Rolling Stones Records

Rolling Stones Records was the recording label established by the members of the Rolling Stones in 1970, after the group's recording agreement with Decca Records expired. Its creation reflected the band's desire to retain greater control over its recorded music and to create a platform through which individual members could issue solo work. The label was initially managed by Marshall Chess, whose family background in the American independent-record business gave the venture a connection to the traditions of Chess Records. The label's first release was Brian Jones Presents the Pipes of Pan at Joujouka in 1971, a pioneering world-music recording associated with the late Rolling Stones founder Brian Jones. The label subsequently issued projects connected with members of the band, including Jamming with Edward! in 1972, a set of recordings involving Mick Jagger, Bill Wyman, Charlie Watts, Nicky Hopkins, and Ry Cooder. Wyman released Monkey Grip in 1974 and Stone Alone in 1976 through the label, although he later expressed dissatisfaction with the level of promotional attention given to his solo records compared with the Rolling Stones' releases. Keith Richards also released a solo single through the label in 1978, pairing a version of Chuck Berry's “Run Rudolph Run” with a recording of Jimmy Cliff's “The Harder They Come.” Unlike several other major rock vanity labels of the period, Rolling Stones Records did not build a large roster of outside artists. Its limited signings nevertheless included Kracker, a Cuban American rock group produced by Rolling Stones producer Jimmy Miller, and singer-songwriter John Phillips. The label's most prominent outside association was with Peter Tosh, the former Wailers member who signed with Rolling Stones Records in 1977. His album Bush Doctor featured Mick Jagger and achieved moderate success, but Tosh left the label in 1981 after personal and professional difficulties involving the Rolling Stones and his own circumstances. Distribution arrangements changed repeatedly over the label's life. In the United States, its early releases were distributed through Atco Records, an Atlantic Records subsidiary, followed by a five-album distribution agreement with Atlantic in 1971 that continued in the American market until 1984. In Britain, distribution was handled by WEA from 1971 to 1977 and EMI from 1978 to 1984. Columbia Records distributed the label in the United States from 1986, while CBS handled other international markets until 1991. During the 1980s, the imprint was used in connection with Mick Jagger's solo releases, including She's the Boss and Primitive Cool, through a partnership involving CBS. The continued appearance of the Rolling Stones Records name and tongue-and-lips emblem on releases created tension within the band, particularly between Jagger and Richards, because the label identity was associated with Jagger's solo projects as well as the group. The label was discontinued as an operating entity in 1992, when the Rolling Stones entered a new arrangement with Virgin Records through their company Promotone BV. The Rolling Stones' tongue-and-lips logo and related label identity continued to appear on later releases, while catalog distribution subsequently moved through Virgin/EMI and, from 2008, through Polydor in the United Kingdom and Interscope in the United States. Rolling Stones Records is therefore best understood as a historically important artist-controlled imprint whose main significance lies in the band's move toward ownership, control, and flexible distribution rather than in the size of its artist roster.

