White Whale Records

White Whale Records was an American independent record label established in Los Angeles in 1965 by Ted Feigin and Lee Lasseff. The company operated during the highly competitive American pop and rock market of the mid-to-late 1960s and became closely identified with the Turtles, whose recordings supplied the label with its greatest commercial success. The label's most recognizable release was the Turtles' "Happy Together," a number-one single that became both the group's signature song and White Whale's defining hit. The Turtles had originally performed as the Crossfires, a surf-oriented band from California. As surf music declined in commercial importance, the group sought a new direction and signed with White Whale. The label encouraged a new identity, initially proposing the stylized name "The Tyrtles" before the musicians settled on the conventional spelling "The Turtles." White Whale issued most of the group's recorded output, including singles and albums that moved the band toward melodic pop and psychedelic-era rock. The relationship was commercially productive but artistically contentious. The label pushed for additional hits and at points sought to reduce the group's costs by encouraging vocalists Howard Kaylan and Mark Volman to work with hired musicians rather than the full band. Kaylan and Volman resisted that approach, advocated a more democratic creative process, and pursued projects that gave the wider group greater songwriting and vocal participation. The Turtles' success gave White Whale a substantial profile, but the label also handled a varied group of artists and releases. Its catalog included Nino Tempo and April Stevens's "All Strung Out (On You)," Rene y Rene's Spanish-language hit "Lo Mucho que te Quiero," an album by Liz Damon's Orient Express, and the sole album by the Texas group the Clique. Warren Zevon worked as a staff songwriter and made some of his earliest recordings for the label as part of the duo Lyme and Cybelle. Dobie Gray also recorded for White Whale, including an early charting version of "(I Never Promised You a) Rose Garden," a song later associated more strongly with Lynn Anderson. After the Turtles broke up in the early 1970s, White Whale lost its principal commercial asset. A dispute followed over control of the Turtles name, catalog, and the professional identities of Kaylan and Volman. The two musicians continued working under the name Flo and Eddie while challenging White Whale's claims. The label was folded in 1971, and its founders established Anthem Records as a successor venture. White Whale's final releases included material by Liz Damon's Orient Express, but those records were not sufficient to sustain the business. The label's assets were auctioned in 1974, with Kaylan and Volman obtaining the Turtles' master recordings. White Whale's surviving catalog has continued to circulate through reissues and compilations. The non-Turtles portion is associated with Craft Recordings and Varèse Sarabande, while Flo and Eddie, Inc. controls the Turtles catalog through a separate arrangement. Compact-disc anthologies, including Happy Together: The Very Best of White Whale Records and volumes in the Phantom Jukebox series, have preserved portions of the label's output for later audiences. White Whale is therefore remembered less as a long-running corporate operation than as a short-lived but influential imprint whose identity was shaped by one major pop act and a collection of distinctive late-1960s recordings.

White Whale Records was founded in Los Angeles in 1965 by Ted Feigin and Lee Lasseff as an independent label operating in the American pop and rock market. Its early identity was shaped by the search for commercially viable pop acts at a time when established styles such as surf music were losing momentum. The label's most important signing was the Crossfires, a California band that adopted the name the Turtles after moving away from its original surf orientation. White Whale released most of the Turtles' discography and developed the group into a major pop act. The label's greatest success came with "Happy Together," which reached number one and became the signature recording of both the band and the company. White Whale's relationship with the Turtles was not consistently harmonious. The company wanted more hits and attempted to streamline the group's recording operation, while Howard Kaylan and Mark Volman defended the participation of the wider band and pursued a more collective creative model. Their tensions were reflected in projects such as The Turtles Present the Battle of the Bands and in the later hit "Elenore," which Kaylan wrote as a playful response to the expectations created by "Happy Together." Although the Turtles dominated White Whale's public reputation, the label's catalog was broader. It released Nino Tempo and April Stevens's "All Strung Out (On You)," material by Rene y Rene, an album by Liz Damon's Orient Express, and the only album by the Texas group the Clique. Warren Zevon was associated with the company as a staff songwriter and recorded early material as part of Lyme and Cybelle. Dobie Gray also made recordings for the imprint, including an early chart version of "(I Never Promised You a) Rose Garden." These releases demonstrate the label's interest in both mainstream pop and distinctive regional or developing acts. The Turtles disbanded in the early 1970s, removing White Whale's most dependable source of revenue. A subsequent dispute concerned control of the Turtles' name, back catalog, and the names of Kaylan and Volman. The musicians adopted the professional name Flo and Eddie for continuing work and challenged the label's position. White Whale ceased operations in 1971, when Feigin and Lasseff established Anthem Records. Anthem initially received United Artists distribution and transferred two former White Whale acts, Liz Damon's Orient Express and the Dillards. The venture also handled a United States single by Freddie Mercury under the pseudonym Larry Lurex and was connected with the early release history of Lindsey Buckingham and Stevie Nicks' Buckingham Nicks album. Anthem was dissolved in 1973. White Whale's remaining assets were auctioned in 1974. Kaylan and Volman won control of the Turtles' master recordings, although their disputes over names and related rights continued for years. The surviving White Whale catalog later passed through reissue and catalog-management arrangements. The Turtles material is controlled by Flo and Eddie, Inc., while the rest of the White Whale catalog is associated with Concord Music's Craft Recordings through Varèse Sarabande. Reissue programs and compilations have kept the imprint's recordings available, giving White Whale a continuing historical presence despite its short operating life.

