Major Minor
A British record label founded by Phil Solomon in 1966 and associated with Radio Caroline, remembered for UK chart successes including "Mony Mony" and "Je t'aime... moi non plus."
Last updated November 4, 2026
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Overview
Major Minor was a British record label established in 1966 by Phil Solomon, the owner of the pirate radio station Radio Caroline. The label emerged during a period when independent record companies, offshore radio, licensing businesses, and specialist distributors were reshaping the British popular-music market. Solomon initially approached other independent labels about creating a company tentatively connected with Caroline, but the proposed identity was replaced by the Major Minor name within a short period. The company quickly assembled the infrastructure needed to operate at national scale. In the autumn of 1966 it secured distribution through Decca Records' Selecta division and arranged pressing with CBS. Its first release was a recording by the Irish O'Brien Brothers. Radio Caroline became an important promotional outlet for Major Minor recordings, particularly after the British government outlawed pirate radio in August 1967. The station continued broadcasting and gave substantial exposure to the label's records, although the relationship was commercially and artistically contentious: some Caroline DJs disliked the material they were expected to play, and the extent to which label income supported the radio operation was disputed. Major Minor expanded beyond recordings directly originated by its own artists. In 1967 it obtained British rights to material from the American Roulette label. Those releases were issued through Major Minor while retaining Roulette credits until 1968. This arrangement produced the label's first major UK chart breakthrough when Tommy James and the Shondells' "Mony Mony" reached number one. In 1968 Major Minor also acquired rights connected with JAD and entered an arrangement with France's Barclay for material from its Riviera subsidiary. These licensing agreements gave the company access to a broad international repertoire without requiring it to develop every recording itself. The label's most prominent success arrived in 1969 with Jane Birkin and Serge Gainsbourg's "Je t'aime... moi non plus." The recording had originally appeared on Fontana, but its overtly sexual content led to bans or restrictions at mainstream radio outlets. After Fontana withdrew the single during its chart run, Major Minor obtained licensing rights and released it in the United Kingdom. The controversy helped make it the label's best-selling single and carried it to number one on the UK Singles Chart. Major Minor also handled material by French singer Charles Aznavour and achieved other successes with David McWilliams, Neville Dickie, Karen Young, Malcolm Roberts, Crazy Elephant, and other acts. Its catalogue covered pop, soul, jazz, rock, beat, and licensed international material. Artists associated with releases on the label included Johnny Nash, Dizzy Gillespie, Sam and Dave, the Isley Brothers, Kim Weston, Cissy Houston, Them, July, Taste, and Peter Sarstedt, who recorded an early single under the name Peter Lincoln. The label also issued an early recording connected with Eric Stewart, credited to the New Wave Band. A short-lived soul subsidiary, Toast Records, operated from 1968 and released records by performers including Doris Troy, Steve and Stevie of Tin Tin, Joe E. Young and the Toniks, Joy Marshall, and 67 Park Lane. Major Minor's expansion proved difficult to sustain. Plans to launch country and progressive-rock labels were not successfully completed, and a proposed progressive imprint involving recordings from Ireland's Dolphin label did not proceed as announced. Rumours in 1970 suggested that Decca or EMI might buy the label, although Solomon and a company spokesman denied those reports at the time. EMI nevertheless acquired rights to the Major Minor catalogue and licensing contracts in September 1970. On 8 February 1971, creditors including Decca, Radio Luxembourg, and the Mechanical Copyright Protection Society proposed liquidation of the company's assets. Major Minor ceased operations on 15 March 1971. EMI later revived the name for a 2010 expanded twentieth-anniversary edition of Morrissey's album "Bona Drag," making the label name briefly visible again as a catalogue imprint rather than restoring the original company as an operating label.
