Capitol Records

Capitol Records. It is an American record label founded in 1942 by songwriter Johnny Mercer, film producer Buddy DeSylva, and record store owner Glenn Wallichs. Operating as a flagship label within the Universal Music Group, it is renowned for its historic roster of iconic artists and its distinctive circular headquarters in Hollywood. The label has played a pivotal role in the development of popular music across genres including jazz, rock and roll, and pop music.

History

The label was officially incorporated on April 6, 1942, with early success driven by Mercer's industry connections and Wallichs's innovative ideas in artist promotion and record distribution. Its first major hit was "Cow-Cow Boogie" by Ella Mae Morse and Freddie Slack, released on the fledgling Capitol Americana series. In 1955, the company was acquired by the British conglomerate EMI, gaining access to a vast international network. Landmark moments include signing The Beatles to its Parlophone imprint in 1962, which revolutionized its commercial standing, and later navigating the corporate mergers that led to its ownership by Universal Music Group following EMI's dissolution in 2012. Throughout the decades, it has been instrumental in the careers of artists from Frank Sinatra to Katy Perry.

Artists and repertoire

The label's artist roster is one of the most storied in music history, spanning numerous eras and genres. Its early years were defined by jazz and traditional pop stars like Nat King Cole, Stan Kenton, and Peggy Lee. The rock and roll era brought seminal acts such as The Beach Boys, whose intricate studio productions defined the California Sound, and The Band, key figures in the Americana movement. Under the EMI umbrella, it distributed UK artists like Pink Floyd and Queen in the United States. In contemporary times, its roster includes global superstars like Paul McCartney, Bob Seger, and Sam Smith, maintaining its reputation for artist development across pop music, country music, and alternative rock.

Capitol Records Building

The iconic Capitol Records Building, located at 1750 Vine Street in Hollywood, is a recognized Los Angeles Historic-Cultural Monument. Designed by architect Welton Becket in the Googie style, it was completed in 1956 and is noted for its unique circular design resembling a stack of records. A 90-foot spire atop the structure blinks "HOLLYWOOD" in Morse code. The building houses the famed Studio A and Studio B, acoustically renowned recording spaces used by legends like Frank Sinatra, The Beatles, and Radiohead. Its distinctive silhouette has made it a cultural landmark, frequently featured in films and television shows set in Los Angeles.

Labels and subsidiaries

Over its history, the label has operated or distributed a wide array of imprints and subsidiary labels catering to specific genres and markets. Key historical subsidiaries include the jazz-focused Blue Note Records, acquired in 1965, and the EMI import label Parlophone, which was central to the British Invasion. Other notable imprints have included the country music label Capitol Records Nashville, the alternative rock-oriented Astralwerks, and the Christian music label Sparrow Records. Following the Universal Music Group acquisition, it has managed a portfolio including Virgin Records and EMI Records, while former subsidiaries like Blue Note Records now operate as separate labels within the larger corporate structure.

Notable releases and achievements

The label's catalog contains some of the best-selling and most critically acclaimed albums in history. Landmark releases include The Beatles' seminal American catalog, The Beach Boys' "Pet Sounds", and Pink Floyd's "The Dark Side of the Moon". It has been home to multi-platinum successes like Katy Perry's "Teenage Dream" and Garth Brooks's "Ropin' the Wind". Achievements include numerous Grammy Award wins for its artists, pioneering the use of the album cover as an art form, and its early adoption of the LP and 45 rpm single formats. The label's vaults in Los Angeles are a legendary archive of master recordings from much of 20th-century popular music.

Category:Record labels established in 1942 Category:Companies based in Los Angeles