Williams and Jocelyn Brown.-Career:...
(1978), "Come to Me" by France Joli
France Joli
France Joli is a Canadian singer, born 1963, who is best known for the disco classic "Come to Me."-Teen stardom:A native of Montreal, Quebec, Joli grew up in the Montreal suburb of Dorion...
(1979), "A Little Bit Of Jazz" by the Nick Straker Band
Nick Straker Band
The Nick Straker Band, from London, England, was a fusion pop music group, led by musician and vocalist Nick Straker, who had a handful of hits on the U.S. Hot Dance Club Play chart. The group also consisted several members of the band New Musik. Their most successful song in the U.S., "A Little...
and "Must Be the Music" by Secret Weapon (1981).
After its closure in 1986, the back catalogue of Prelude was sold to Unidisc
UniDisc
UniDisc, Inc. was one of the first digital media companies to publish multimedia titles for consumer market.Based in Palo Alto, California and founded in 1989, the first product published was the Guinness Disc of Records, an interactive version of the Guinness Book of Records that included hundreds...
.
See also
- List of record labels
- Prelude at Discogs