History
Major Minor Records was founded in Britain in 1966 by Phil Solomon, who also owned Radio Caroline. Solomon initially explored establishing an independent label connected to the radio station and reportedly considered the name Caroline, but the Major Minor identity was adopted within approximately two months. The label's first release, issued after distribution and pressing arrangements were made with Decca's Selecta division and CBS, was a recording by the Irish O'Brien Brothers. Radio Caroline gave Major Minor an important promotional platform. The relationship intensified after the Wilson government outlawed pirate radio in August 1967. Although Caroline continued broadcasting, its programming increasingly promoted Major Minor releases. This created tension with some station DJs, who objected to the music they were instructed to play. The economic relationship between the radio station and the label was also uncertain. In March 1968, both Caroline ships were silenced after being seized by creditors, weakening a key part of the label's promotional environment. Major Minor pursued growth through licensing as well as artist signings. In April 1967 it secured British rights to recordings from the United States label Roulette. Those recordings were issued by Major Minor with Roulette attribution until September 1968. The arrangement brought the label a major success when Tommy James and the Shondells' "Mony Mony" reached the top of the UK Singles Chart. In 1968 Major Minor added rights associated with JAD and licensed material from the French Barclay group's Riviera subsidiary. The business therefore functioned partly as an importer and distributor of international repertoire. The label's defining hit came in 1969. Jane Birkin and Serge Gainsbourg's "Je t'aime... moi non plus" had originally been released through Fontana, but its sexual subject matter led to resistance from mainstream broadcasters. Fontana deleted the single while it was climbing the chart, allowing Major Minor to obtain the licensing rights. The replacement release became a number-one UK hit and the company's best-selling single. Other artists connected with the catalogue included Charles Aznavour, Johnny Nash, Dizzy Gillespie, Sam and Dave, the Isley Brothers, Kim Weston, Cissy Houston, Them, July, Taste, and David McWilliams. The label also released early work by Peter Sarstedt, who used the name Peter Lincoln, and a pre-10cc recording involving Eric Stewart under the credit New Wave Band. Major Minor operated a short-lived soul subsidiary called Toast Records, established in early 1968. Toast releases included records by Doris Troy, Joe E. Young and the Toniks, Joy Marshall, and 67 Park Lane. Vicky Wickham was associated with the imprint as its producer and contact. By 1969 the company was reportedly abandoning Toast, while also failing to complete proposed ventures in country and progressive rock. A proposed progressive label involving recordings from the Irish Dolphin label did not materialize. By 1970, reports suggested that Decca or EMI might purchase Major Minor, though the rumours were denied by Solomon and a company representative. EMI ultimately acquired the rights to the Major Minor catalogue and its licensing contracts in September 1970. On 8 February 1971, creditors including Decca, Radio Luxembourg, and the Mechanical Copyright Protection Society proposed liquidation of the company's assets. Major Minor ceased operations on 15 March 1971. EMI later reused the label name in 2010 for an expanded twentieth-anniversary edition of Morrissey's "Bona Drag."
- 2010
Label name revived for Morrissey reissue
[1]EMI uses the Major Minor imprint for an expanded twentieth-anniversary edition of Morrissey's "Bona Drag."
- 1971
Operations end
[1]Following creditor action and liquidation proceedings, Major Minor ceases operations on 15 March.
- 1970
EMI acquires catalogue rights
[1]EMI acquires rights to the Major Minor catalogue and licensing contracts.
- 1969
"Je t'aime... moi non plus" becomes a UK number-one hit
[1]Major Minor licenses and releases the controversial Jane Birkin and Serge Gainsbourg recording after its previous label withdraws it.
- 1968
"Mony Mony" reaches number one
[1]The Tommy James and the Shondells recording becomes a UK number-one single through Major Minor's licensing operation.
- 1968
Toast Records is established
[1]Major Minor launches Toast as a short-lived subsidiary focused on soul releases.
- 1967
Roulette licensing agreement
[1]Major Minor obtains UK rights to recordings from the American Roulette label.
- 1966
Major Minor is founded
[1]Phil Solomon establishes Major Minor after exploring a label concept connected with Radio Caroline.
- 1966
First release issued
[1]The label releases its first single, a recording by the O'Brien Brothers, following distribution and pressing arrangements with Decca's Selecta division and CBS.
Products and positioning
Independent British record label and licensing imprint with strong links to Radio Caroline, combining domestic signings with licensed American, French, and Irish repertoire.
Singles · 1966
Major Minor singles
The label's core output was the commercial single, spanning British pop, soul, rock, jazz, beat, novelty, and licensed international recordings. Its most notable singles included Tommy James and the Shondells' "Mony Mony," Jane Birkin and Serge Gainsbourg's "Je t'aime... moi non plus," and David McWilliams' "Days of Pearly Spencer."