Rolling Stones Records emerged in 1970 as part of the Rolling Stones' effort to gain control over their recorded output. The band's previous Decca agreement had expired, creating an opportunity to establish an imprint that could manage group recordings and provide a vehicle for individual members' projects. The label was headed initially by Marshall Chess, the son of Chess Records founder Leonard Chess. This appointment connected the British rock group to an influential American record-business tradition while giving the new operation experienced leadership. The first release was Brian Jones Presents the Pipes of Pan at Joujouka, issued in 1971. The album presented recordings associated with Brian Jones and the Master Musicians of Joujouka and is often regarded as an early landmark in the exposure of non-Western musical traditions to a rock audience. A second early project, Jamming with Edward!, followed in 1972. It drew on informal recordings made by Mick Jagger, Bill Wyman, Charlie Watts, Nicky Hopkins, and Ry Cooder in 1969. Rolling Stones Records was primarily a vehicle for the band and its members rather than a broad independent label. Bill Wyman issued Monkey Grip in 1974 and Stone Alone in 1976. According to accounts summarized in the label's reference history, Wyman believed that the label's promotion and sales staff gave his albums limited attention because Rolling Stones albums released around the same periods received the major marketing push. He subsequently made his next solo album with A&M. Keith Richards released a solo single through the imprint in December 1978, consisting of “Run Rudolph Run” backed with “The Harder They Come.” The company made only a modest effort to recruit external acts. Kracker, a Cuban American rock group produced by Jimmy Miller, became the first outside act signed in 1973 and appeared alongside the Rolling Stones touring ecosystem during the band's European tour. John Phillips joined the label in 1976. The most visible external signing was Peter Tosh, who joined in 1977. His Bush Doctor album included Mick Jagger on “Don't Look Back” and achieved moderate commercial success. Tosh departed in 1981 amid personal difficulties involving Jagger, Richards, and other circumstances surrounding the artist. Distribution was handled through a succession of major music companies. Atco Records, an Atlantic subsidiary, distributed early United States releases, and Atlantic subsequently handled American distribution under a five-album agreement beginning in 1971. WEA distributed the label in the United Kingdom through 1977, after which EMI took over until 1984. Columbia became the United States distributor in 1986, with CBS handling other territories until 1991. These arrangements allowed the label to retain its identity while relying on established companies for manufacturing, marketing, and market access. The label's identity became more complicated in the mid-1980s. Mick Jagger's solo albums She's the Boss and Primitive Cool were issued through a partnership between Rolling Stones Records and CBS, and the imprint's name and tongue-and-lips emblem continued to appear on Rolling Stones-related releases. The use of the label for Jagger's solo work reportedly contributed to tensions with Keith Richards. The imprint continued to be visible through Flashpoint in 1991, but it was discontinued in 1992 when the band entered a Virgin Records partnership through Promotone BV. Although the operating label ended, the tongue-and-lips logo remained associated with Rolling Stones releases, and catalog administration continued under later distribution arrangements. The back catalog moved through Virgin/EMI and, from 2008, through Polydor in the United Kingdom and Interscope in the United States. Rolling Stones Records consequently occupies an important place in the history of artist-owned and artist-controlled labels: it was not a large-scale roster label, but it helped demonstrate how a major rock act could use ownership, licensing, and distribution partnerships to shape its long-term recorded-music business.

• 2008

  Catalog distribution changes again

  [1]Rolling Stones Recordsen.wikipedia.org

  Polydor takes United Kingdom distribution and Interscope takes United States distribution for back-catalog and newer material.

• 1992

  Operating label discontinued

  [1]Rolling Stones Recordsen.wikipedia.org

  The imprint is discontinued after the Rolling Stones move to a Virgin Records partnership through Promotone BV.

• 1985

  Mick Jagger solo partnership begins

  [1]Rolling Stones Recordsen.wikipedia.org

  Jagger's She's the Boss is released through a Rolling Stones Records and CBS partnership.

• 1977

  Peter Tosh joins the label

  [1]Rolling Stones Recordsen.wikipedia.org

  Peter Tosh signs with Rolling Stones Records and later releases Bush Doctor with Mick Jagger as a guest performer.

• 1973

  Kracker becomes first outside signing

  [1]Rolling Stones Recordsen.wikipedia.org

  The Cuban American rock group Kracker is signed as the imprint's first artist not directly tied to the Rolling Stones.

• 1971

  First release and Atlantic distribution agreement

  [1]Rolling Stones Recordsen.wikipedia.org

  The label issues Brian Jones Presents the Pipes of Pan at Joujouka and enters a five-album distribution arrangement with Atlantic Records.

• 1970

  Label founded after Decca agreement ends

  [1]Rolling Stones Recordsen.wikipedia.org

  The Rolling Stones establish Rolling Stones Records to increase control over their recordings and create an outlet for members' solo work.

An artist-controlled rock record label created to give the Rolling Stones greater control over their recordings, while also providing a limited outlet for solo projects and selected affiliated artists.

• Album · 1971

  Brian Jones Presents the Pipes of Pan at Joujouka

  The label's first release, issued in 1971. It presents recordings associated with Brian Jones and the Master Musicians of Joujouka and is recognized as an influential early world-music release connected to a major rock artist.

