Blue Thumb Records

Blue Thumb Records was an American record label established in 1968 by music-industry executive Bob Krasnow and former A&M Records executives Tommy LiPuma and Don Graham. The label developed a broad, artist-oriented catalog rather than concentrating on one narrow genre. Its releases included blues, jazz, soul, funk, rock, folk-rock, world music, spoken-word comedy, and progressive or experimental projects. The roster included acts such as the Crusaders, the Pointer Sisters, Ike & Tina Turner, Buddy Guy, Jimmy Smith, Hugh Masekela, Phil Upchurch, Gábor Szabó, Dan Hicks and His Hot Licks, Dave Mason, Love, Mark-Almond, Ben Sidran, Junior Wells, Junior Mance, Sam Lay, Sylvester, and the Last Poets. The label also issued or licensed recordings associated with T. Rex in its earlier Tyrannosaurus Rex incarnation and Aynsley Dunbar's Retaliation. National Lampoon releases appeared through the Banana imprint. The Blue Thumb name had an unusual pre-label connection with Captain Beefheart, who had considered it for his backing band. Krasnow later adopted the name for the record company. Blue Thumb initially operated with independent distribution, an important characteristic for a label whose catalog crossed commercial and stylistic boundaries. In late 1970, distribution moved to Capitol/EMI. Gulf and Western's Famous Music Group assumed distribution in 1971 and acquired the label in 1972, bringing Blue Thumb into a larger corporate structure while allowing it to retain a recognizable identity. In 1974, Famous Music's record labels were sold to ABC Records. ABC continued to use Blue Thumb for a period, with releases focused particularly on the Pointer Sisters and the Crusaders, alongside catalog reissues. When ABC sold its labels to MCA Records in 1979, MCA discontinued the Blue Thumb imprint. The label therefore had a first operating era running from 1968 through its final original release in 1978, even though its catalog continued to circulate through later owners and reissue programs. Blue Thumb releases were licensed differently outside the United States. Harvest Records handled United Kingdom and European licensing from 1969 to 1971, after which Island Records became the principal licensee in those territories. The catalog's breadth and the label's role in documenting important artists made it a continuing reissue asset. In 1995, the anthology All Day Thumbsucker Revisited: The History of Blue Thumb Records presented recordings by multiple artists from the label's 1968–1974 period. Blue Thumb was also revived in 1995, this time primarily for blues and soft-rock releases. Following the 1998 merger involving Universal Music Group and PolyGram, the imprint operated within the Verve Music Group structure as a home for non-jazz material. The revived label was deactivated in early 2005, when Verve Forecast assumed responsibility for comparable releases. Universal's Hip-O reissue operation subsequently preserved and repackaged portions of the catalog, including recordings by the Crusaders, Dan Hicks and His Hot Licks, and the Pointer Sisters. Blue Thumb is therefore best understood as a historically significant label imprint whose identity survived through licensing, corporate ownership changes, revival, and archival reissues rather than as a currently operating standalone company.

Blue Thumb Records emerged in 1968 during a period when independent labels could provide distinctive alternatives to the increasingly consolidated American recording business. It was founded by Bob Krasnow, a record-business veteran who had worked in promotion for King Records and later with Buddah/Kama Sutra Records, together with Tommy LiPuma and Don Graham, both former A&M Records executives. The label's name had previously been considered by Captain Beefheart for his backing band; Krasnow ultimately used it for the new company. From the beginning, Blue Thumb pursued a deliberately broad catalog. Rather than limiting itself to one branch of popular music, it released work by blues musicians, jazz artists, soul and funk performers, rock groups, folk-rock acts, international artists, and comedy projects. Its roster included the Crusaders, Pointer Sisters, Ike & Tina Turner, Buddy Guy, Jimmy Smith, Hugh Masekela, Phil Upchurch, Gábor Szabó, Dan Hicks and His Hot Licks, Dave Mason, Love, Mark-Almond, Ben Sidran, Junior Mance, Junior Wells, Sam Lay, Sylvester, the Last Poets, and others. It also licensed material from overseas labels, including releases connected with Aynsley Dunbar's Retaliation and Tyrannosaurus Rex. The Banana imprint extended the operation into National Lampoon's comedy and spoken-word material. Blue Thumb initially used independent distribution. In late 1970 it moved to Capitol/EMI, and in 1971 Gulf and Western's Famous Music Group assumed distribution. Famous Music acquired the label in 1972, adding Blue Thumb to a corporate portfolio while preserving its catalog identity. International licensing followed a separate path: Harvest Records handled United Kingdom and European releases from 1969 through 1971, after which Island Records took over those territories. The next major ownership change came in 1974, when Famous Music's record labels were sold to ABC Records. ABC maintained Blue Thumb for a time, using it especially for releases by the Pointer Sisters and the Crusaders and for selected reissues. The label's last original record was released in 1978. ABC's sale of its labels to MCA Records in 1979 led to the discontinuation of the Blue Thumb imprint, although its recordings remained available through successor companies and licensing arrangements. Blue Thumb's archival importance became more visible in the 1990s. In 1995, the label was revived for blues and soft-rock releases, and a multi-artist anthology, All Day Thumbsucker Revisited: The History of Blue Thumb Records, surveyed recordings from the original 1968–1974 period. After Universal Music Group's 1998 merger with PolyGram, the imprint operated under the Verve Music Group umbrella and was used for non-jazz releases. This second life ended in early 2005, when the imprint was deactivated and Verve Forecast became the relevant home for such material. Universal's Hip-O reissue division later continued to issue portions of the Blue Thumb catalog. The brand is now defunct as an active label, but its recordings remain part of the historical catalog of American popular music.