Albums · 1966
Major Minor albums
Major Minor issued albums alongside its singles, including releases associated with Charles Aznavour and other pop, soul, jazz, and rock performers. The album programme was smaller and less commercially prominent than the label's singles catalogue.
Soul subsidiary label · 1968
Toast Records
Toast was a short-lived subsidiary created in early 1968 for soul-oriented releases. Its catalogue included recordings by Doris Troy, Joe E. Young and the Toniks, Joy Marshall, and 67 Park Lane. The imprint was reportedly being dropped by 1969.
Licensed recordings · 1967
Licensed international repertoire
A substantial part of Major Minor's business involved acquiring UK rights to recordings from overseas companies, including Roulette in the United States, JAD, and Riviera-associated material from France's Barclay. This licensing strategy expanded the label's catalogue beyond its own artist development.
Brand decisions
1970
Transfer catalogue rights to EMIM&ABackground
Major Minor faced creditor pressure and uncertainty after rapid expansion through licensed repertoire and subsidiary-label activity.
Action taken
EMI acquired rights to the catalogue and licensing contracts in September 1970.
Aftermath
Creditors subsequently proposed liquidation, and the original company ceased operations in March 1971.
1969
Release "Je t'aime... moi non plus" in the UKProduct launchBackground
Fontana withdrew the sexually explicit Jane Birkin and Serge Gainsbourg single while it was climbing the British chart.
Action taken
Major Minor acquired the UK licensing rights and issued its own release.
Aftermath
The controversy surrounding radio bans and the recording's content helped make it Major Minor's best-selling single and a UK number-one hit.
1967
Use Radio Caroline as a promotional channelStrategyBackground
Major Minor was closely linked to Phil Solomon's offshore station, Radio Caroline, and benefited from airplay of its records.
Action taken
After pirate radio was outlawed, Caroline continued to promote Major Minor releases heavily, increasing the label's dependence on the station as a promotional outlet.
Aftermath
The arrangement generated exposure but also caused dissatisfaction among some DJs and did not prevent the radio operation from being seized by creditors in 1968.
1967
Expand through Roulette licensingM&ABackground
The label sought commercially attractive repertoire beyond its own recordings.
Action taken
Major Minor obtained UK rights to recordings from Roulette, later adding rights connected with JAD and Riviera material.
Aftermath
The arrangement produced the major hit "Mony Mony" and broadened the label's international catalogue.
Recent events
- 2010
EMI revives Major Minor imprint for Morrissey reissue[1]
Product launch · Other
EMI announced use of the Major Minor name for an expanded twentieth-anniversary edition of Morrissey's "Bona Drag," a catalogue revival rather than a restoration of the original operating company.
- 1971
Creditors propose liquidation of Major Minor assets[1]
Bankruptcy
Creditors including Decca, Radio Luxembourg, and the Mechanical Copyright Protection Society proposed liquidation of the company's assets.
- 1971
Major Minor ceases operations[1]
Bankruptcy
The company stopped operating on 15 March after its catalogue rights and licensing arrangements had been acquired by EMI.
- 1970
EMI acquires Major Minor catalogue rights and licensing contracts[1]
M&A
EMI acquired rights to the Major Minor catalogue and its licensing contracts, preceding the label's liquidation and cessation of operations.
- 1969
Major Minor releases licensed version of "Je t'aime... moi non plus"[1]
Product launch · Other
After Fontana withdrew the controversial recording during its chart ascent, Major Minor acquired UK licensing rights and released the Jane Birkin and Serge Gainsbourg single, which reached number one.
- 1969
Toast Records subsidiary is discontinued[1]
Leadership change
Trade reporting indicated that Major Minor was dropping its short-lived Toast soul imprint, while producer Vicky Wickham was leaving to work independently.
- 1968
"Mony Mony" reaches number one in the United Kingdom[1]
Other
Tommy James and the Shondells' licensed recording became a UK number-one single and one of Major Minor's most important commercial successes.
- 1967
Major Minor obtains UK rights to Roulette recordings[1]
Other
The label secured British rights to recordings issued by the American Roulette label. The material initially appeared on Major Minor with Roulette credited as the licensor.
Sources1 sources
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