• Album · 1972

  Jamming with Edward!

  A 1972 collection built from informal recordings involving Mick Jagger, Bill Wyman, Charlie Watts, Nicky Hopkins, and Ry Cooder. The project represents the label's interest in documenting side collaborations beyond standard Rolling Stones albums.

• Solo album · 1974

  Monkey Grip

  Bill Wyman's first solo album released through Rolling Stones Records, issued in 1974. It demonstrated the imprint's original purpose as a platform for individual Rolling Stones members as well as the group.

• Solo album · 1976

  Stone Alone

  Bill Wyman's second solo album for the label, released in 1976. Its limited promotional priority compared with concurrent Rolling Stones campaigns contributed to Wyman's decision to use another label for his next solo project.

• Album · 1978

  Bush Doctor

  Peter Tosh's debut album for Rolling Stones Records, released after he signed with the label in 1977. Mick Jagger appeared on “Don't Look Back,” and the album achieved moderate success.

• Solo album · 1985

  She's the Boss

  Mick Jagger's first solo album, released in 1985 through a partnership involving Rolling Stones Records and CBS. Its release extended the imprint's role into a more visible platform for Jagger's solo career.

• Solo album · 1987

  Primitive Cool

  Mick Jagger's second solo album associated with the Rolling Stones Records and CBS partnership, issued in 1987. The release continued the imprint's use on Jagger's solo recordings during the label's final operating period.

• 1992

  End the operating label and move to VirginStrategy

  Background

  The Rolling Stones reorganized their recording arrangements after the imprint's final years of use for group and solo releases.

  Action taken

  The band entered a Virgin Records partnership through Promotone BV and discontinued Rolling Stones Records as an operating label.

  Aftermath

  The imprint ceased new-label operations, although its logo remained on later Rolling Stones releases and its catalog continued under successor distributors.

  Source

• 1971

  Adopt major-label distribution partnershipsStrategy

  Background

  Rolling Stones Records needed established infrastructure for international manufacturing, marketing, and distribution.

  Action taken

  The label used Atco and Atlantic in the United States, WEA and later EMI in the United Kingdom, and subsequent Columbia and CBS arrangements in the 1980s.

  Aftermath

  The imprint retained its branding while changing distribution partners across territories and periods.

  Source

• 1970

  Create an artist-controlled record labelStrategy

  Background

  The Rolling Stones wanted greater control over the rights and commercial handling of their music after their Decca recording agreement expired.

  Action taken

  The band established Rolling Stones Records and structured it to accommodate both group recordings and members' solo projects.

  Aftermath

  The label became the band's principal imprint for much of the 1970s and 1980s and established a long-lasting visual identity through the tongue-and-lips emblem.

  Source

• 2008

  Back-catalog distribution shifts to Polydor and Interscope[1]Rolling Stones Recordsen.wikipedia.org

  Other

  Distribution of Rolling Stones Records back-catalog material and newer material moved to Polydor in the United Kingdom and Interscope in the United States.

• 1992

  Rolling Stones Records imprint is discontinued after move to Virgin[1]Rolling Stones Recordsen.wikipedia.org

  Other

  The label ceased operating as the band's main imprint after the Rolling Stones moved to a Virgin Records arrangement through Promotone BV.

• 1977

  Peter Tosh signs with Rolling Stones Records[1]Rolling Stones Recordsen.wikipedia.org

  Product launch · Other

  Former Wailers member Peter Tosh joined the label and released Bush Doctor, which included a performance by Mick Jagger.

• 1971

  Atlantic agrees to distribute Rolling Stones Records releases[1]Rolling Stones Recordsen.wikipedia.org

  Other

  The label entered a five-album distribution arrangement with Atlantic Records, with Atco handling its earlier United States releases.

• 1970

  Rolling Stones establish their own record label after Decca contract expires[1]Rolling Stones Recordsen.wikipedia.org

  Other

  The Rolling Stones formed Rolling Stones Records as an artist-controlled label following the end of their recording relationship with Decca Records.

1. 1Rolling Stones Recordsen.wikipedia.org