All Platinum Records

All Platinum Records was an American independent record company established in 1967 by singer, songwriter, producer, and label executive Sylvia Robinson and her husband, businessman Joe Robinson. The company began under the name Platinum Records, but the word “All” was added to distinguish it from an unrelated Miami label. Based in Englewood, New Jersey, the business developed a network of associated labels, including Stang, Vibration, Turbo, and Astroscope, and concentrated on soul, rhythm and blues, funk, and adjacent forms of Black popular music. The company operated on a relatively small independent scale but achieved a substantial run of chart successes during the 1970s. Its recordings were frequently made at the Robinsons’ Soul Sound Studios, using in-house musicians and production resources. Sylvia Robinson played a central creative role, producing or co-producing numerous releases and helping shape the label’s commercial identity. All Platinum and its affiliated labels placed four singles at number one on Billboard’s R&B chart, although none reached the top position on the Billboard Hot 100. The company’s most important long-term act was The Moments, an all-male vocal group whose first major success, “Not on the Outside,” helped launch the Stang label in 1968. The group remained with the Robinson operation for roughly a decade, recording more than 25 R&B hits and 15 Hot 100 entries. Its best-known records included “Love on a Two-Way Street,” a million-selling 1970 single that reached number one on the R&B chart and number three on the pop chart, and “Look at Me (I’m in Love),” another R&B chart-topper from 1975. Several members, including Harry Ray and Al Goodman, later became active as writers and producers. The group subsequently became known as Ray, Goodman & Brown. Other notable releases included Sylvia’s own “Pillow Talk,” Shirley & Company’s “Shame, Shame, Shame,” Donnie Elbert’s version of “Where Did Our Love Go,” Brother to Brother’s “In the Bottle,” Linda Jones’s “Your Precious Love,” and The Whatnauts’ “I’ll Erase Away Your Pain.” The Moments also achieved significant success in the United Kingdom, and All Platinum operated a UK label presence for part of the mid-1970s. The company handled distribution for Maple Records in 1971 and was connected with a range of artists across soul, R&B, funk, pop, and related genres. In 1975, All Platinum acquired Chess Records with financial assistance from PolyGram after Chess entered bankruptcy. The acquisition did not succeed commercially because the company was unable to maintain a consistent flow of releases from Chess’s artist roster. In 1979, the Robinsons created Sugar Hill Records to pursue the emerging rap and hip-hop market. Following the early success of “Rapper’s Delight” and later “The Message,” Sylvia Robinson shifted her attention almost entirely to Sugar Hill, while the other All Platinum-associated labels became largely inactive. Sugar Hill’s operations eventually became embroiled in prolonged litigation after a distribution dispute with MCA, and the label ceased operating in its earlier form in 1986. The Robinsons maintained their studio operation until 2002, when the Englewood facility, by then known as Sugar Hill Studios, was destroyed by fire. Joe Robinson had died in 2000, and Sylvia Robinson died in 2011. The present operating status of All Platinum Records and the ownership or administration of all portions of its catalogue are not clearly established by the available public material.

