Purple Records

Purple Records is a British record label associated primarily with the rock band Deep Purple and its members. Established in 1971 by Deep Purple's management, the label initially served as an imprint for the band's recordings, solo projects by individual members, and releases by a wider group of artists. Its distribution was handled by EMI, giving the label access to the infrastructure of one of Britain's major recorded-music companies while preserving an identity closely linked to Deep Purple's artistic network. During its first period of operation, Purple Records released or supported work by Deep Purple, David Coverdale, Jon Lord, Roger Glover and associated musicians, Tony Ashton, Hard Stuff, Rupert Hine, The Bumbles, Silverhead, Jon Pertwee, Yvonne Elliman, Carol Hunter, Michael Des Barres, Tucky Buzzard, Curtiss Maldoon, Gnasher, Elf and Marlon. The label therefore combined a central artist franchise with a broader hard-rock, progressive-rock and singer-songwriter-oriented roster. Its catalogue reflected the musical activities surrounding Deep Purple at a time when members were pursuing substantial work outside the main band. In 1974, the label's operating strategy was narrowed. Purple Records became focused on Deep Purple and solo projects by current or associated members, while a subsidiary imprint called Oyster was created for other projects. Oyster was used for work connected with former members and related musicians, including Ian Gillan's post-Deep Purple projects and Ritchie Blackmore's Rainbow. This separation gave the Deep Purple imprint a more concentrated identity and allowed affiliated artists to pursue separate label paths without being presented as core Purple Records releases. The original label was run until 1979. Its catalogue remained commercially relevant after that period, and the original Purple Records logo continued to be used by Universal Music Group following its acquisition of EMI. The label consequently occupies a hybrid position: historically, it was an active artist-led imprint of the 1970s; in later years, its significance has rested mainly on catalogue exploitation, reissues and archival releases. A second Purple Records label was established in 1997 by Simon Robinson of RPM Records. This later operation concentrated on rare and previously unreleased recordings rather than simply reproducing the original label's 1970s role. Robinson designed a new logo for the revived label, distinguishing it from the original branding, although Universal continued to use the original Purple Records logo for catalogue-related activity. The name has also been associated with a separate Korean label founded in 2017 focused on hip-hop and R&B, but that entity is distinct from the British Deep Purple-related subject covered here.

Purple Records emerged in 1971 from the management structure surrounding Deep Purple. Rather than functioning solely as a vehicle for the parent band's albums, the imprint initially provided a home for recordings by Deep Purple, the band's individual members, affiliated musicians and a range of other signed artists. EMI distributed the releases, connecting the specialist rock label to a major British music-company network. The early roster reflected Deep Purple's broad musical circle and the diversity of British rock in the early 1970s. Artists associated with the label included David Coverdale, Jon Lord, Roger Glover and Friends, Tony Ashton, Hard Stuff, Rupert Hine, Silverhead, Elf, Tucky Buzzard, Michael Des Barres, Yvonne Elliman and others. The label's catalogue also included releases by artists outside the band's immediate lineup, such as Jon Pertwee, The Bumbles, Carol Hunter, Curtiss Maldoon, Gnasher and Marlon. This mix gave Purple Records a wider scope than a conventional single-artist imprint while retaining Deep Purple as its defining association. A structural change took place in 1974. Purple Records was repositioned to concentrate on Deep Purple and solo work by its members. A subsidiary called Oyster was established to handle other projects, including activities by former members and related acts. The arrangement was particularly relevant to Ian Gillan and Ritchie Blackmore, whose post-Deep Purple ventures included the Ian Gillan Band and Rainbow respectively. By separating these activities from the main Purple imprint, the label could maintain a clearer connection with Deep Purple while still supporting music from its extended personnel network. The original Purple Records operation continued until 1979. Although its active period was relatively short, its catalogue remained important because of Deep Purple's lasting influence and the continuing interest in recordings by its members and associates. Distribution and catalogue stewardship later moved into the Universal Music Group system after Universal acquired EMI. Universal continued to use the original logo in connection with the historical imprint. In 1997, Simon Robinson, associated with RPM Records, established a second label using the Purple Records name. This later operation was oriented toward archival work, including rare and previously unreleased recordings. Robinson created a new logo, providing a visual distinction from the original label while extending the name into a new phase of catalogue publishing. The original and later operations should therefore be treated as historically related but not identical in purpose: the first was a 1970s Deep Purple-linked label with an active roster, while the second focused on rediscovery and archival releases. The Purple Records name has also been used by a Korean label founded in 2017 with a hip-hop and R&B focus. That later usage is separate from the British subject documented in the canonical Purple Records article and should not be conflated with Deep Purple's label.

