Backstreet Records
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| Backstreet Records | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Parent company | Universal Music Group |
| Founded | 1979 |
| Founder | Danny Bramson |
| Distributor(s) | MCA Records (1979-2003) Geffen Records (2003-present) |
| Country of origin | U.S. |
| Location | Universal City, California |
Backstreet Records was an MCA Records subsidiary label founded in 1979 by Danny Bramson, who was executive director of MCA's Universal Amphitheatre.[1] The name was derived from the Bruce Springsteen song "Backstreets". The label's first releases were Robbie Patton's Do You Wanna Tonight and the self-titled debut album by Tears in August 1979. The first major signing to the label was Tom Petty, ending a legal battle between Petty and MCA over his recording contract which was acquired when MCA purchased ABC Records.[2] The label's roster of artists also included J.J. Cale, Keith Sykes, Nils Lofgren,[3] Men Without Hats, and Walter Egan. The label's last release was in 1983, after which it was absorbed into MCA Records.
Backstreet also released rock-oriented soundtrack albums to several films produced by its parent company Universal Studios, including Where the Buffalo Roam, Nighthawks, The Border, Cat People and Doctor Detroit.
Partial discography
[edit]- 1979: Do You Wanna Tonight – Robbie Patton (MCA-3169)
- 1979: Tears – Tears (MCA-3172)
- 1979: Damn the Torpedoes – Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers (MCA-5105)
- 1980: Where The Buffalo Roam soundtrack (MCA-5126)
- 1981: Hard Promises – Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers (BSR-5160)
- 1981: Nighthawks – Keith Emerson: Nighthawks soundtrack[4] (BSR-5196)
- 1981: Night Fades Away – Nils Lofgren (BSR-5251)
- 1981: It Don't Hurt To Flirt– Keith Sykes (BSR-5277)
- 1982: Counting the Beat – The Swingers (BSR-5328)
- 1982: Long After Dark – Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers (BSR-5360)
- 1982: The Border – Ry Cooder[5] (BSR-6105)
- 1982: Cat People soundtrack – Giorgio Moroder[6] (BSR-6107)
- 1983: Rhythm of Youth – Men Without Hats[7] (BSR-5436)
- 1983: Wild Exhibitions – Walter Egan (BSR-5400)
- 1983: Wonderland – Nils Lofgren (BSR-5421)
- 1983: Doctor Detroit soundtrack (BSR-6120)
- 1983: Hardchoir – Hardchoir (BSR-39009)
References
[edit]- ^ Kubernik, Harvey (March 8, 1980). "Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers: The Trials of Tom Petty: Petty gets it". Melody Maker – via Rock's Backpages.
- ^ Rose, Cynthia (December 3, 1982). "Tom Petty". City Limits – via Rock's Backpages.
- ^ Cohen, Mitchell (2019). "How Nils Lofgren Almost Became the Next Big Thing". Music Aficionado – via Rock's Backpages.
- ^ "Night Hawks". The Charlotte News. Charlotte, North Carolina. April 3, 1981. p. 4B.
- ^ "The Border". The Charlotte Observer. February 19, 1982. p. 6D.
- ^ Pellegrini, Roger (April 27, 1982). "Meow, Kitty Folks reviewed". The Tech. Vol. 102, no. 21. p. 8.
- ^ Men Without Hats (1983). "Rhythm Of Youth". Backstreet Records.