All Platinum Records was founded in 1967 by Sylvia Robinson and Joe Robinson. Sylvia had experience as a performer, songwriter, and producer, while Joe brought business and recording-industry experience. The label was initially called Platinum Records, but “All” was added to avoid confusion with a Miami company using the same name. From its New Jersey base, the company built an independent label operation specializing in soul, R&B, funk, and related Black popular music. The Robinsons’ business included several subsidiary or affiliated imprints, notably Stang, Vibration, Turbo, and Astroscope. Much of the catalogue was produced at Soul Sound Studios in Englewood, where the company used a house band and internal production capabilities. Sylvia Robinson was deeply involved in the creative side of the enterprise and produced or co-produced many of the label’s records. The Moments became the operation’s central act. The group’s 1968 success with “Not on the Outside” helped introduce the Stang label. Despite changes in personnel, The Moments remained with the Robinsons for approximately ten years and accumulated more than 25 R&B hits and 15 Hot 100 appearances. “Love on a Two-Way Street” became a million-selling 1970 success, reaching number one on Billboard’s R&B chart and number three on the pop chart. “Look at Me (I’m in Love)” later topped the R&B chart and crossed onto the pop chart. The group eventually adopted the name Ray, Goodman & Brown, while Harry Ray and Al Goodman developed parallel careers as writers and producers. All Platinum’s broader catalogue included hits by Sylvia, Shirley & Company, Donnie Elbert, Brother to Brother, Linda Jones, The Whatnauts, and others. Sylvia’s “Pillow Talk” became a major 1973 record, while Shirley & Company’s “Shame, Shame, Shame” was a prominent 1975 dance and funk crossover. The Moments also performed strongly in the United Kingdom, where the company maintained a label presence for several years during the mid-1970s. All Platinum handled distribution for Maple Records in 1971, and a number of associated releases appeared in British and American chart listings. A major strategic expansion came in 1975, when All Platinum acquired Chess Records after Chess entered bankruptcy. PolyGram assisted the transaction, but All Platinum could not maintain regular releases from Chess’s roster, making the acquisition unsuccessful. The Robinsons then responded to the growth of rap and hip-hop by launching Sugar Hill Records in 1979. Sugar Hill’s early success, particularly with “Rapper’s Delight,” redirected Sylvia Robinson’s attention toward the new label. “The Message” became another landmark release in 1982, while All Platinum and several of its related imprints became increasingly quiet. Sugar Hill’s earlier operations ended in 1986 after a distribution disagreement with MCA developed into extended litigation. The Robinsons nevertheless continued operating their studio facilities. The Englewood studios, later renamed Sugar Hill Studios, remained in use until a fire destroyed them in 2002. Joe Robinson had died two years earlier. Sylvia Robinson died in 2011. Because the company’s active operations, catalogue administration, and reissue rights changed over time, the current status of All Platinum as a separately operating label remains uncertain.

1. 2011Sylvia Robinson dies

   Sylvia Robinson, the company’s co-founder and leading creative executive, dies at age 75.

   Source
2. 2002Sugar Hill Studios burns down

   The former Soul Sound Studios facility in Englewood is destroyed by fire.

   Source
3. 2000Joe Robinson dies

   Joe Robinson, All Platinum’s co-founder and business executive, dies.

   Source
4. 1986Sugar Hill’s earlier label operation ends

   A distribution dispute with MCA leads to prolonged litigation and the end of Sugar Hill’s earlier operating period.

   Source
5. 1982“The Message” expands the Robinson catalogue

   Sugar Hill’s release of “The Message” reinforces the group’s importance in early recorded hip-hop, while the older All Platinum operation becomes less active.

   Source
6. 1979Sugar Hill Records is launched

   The Robinsons create a new label aimed at the emerging rap and hip-hop market.

   Source
7. 1975Chess Records acquisition

   All Platinum purchases Chess Records after its bankruptcy with assistance from PolyGram.

   Source
8. 1975“Shame, Shame, Shame” reaches the R&B summit

   Shirley & Company’s single becomes one of the best-known All Platinum releases, reaching number one on the R&B chart and number 12 on the Hot 100.

   Source
9. 1973Sylvia releases “Pillow Talk”

   Sylvia’s recording becomes a million-selling crossover success, reaching number one on the R&B chart and number three on the Hot 100.

   Source
10. 1971Distribution relationship with Maple Records

    All Platinum handles distribution for Maple Records, including an album by Jimi Hendrix and Lonnie Youngblood that entered the Billboard Top LPs chart.

    Source
11. 1970“Love on a Two-Way Street” becomes a major hit

    The Moments’ single reaches number one on Billboard’s R&B chart and number three on the Hot 100, becoming a million-selling record.

    Source
12. 1968The Moments break through

    The Moments’ “Not on the Outside” becomes an early success and helps introduce the Stang imprint.

    Source
13. 1967All Platinum Records is founded

    Sylvia and Joe Robinson establish the independent New Jersey record company, initially using the name Platinum Records before adding “All.”

