Atlantic Records have just released a 10-disc box set spanning the history of the label from its inception in 1947 until now.
Atlantic Records Time Capsule features 165 tracks over six decades, the DVD documentary ‘The House That Armet Built’, a 140-page book, a 45rpm vinyl single of the very first Atlantic Record, ‘Drinkin’ Wine, Spo-Dee-O-Dee’ by Stick McGhee and His Buddies and replications of concert tickets, backstage passes and handbills.The set is dedicated to founder Armet Ertegun who died in 2006 at the age of 83.
"This has been a labor of love for a passionate team of Atlantic staffers who have been devoted to this project for many months," said Atlantic Chairman/CEO Craig Kallman. "It is an extraordinary celebration of our company's rich musical and cultural legacy. The history of Atlantic is unique in our industry, with an unbroken thread that runs from the label's very beginnings to the present moment. To open this beautiful box and hear, see, read, and touch the Atlantic story is a truly moving experience. I know Ahmet would be so proud of this impressive and compelling tribute to the incredible music, groundbreaking artists, and amazing cast of characters that have given this company life for the past 62 years."
"In the spring of 2004, I showed up for work at Ahmet's house," said Atlantic Chairman/COO Julie Greenwald. "When I looked at all the phenomenal music that he and his partners had brought to life through the years, I felt a deep responsibility to protect the logo and continue this incredible legacy in music. When we began work on the Time Capsule, we were determined that it not only be a celebration of the past, but a celebration of the lasting power and urgency of the vision that guides the label to this day. Atlantic Records was, is, and always will be a welcoming home for artists, careers, and entrepreneurs. I'd like to think that Ahmet is looking down on us, feeling proud of what we're doing to carry on the great company he created."
According to notes from the label Atlantic began like this. “In the fall of 1947, two passionate jazz fans and obsessive record collectors ? Ahmet Ertegun and Herb Abramson ? decided to start their own record label. The Istanbul-born Ertegun, son of a renowned Turkish diplomat, was an embassy-bred graduate student of philosophy. New York-born Abramson was a dental student turned record company A&R man. They shared a love of black American music, and with a $10,000 loan from Ahmet's dentist, together they formed what would become one of the most successful, influential, and enduring companies in music industry history”.
“A pioneer, icon, and true original, Ahmet's eclectic tastes and boundary-crossing life set the course of Atlantic and defined its essence. "I thought that we had a small chance of survival," Ahmet said. "I knew that we knew the music better than our competitors. We understood what made people buy records, and we knew the kind of records we wanted to make... All that really mattered was that we loved the music, and we made up the rest as we went along."
Artists featured on the collection in chronological order are:
Joe Morris * "Stick" McGhee And His Buddies * Ruth Brown * The Clovers * Professor Longhair * Big Joe Turner * The Chords * Ray Charles * Ivory Joe Hunter * LaVern Baker * Chuck Willis * The Bobbettes * Modern Jazz Quartet * The Coasters * Bobby Darin * Charles Mingus * The Drifters * John Coltrane * Ornette Coleman * Ben E. King * Herbie Mann * Booker T. & The MG's * Barbara Lewis * Doris Troy * Rufus Thomas * Don Covay * Solomon Burke * Otis Redding * Wilson Pickett * Sonny & Cher * The Young Rascals * Percy Sledge * Sam & Dave * Carla Thomas * Buffalo Springfield * Arthur Conley * Aretha Franklin * The Bar-Kays * Bee Gees * Vanilla Fudge * Albert King * Cream * Archie Bell & The Drells * Iron Butterfly * Crazy World Of Arthur Brown * Dusty Springfield * Led Zeppelin * Blind Faith * Thunderclap Newman * Crosby, Stills & Nash * The Allman Brothers Band * Les McCann & Eddie Harris * R.B. Greaves * Brook Benton * Clarence Carter * Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young * The Velvet Underground * King Floyd * Stephen Stills * Emerson, Lake & Palmer * Derek & The Dominos * Donny Hathaway * The Rolling Stones * Betty Wright * Yes * The Spinners * Roberta Flack * Dr. John * Bette Midler * Manu Dibango * Genesis * Blue Magic * Dionne Warwicke & The Spinners * Bad Company * J. Geils Band * Average White Band * Major Harris * Roxy Music * Hall & Oates * ABBA * The Trammps * Foreigner * Peter Gabriel * Peter Tosh * Chic * The Blues Brothers * Sister Sledge * Manhattan Transfer * Pete Townshend * Slave * Phil Collins * Stevie Nicks * Laura Branigan * Robert Plant * Shannon * Ratt * Twisted Sister * Honeydrippers * Nu Shooz * Debbie Gibson * Levert * INXS * Mike + The Mechanics * Skid Row * Rush * Alannah Myles * En Vogue * Marc Cohn * Mr. Big * Tori Amos * Stone Temple Pilots * All-4-One * Collective Soul * Hootie & The Blowfish * Everything But The Girl * Trans-Siberian Orchestra * Jewel * Matchbox Twenty * Sugar Ray * Lil' Kim * Brandy * Aaliyah * Kid Rock * Uncle Kracker * P.O.D. * Sean Paul * Simple Plan * Rob Thomas * Staind * Death Cab For Cutie * James Blunt * Gnarls Barkley * T.I. * Panic! At The Disco * Paramore * Flo Rida * Lupe Fiasco * Estelle * Jason Mraz * Zac Brown Band * Shinedown
Watch the trailer here:
