Great Record Labels: Atlantic Records

Original Atlantic Records Logo

Atlantic Records logo 1966-2005.

The Atlantic label was founded in 1947 by Herb Abramson, a dentistry student, and Ahmet Ertegun, the son of a Turkish ambassador. The New York-based company's early releases included R&B and jazz but by the early '50s it became established as a leading outlet for all facets of black music. Ruth Brown, Joe Turner, the Clovers and the Drifters were among its most successful acts during this period. Jerry Wexler, a former journalist with Billboard magazine, joined the flourishing label in 1953 as a partner and shareholder, and became their greatest producer. Abramson meanwhile, was drafted and although he returned to the company in 1955, events within Atlantic had overtaken him. Ahmet's brother Nesuhi was involved in building a formidable jazz catalogue while Abramson became responsible for the newly-formed Atco subsidiary. His wife Miriam also became a key member of the board, looking after the fast growing accounts department. He grew increasingly unhappy with his role and sold his share to the company's three executives. Atlantic's success continued unabated throughout the '50s with hits by the Coasters, Bobby Darin and, crucially, Ray Charles. This gifted performer provided the natural stepping-stone between the R&B prevalent during the decade and the soul of the next, by which time the label had grown into a major concern. As such it began lucrative distribution deals with independent outlets, one of which was Stax. This Memphis-based label/studio was instrumental in shaping Atlantic's '60s identity through hits for Otis Redding, Sam And Dave, Wilson Pickett and Carla Thomas. However, unrest between its owner, Jim Stewart, and Wexler, latterly soured the relationship, and the two sides split in 1968. In the meantime Wexler had entered another fruitful period with Rick Hall's Alabama-based Fame studio following success with Percy Sledge. It was here that Aretha Franklin recorded her first major smash, "I Never Loved A Man (The Way I Love You)," which began a long, critically and commercially rewarding relationship between the singer and outlet. Despite continuing its work with black music, Atlantic was increasingly drawn towards white rock. The Rascals, a blue-eyed soul quartet, and Sonny And Cher were successful singles' acts but the floodgates to the album market were opened when the label secured with their Atco subsidiary the American rights for Cream's releases. New groups, including Vanilla Fudge, Iron Butterfly (whose second album, IN A GADDA DA VIDA was, for many years, the label's biggest selling album) and Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young, furthered a process culminating in Atlantic's commercial triumphs with British acts Led Zeppelin and Yes. This period was also marked by a lucrative marketing deal with the newly-inaugurated Rolling Stones' label. Atlantic retained its black heritage during the '70s with the Detroit Spinners, Roberta Flack and Blue Magic, but its autonomous position ceased following its acquisition by Warner Brothers. The newly-inaugurated WEA group was itself taken over by the Kinney Corporation in 1969, but this brief re-naming was soon superseded by Time/Warner. Although the label continues to forge success on several musical fronts, Atlantic no longer boasts the individuality which made it such a potent force during its first 25 years. Ertegun, however, remains one of the most important ever figures in popular music and now shares the chairmanship at Atlantic (since January 1996) with Val Azzoli, a 41-year-old Canadian.