• 1974

  Catalog assets are auctioned

  [1]White Whale Recordsen.wikipedia.org

  The former label's assets are sold, with Kaylan and Volman acquiring the Turtles masters.

• 1971

  White Whale closes

  [1]White Whale Recordsen.wikipedia.org

  Feigin and Lasseff fold White Whale and launch Anthem Records.

• 1965

  White Whale Records is established

  [1]White Whale Recordsen.wikipedia.org

  Ted Feigin and Lee Lasseff found the independent label in Los Angeles.

• The Turtles sign with White Whale

  [1]White Whale Recordsen.wikipedia.org

  The Crossfires adopt the Turtles name and become the label's central recording act.

• "Happy Together" reaches number one

  [1]White Whale Recordsen.wikipedia.org

  The Turtles' hit becomes White Whale's defining commercial release.

A Los Angeles independent pop and rock label that combined a commercially successful flagship act with releases from emerging, regional, and one-hit-oriented artists.

• Recorded music

  The Turtles catalog

  White Whale released nearly all of the Turtles' principal recordings, covering the group's transition from surf-influenced beginnings to polished pop and psychedelic-era material. The catalog includes the chart-topping "Happy Together" and later releases such as "Elenore." It remains the label's most important cultural and commercial legacy.

• Singles · 1965

  White Whale singles

  The label issued pop and rock singles from a range of performers, including Nino Tempo and April Stevens, Rene y Rene, Dobie Gray, and Liz Damon's Orient Express. These releases combined chart-oriented production with material from regional and developing artists.

• Compilation albums

  White Whale Records compilations

  Later compact-disc compilations assembled representative recordings from the imprint. Notable titles include Happy Together: The Very Best of White Whale Records and two Phantom Jukebox volumes issued through Rev-Ola, helping preserve material beyond the better-known Turtles recordings.

• Dispute over the Turtles' name and recordings

  After the Turtles broke up, White Whale asserted rights connected with the group's name, catalog, and the individual names of Howard Kaylan and Mark Volman. The musicians continued under the name Flo and Eddie and contested the label's position. The dispute continued after the label's closure, while the Turtles' master recordings were eventually obtained by Kaylan and Volman at the 1974 asset auction.

  Source

Read more

• 1971

  Create Anthem Records after closing White WhaleStrategy

  Background

  The founders faced the loss of the Turtles as their principal commercial act.

  Action taken

  Feigin and Lasseff folded White Whale and launched Anthem Records, initially using United Artists for United States distribution.

  Aftermath

  Anthem operated briefly, transferred selected acts, and was dissolved in 1973.

  Source

• Push the Crossfires toward a new pop identityStrategy

  Background

  The Crossfires were associated with surf music, a style whose commercial momentum was weakening.

  Action taken

  White Whale encouraged a new band name and a shift toward contemporary pop-rock, resulting in the Turtles identity.

  Aftermath

  The reorientation produced the label's most important signing and ultimately its number-one hit.

  Source

• Seek a lower-cost Turtles recording modelStrategy

  Background

  The label sought additional hits and attempted to control the expense of maintaining the full band.

  Action taken

  White Whale pressured Kaylan and Volman to dismiss other members and work with hired musicians.

  Aftermath

  The proposal contributed to conflict with the group, which defended shared participation and continued developing its own creative direction.

  Source

• 1974

  White Whale assets are sold at auction[1]White Whale Recordsen.wikipedia.org

  Other

  Following the label's collapse, its assets are auctioned; Howard Kaylan and Mark Volman obtain the Turtles' master recordings.

• 1971

  White Whale is folded and replaced by Anthem Records[1]White Whale Recordsen.wikipedia.org

  Other

  The founders close White Whale and establish Anthem Records, transferring selected acts to the new operation.

• 1965

  White Whale Records is founded in Los Angeles[1]White Whale Recordsen.wikipedia.org

  Other

  Ted Feigin and Lee Lasseff establish the independent label that would later become closely associated with the Turtles.

• The Turtles become White Whale's principal commercial act[1]White Whale Recordsen.wikipedia.org

  Product launch · Other

  White Whale signs the group formerly known as the Crossfires and releases most of its recorded output, including the number-one single "Happy Together."

• White Whale recordings return through CD compilations[1]White Whale Recordsen.wikipedia.org

  Product generation

  Later compilations and reissues, including Happy Together: The Very Best of White Whale Records and Phantom Jukebox volumes, revive material from the label's catalog.

1. 1White Whale Recordsen.wikipedia.org