• 1997

  Archival Purple Records label is established

  [1]Purple Recordsen.wikipedia.org

  Simon Robinson establishes a second label under the Purple Records name to issue rare and previously unreleased recordings.

• 1979

  Original operating period ends

  [1]Purple Recordsen.wikipedia.org

  The original Purple Records operation is run through 1979.

• 1974

  The label narrows its focus

  [1]Purple Recordsen.wikipedia.org

  Purple Records adopts a more concentrated focus on Deep Purple and solo work by its members, while Oyster is created for other associated projects.

• 1971

  Purple Records is established

  [1]Purple Recordsen.wikipedia.org

  Deep Purple's management establishes Purple Records as an imprint for the band's recordings, member solo work and releases by other artists.

A Deep Purple-linked British rock label that developed from an artist-management imprint into a focused catalogue and archival brand.

• Artist catalogue · 1971

  Deep Purple recordings

  Deep Purple was the core artist associated with the original imprint. Purple Records was used for releases by the band during the label's principal 1970s operating period, establishing the name's strongest identity and long-term catalogue value.

• Artist catalogue · 1971

  Deep Purple members' solo recordings

  The label supported solo work by members of Deep Purple, including projects connected with musicians such as Jon Lord and Roger Glover. After the 1974 restructuring, this area became one of the imprint's principal functions.

• Recordings · 1971

  Associated artists and side projects

  Before the 1974 change in strategy, Purple Records issued or supported recordings by a broader roster that included David Coverdale, Tony Ashton, Hard Stuff, Rupert Hine, Silverhead, Elf, Tucky Buzzard and other artists. Several related projects later moved to the Oyster subsidiary.

• Archival releases · 1997

  Rare and previously unreleased recordings

  The second Purple Records label, established in 1997, focused on bringing rare and previously unissued recordings to market. Its archival orientation extended the label name beyond the original 1970s release program.

• 1997

  Re-establish the name as an archival labelStrategy

  Background

  After the original label's operating period, there remained demand for historical material connected with Deep Purple and its surrounding artists.

  Action taken

  Simon Robinson established a second Purple Records label focused on rare and previously unreleased recordings and introduced a new logo.

  Aftermath

  The Purple Records name continued in archival publishing alongside Universal's use of the original logo for the historical catalogue.

  Source

• 1974

  Concentrate Purple Records on Deep Purple-related releasesStrategy

  Background

  Until 1974, the label served Deep Purple, member solo projects and a wider selection of artists. The management then chose to give the imprint a narrower identity.

  Action taken

  Purple Records was limited primarily to Deep Purple and solo work by its members, while Oyster was established for other projects, including work by former members and their new groups.

  Aftermath

  The change clarified the relationship between the label and Deep Purple while allowing affiliated musicians to release work through a separate subsidiary.

  Source

• 1997

  Second Purple Records label established for rare and unreleased recordings[1]Purple Recordsen.wikipedia.org

  Other

  Simon Robinson of RPM Records established a second Purple Records operation focused on rare and previously unissued recordings, using a newly designed logo to distinguish it from the original imprint.

• Universal Music Group continued use of the original Purple Records logo after the EMI acquisition[1]Purple Recordsen.wikipedia.org

  M&A

  Following Universal Music Group's acquisition of EMI, Universal became the distributor associated with the original Purple Records catalogue and continued using the imprint's original logo.

1. 1Purple Recordsen.wikipedia.org