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Post by vonearschplitten on Aug 31, 2007 17:12:47 GMT -5
I would love to know the story of how Blue Cheer got signed to the record label known for manufacturing light bulbs in the 60s(How "punk rock" is that!)
I thought that was one of the most curious things about Blue Cheer was that the "Phillips" logo on their albums was the same as the logo on the light bulb hanging from my bedroom ceiling! That was actually a record label, too!! Of course, we now know Phillips as the company like Sony and RCA is now involved in the full-range of music and software technology.
Just to tell you how much a Blue Cheer freak I am: I decided to get a Phillips Hi-Def Television, just because my favorite band was on their record label.
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Post by dragster58 on Aug 31, 2007 17:47:03 GMT -5
Phillips invented the first Compact cassette, the first Cd among other goodies too...I'd like to know the full story too!!
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Post by dragster58 on Sept 1, 2007 16:57:41 GMT -5
Don't forget, Phillips makes vodka too! ;D    |
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Post by riffraff on Sept 3, 2007 10:46:26 GMT -5
It's with one "L"...Philips
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Post by dragster58 on Sept 3, 2007 13:58:30 GMT -5
Oxford "Wikipedia" Dictionary says it can be spelt BOTh ways......no hassle in the Ks, heheheheheheheh!!!!
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Post by Eric Albronda on Sept 4, 2007 13:36:03 GMT -5
In 1967 Mercury records, 35 East Wacker Drive , Chicago, distributed Phillips records in the United States. Irving Green owned Mercury Records, he inherited it from his father .
His father was head of the electrical and contractors union in Chicago , making him well connected if you will to "organized business" entertainment that is .....................
Like many record companies and Universities the unknown but attractive aspects of sixties music and culture remained an attractive economical venture. .smart money was being placed on the San Francisco music scene. Phillips the record division was one tenth of one percent of the entire Phillips Company as they were, are the GE of Europe only now bigger.
Blue cheer was fortunate to have made a name for themselves before releasing any records and had about 50,000 advance orders. Phillips Records was based in Barn Holland . Blue Cheer was popular in Holland before releasing their record. Partly because yours truly was in Holland in early 1967 and pumped the Hell out of Blue Cheer to the locals and they had a direct line to the Scene in San Francisco .
the important thing to remember about Phillips records is they released World wide wen they did release and had a distinction as being Number 1 in the Classic recording market, worldwide-----this naturally meant that they had the distribution down and the means of production worldwide -----and had a distribution deal with Mercury records for the United States.
As Abe "Voco" Kesh was the genius DJ that introduced Blues and Psychedelic music to a generation of white youth and had a great radio station to back him up , KMPX, San Francisco Abe and Tom Donahoue played the shit out of the Blue Cheer "Demo, master tape we made -----I mean every half an hour for months.
So the long and the short of this story is that Phillips records wanted in on the music scene in San Francisco and thus pushed Mercury records to sign Blue Cheer as a sure money maker ----we made them plenty--------and they released the record world wide
and that is why the record was number 1 in Holland and a few other obscure countries.
Interesting to note that Irving Green went on to sit on the board of directors for Phillips Int. and his part was to standardize the the Compact Disk which had not been perfected in 1968-9. Also , Irving Green was the final go ahead for Phillips to also sign Leigh Stephens for the Red Weather Project.
So now you know the rest of the story----------------------
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Post by mr maltese on Sept 4, 2007 17:58:06 GMT -5
Eric,
thank you once again for the informative post on the history behind the Philips signing - it's always great reading the info you share on this board,
Maltese
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Post by vonearschplitten on Sept 15, 2007 13:47:56 GMT -5
Wow, Eric! You were in Holland pushing Blue Cheer as early as early-'67? I say, that's getting in their pretty early! Let's see, early-'67...Cream had just come out with "Fresh Cream", and had yet to record "Disraeli Gears", Hendrix was still in the process of recording his first album, The Beatles were still in the process of recording "Sgt. Pepper".
You really knew you had something with Blue Cheer early on, and knew that Europeans would "get it". That's called really having your ear to the ground, and getting on the ground floor! Kudos for some really aggressive promotion!
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