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Paul Morley continues his portrait of the music industry, told through the many iconic and generation-defining record labels that helped mould it.

Paul Morley's portrait of the music industry, told through the many iconic and generation defining record labels that helped mould it.

With the help of Jac Holzman, Morty Craft, Marshall Chess, Chris Wright and Simon Draper, the record men behind such labels as Elektra, Warwick, Chess, Chrysalis and Virgin, Paul Morley charts the changing relationship between artists and labels, and explores how record companies developed their own distinctiveness around the taste and style of certain individuals. To what extent did these maverick talent spotters, playboys, dreamers, moneymen and taste-makers mould the shape and momentum of popular music for decades to come?

First broadcast in 2009.

1 hour

Last on

Fri 11 Sep 202001:00
BBC Radio 6 Music

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See all episodes from From Edison to iTunes: A History of the Record Label

Music Played

  • Billy Murray

    ALEXANDER'S RAGTIME BAND

    • Wibbly Wobbly Walk.
    • Saydisc.
    • CDSDL-350.

  • Fred Waring & His Pennsylvanians

    LOVE FOR SALE

    • The Ultimate Cole Porter.
    • Pearl.
    • GEM-0111.

  • Muddy Waters

    I'M YOUR HOOCHIE COOCHIE MAN

    • HOOCHIE COOCHIE MAN.
    • EPIC.
    • 461-186-2.

  • Elvis Presley

    THAT'S ALRIGHT

    • THE SUN SESSIONS.
    • RCA.
    • PD-86414.

  • Little Richard

    Tutti Frutti

    • 101 Rock N Roll Hits.
    • EMI.
    • n-a.

  • Pat Boone

    TUTTI FRUTTI

    • PAT BOONE.
    • STARLITE.
    • CDS-51052.

  • Little Richard

    Tutti Frutti

    • 101 Rock N Roll Hits.
    • EMI.
    • n-a.

  • Sonny Boy Williamson

    Fattening Frogs For Snakes

    • The Very Best of Sonny Boy Williamson.
    • Charly Blues.
    • VBCD-304.

  • Bo Diddley

    Gun Slinger

    • Bo Diddley Is A Gun Slinger.
    • Chess.
    • ---.

  • Wilson Pickett

    IN THE MIDNIGHT HOUR

    • 25 YEARS OF ROCK 'N' ROLL - 1965.
    • CONNOISSEUR COLLECTION.
    • RRT CD-65.

  • The Miracles

    TEARS OF A CLOWN

    • 35TH ANNIVERSARY COLLECTION.
    • MOTOWN.
    • 290-2.

  • MILLIE

    MY BOY LOLLIPOP

    • FONTANA CHAPTER 1 - THE BIRTH.
    • FONTANA.
    • 515-8922.

  • Judy Collins

    JOHN RILEY FOLK SONG

    • Live in Ireland.
    • Wildflower Records.
    • CLPCD 1755.

  • Bob Dylan

    Subterranean Homesick blues

    • BOB DYLAN'S GREATEST HITS.
    • COLUMBIA.
    • 460907-9.

  • Love

    Alone Again Or

    • THE PSYCHEDELIC YEARS.
    • KNIGHT.
    • PSDCD-47003B.

  • Carly Simon

    That's The Way I've Always Heard It Should Be

    • Greatest Hits.
    • Rhino.
    • 8122-789702.

  • The McCoys

    SORROW

    • The McCoys: Hang On Sloopy.
    • Immediate.
    • REP-4294-WY.

  • The Beatles

    IT'S ALL TOO MUCH

    • THE BEATLES.
    • PARLOPHONE.
    • CDP-746445-2.

  • Cat Stevens

    TEA FOR THE TILLERMAN

    • TEA FOR THE TILLERMAN.
    • ISLAND.
    • IMCD-268.

  • King Crimson

    Larks' Tongues in Aspic recording

    • King Crimson: Larks' Tongues in Aspic.
    • EG.
    • EGCD-7.

  • Jethro Toe (Tull)

    Sunshine Day

    • Real Life Permanent Dreams.
    • Castle.
    • CMXBX-1239.

  • The Specials

    GANGSTERS

    • Terry Hall - The Collection.
    • Chrysalis.
    • CDCHR-1974.

  • Robert Wyatt

    Little Red Robin Hood Hit The Road recording

    • Rock Bottom: Robert Wyatt.
    • Virgin.
    • CDV-2017.

  • Mike Oldfield

    Tubular Bells

    • Mike Oldfield: The Collection.
    • Mercury.
    • 060252-7035055.

  • Bruce Springsteen

    THUNDER ROAD

    • BORN TO RUN.
    • CBS.
    • CDCBS-80959.

  • The Stooges

    I Wanna Be Your Dog

    • Pop Art.
    • 4 Music.
    • C4M-00192.

  • Emerson, Lake & Palmer

    HOEDOWN

    • FANFARE FOR THE COMMON MAN.
    • SANCTUARY RECORDS.
    • CMEDD-110.

  • Ramones

    Judy Is A Punk

    • Ramones.
    • Sire.
    • SIRE-9103253.

  • Talking Heads

    LOVE - BUILDING ON FIRE

    • THE BEST OF....
    • SIRE/WARNER.
    • 8122-76488--2.

  • Placebo

    The Never-Ending Why

    • Dreambrother Ltd.

  • Talk Talk

    Give It Up

    • Parlophone.

  • Depeche Mode

    I Feel Loved

    • Universal Music Tv.

Broadcasts

  • Sat 21 Mar 200919:00
    BBC Radio 2
  • Wed 28 Dec 201100:00
    BBC Radio 6 Music
  • Tue 10 Sep 201304:00
    BBC Radio 6 Music
  • Mon 18 Aug 201404:00
    BBC Radio 6 Music
  • Sat 18 Apr 201504:00
    BBC Radio 6 Music
  • Tue 20 Sep 201601:00
    BBC Radio 6 Music
  • Sun 23 Apr 201704:00
    BBC Radio 6 Music
  • Fri 20 Oct 201701:00
    BBC Radio 6 Music
  • Sun 20 Oct 201904:00
    BBC Radio 6 Music
  • Fri 11 Sep 202001:00
    BBC Radio 6 Music