    Source

An independent American label network focused on commercially accessible soul, R&B, funk, and related Black popular music, with a strong emphasis on in-house production and studio resources.

• All Platinum catalogueRecord-label catalogue1967

  The core catalogue comprises soul, R&B, funk, and related Black popular music singles and albums released through All Platinum and its associated labels. It includes recordings by The Moments, Sylvia, Shirley & Company, Donnie Elbert, Brother to Brother, Linda Jones, The Whatnauts, and many other artists. The catalogue reflects the label’s use of in-house production and studio musicians during its most active period in the 1970s.

• The Moments recordingsVocal-group recordings1968

  The Moments were the company’s principal long-term act. Their releases moved between romantic soul, vocal-group R&B, and pop crossover, producing more than 25 R&B hits and 15 Hot 100 entries during their association with the Robinson operation. Key records include “Not on the Outside,” “Love on a Two-Way Street,” and “Look at Me (I’m in Love).” The group later performed as Ray, Goodman & Brown.

• Pillow TalkSingle1973

  Sylvia’s 1973 single is one of the most commercially important records associated with All Platinum. It combined a sensual soul presentation with broad pop accessibility, reaching number one on Billboard’s R&B chart and number three on the Hot 100. The record was reported as a million-selling release.

• Shame, Shame, ShameSingle1975

  Performed by Shirley & Company, “Shame, Shame, Shame” is a dance-oriented funk and soul single that became a defining All Platinum release in 1975. It reached number one on Billboard’s R&B chart and number 12 on the Hot 100, demonstrating the label’s ability to achieve crossover visibility while remaining rooted in Black popular music.

• Chess Records catalogueAcquired record catalogue1975

  All Platinum acquired Chess Records in 1975 after Chess entered bankruptcy, with assistance from PolyGram. The acquisition brought an historically important catalogue and artist roster into the Robinson business, but the company did not sustain a regular release program from the acquired roster. The long-term administration of this catalogue is not specified in the available material.

• 1979Launch Sugar Hill Records for hip-hopStrategy

  The Robinsons identified rap and hip-hop as a rapidly developing music market distinct from All Platinum’s established soul and R&B focus.

  What changed. They created Sugar Hill Records and redirected Sylvia Robinson’s creative efforts toward the new label.

  Aftermath. Early successes including “Rapper’s Delight” and “The Message” made Sugar Hill the more prominent Robinson label, while All Platinum’s associated operations became quieter.

  Source
• 1975Acquire Chess RecordsM&A

  Chess Records had entered bankruptcy, creating an opportunity for All Platinum to expand beyond its independent soul and R&B base.

  What changed. All Platinum purchased Chess Records with assistance from the European record company PolyGram.

  Aftermath. The acquisition was unsuccessful because All Platinum could not maintain a steady release schedule for Chess artists.

  Source

• 1986Sugar Hill–MCA distribution disputeControversy

  A disagreement over distribution between Sugar Hill and MCA developed into prolonged litigation and contributed to the end of Sugar Hill’s earlier operating period. The available material does not establish a separate scandal involving All Platinum itself.

  Source

• 2011Sylvia Robinson dies

  Sylvia Robinson, the label’s co-founder and principal creative figure, died in hospital at age 75.

  Leadership change
  Source
• 2002Englewood studio destroyed by fire

  The Robinsons’ studio facility, later known as Sugar Hill Studios, was destroyed by fire after decades of recording activity.

  Other
  Source
• 1979The Robinsons establish Sugar Hill Records

  The Robinsons launched Sugar Hill Records to focus on the developing rap and hip-hop market.

  Product launch
  Source
• 1975All Platinum acquires Chess Records

  All Platinum purchased Chess Records after its bankruptcy, with assistance from PolyGram, but the acquisition did not produce a sustained release program.

  M&AOther
  Source
• 1968All Platinum launches a network of affiliated labels

  The success of The Moments helped establish the Stang imprint alongside All Platinum’s other soul and R&B labels.

  Other
  Source

1. All Platinum Records