1. 2005Imprint deactivated

   Verve Forecast replaced Blue Thumb for the revived imprint's non-jazz function.

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2. 1995Revival and historical anthology

   Blue Thumb returned as a blues and soft-rock imprint, while a compilation documented its earlier catalog.

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3. 1979Original imprint discontinued

   MCA Records discontinued Blue Thumb after acquiring ABC's labels.

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4. 1978Final original release

   The label's final record of its original operating era was released.

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5. 1974ABC Records ownership

   ABC Records purchased Famous Music's record labels and continued using Blue Thumb for selected projects.

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6. 1972Famous Music Group acquisition

   Gulf and Western's Famous Music Group acquired Blue Thumb after first taking over its distribution.

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7. 1970Capitol/EMI distribution arrangement

   Blue Thumb shifted its distribution to Capitol/EMI late in 1970.

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8. 1969European licensing begins through Harvest

   Harvest Records handled Blue Thumb releases in the United Kingdom and Europe during the label's early international expansion.

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9. 1968Label founded

   Bob Krasnow, Tommy LiPuma, and Don Graham founded Blue Thumb Records in the United States.

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An eclectic, artist-centered American label that connected independent-label experimentation with large-scale distribution and later catalog stewardship.

• Original artist releasesRecord label catalog1968

  Blue Thumb's principal output was a wide-ranging series of albums and singles by artists in blues, jazz, rock, soul, funk, folk-rock, world music, and related styles. The label was notable for placing commercially oriented acts alongside adventurous or genre-crossing performers.

• All Day Thumbsucker Revisited: The History of Blue Thumb RecordsCompilation album1995

  A multi-artist anthology released in 1995 that surveyed recordings from Blue Thumb's earlier period, particularly material from 1968 through 1974. It functioned as both a catalog retrospective and an introduction to the label's unusually varied roster.

• Blue Thumb catalog reissuesReissues

  Later reissue programs preserved selected Blue Thumb recordings, including work by the Crusaders, Dan Hicks and His Hot Licks, and the Pointer Sisters. These releases extended the commercial and cultural life of a catalog whose original imprint had been discontinued.

• 2005Replace Blue Thumb with Verve ForecastStrategy

  The revived Blue Thumb imprint was operating within the Verve Music Group structure.

  What changed. Universal and Verve deactivated Blue Thumb and shifted comparable non-jazz releases to Verve Forecast.

  Aftermath. Blue Thumb ceased operating as an active imprint, while parts of its catalog continued through Hip-O and other reissue channels.

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• 1995Revive Blue Thumb for blues and soft rockStrategy

  The original imprint had been discontinued after the ABC-to-MCA transition, but its name and catalog retained archival value.

  What changed. Blue Thumb was relaunched for blues and soft-rock releases.

  Aftermath. After the Universal Music Group and PolyGram merger, the imprint operated under Verve Music Group for non-jazz material.

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• 1974Transfer to ABC RecordsM&A

  Famous Music's record labels were sold as part of a broader change in corporate ownership.

  What changed. ABC Records acquired the Famous Music labels, including Blue Thumb.

  Aftermath. ABC kept the imprint active for selected Pointer Sisters and Crusaders releases and catalog reissues.

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• 1972Famous Music Group acquires the labelM&A

  Gulf and Western's Famous Music Group had taken over Blue Thumb's distribution in the preceding year.

  What changed. Famous Music Group purchased Blue Thumb Records.

  Aftermath. Blue Thumb continued as an identifiable imprint within a larger corporate record business.

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• 1970Move to Capitol/EMI distributionStrategy

  Blue Thumb began with independent distribution but needed a larger distribution structure as its catalog and market reach developed.

  What changed. The label transferred distribution to Capitol/EMI late in 1970.

  Aftermath. The arrangement was followed by Famous Music Group distribution in 1971 and acquisition of the label in 1972.

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• 2005Blue Thumb is deactivated in favor of Verve Forecast

  The revived imprint was closed and its non-jazz release function was transferred to Verve Forecast.

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• 1995Blue Thumb is revived

  The imprint returned primarily for blues and soft-rock releases, while an anthology documented recordings from its earlier era.

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• 1979MCA discontinues the original Blue Thumb imprint

  Following MCA Records' acquisition of ABC's labels, the Blue Thumb imprint was discontinued.

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• 1974ABC Records takes control of the Blue Thumb catalog

  Famous Music's record labels, including Blue Thumb, were sold to ABC Records, which kept the imprint active for selected releases and reissues.

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• 1972Famous Music Group acquires Blue Thumb

  After taking over distribution in 1971, Gulf and Western's Famous Music Group bought Blue Thumb outright.

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• 1970Blue Thumb moves distribution to Capitol/EMI

  The label shifted from its initial independent distribution arrangement to distribution through Capitol/EMI late in the year.

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• 1968Blue Thumb Records is founded

  Bob Krasnow, Tommy LiPuma, and Don Graham established Blue Thumb Records in the United States.

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1. Blue Thumb Records