Embassy Records
| Company type | Record label |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1954 |
| Founder | Oriole Records and Woolworths (partnership) |
| Defunct | 1980 |
| Fate | Phased out after acquisition by CBS Records; later revived and ceased again |
| Headquarters | London (Mayfair, New Bond Street) , United Kingdom |
| Products | Budget singles and albums, cover versions, EPs in various genres |
| Parent | Oriole Records (original), CBS Records (later) |
History 1954–1965
Embassy Records originated from a partnership between Oriole Records and Woolworths, with its releases sold exclusively through Woolworths outlets.[1] Between November 1954 and January 1965, Embassy produced approximately 1,200 tracks by nearly 150 performers, offered at half the price of mainstream label records.[2] The label specialized in double A-side singles that covered current or anticipated UK Top 20 hits,[1] frequently featuring contrasting artists or diverse pop genres on each side. Embassy served as the British equivalent to American budget labels such as Hit and early Bell Records.
Recording sessions were held at Embassy Recording Studios located on New Bond Street in Mayfair, while Oriole managed the manufacturing and international licensing of the records.[1] Due to demanding production timelines, four songs were recorded within a tight three-hour window, including setup and breaks,[2] allowing about 30 minutes per track. This required highly proficient professional vocalists—often seasoned big band or session singers who also performed on BBC radio—to complete recordings efficiently in minimal takes.[3] Performers occasionally adopted pseudonyms. Sessions were generally scheduled on Thursdays to ensure that new releases were available in stores by Monday, directly competing with the original hit versions.[3]
In addition to cover versions of popular songs, Embassy also released EPs featuring genres such as trad jazz, children's songs, light classical music, and selections from musical theatre.[2]
Following Oriole’s acquisition by CBS Records (known as Columbia Records in the U.S.) in late 1964, Embassy was phased out. The label’s final release of the 1960s was "Keep Searchin' (We'll Follow the Sun)" by Paul Rich and the Beatmen in January 1965.[4] By that time, other budget labels including Cannon, Crossbow, Top Six, and Top Pops had adopted similar cover record models.[2] Subsequently, CBS’s subsidiary Hallmark/Pickwick introduced the Top of the Pops albums; however, unlike Embassy records, these did not credit individual artists.<ref>
The artists
Paul Rich—a vocalist with the Lou Preager Orchestra—holds the distinction of having recorded the most tracks for Embassy from 1957 through 1965. Nevertheless, Ray Pilgrim contributed nearly 150 songs between 1960 and 1965 under various aliases such as Bobby Stevens, the Typhoons, the Jaybirds, and the Starlings.
Mike Redway, formerly associated with the Oscar Rabin Band, performed under the name Redd Wayne and appeared on numerous tracks attributed to the Typhoons, Jaybirds, and Starlings between 1962 and 1965. He later lent his voice to the vocal rendition of the "Casino Royale Theme" for the 1967 film Casino Royale. Ken Barrie, who gained fame as the voice of Postman Pat, recorded under the pseudonym Les Carle.
Prominent female vocalists featured on Embassy included Jean Campbell, Joan Baxter, Maureen Evans, and Barbara Kay. Except for Kay, these singers used their real names. Maureen Evans later achieved chart success with Oriole’s "Like I Do," while Barbara Kay—credited as Kay Barry—was a member of the Carefrees, known for their 1964 novelty hit "We Love You Beatles." Kay had also previously performed with the Oscar Rabin Band.
Instrumental pieces were performed by various session musicians; group names such as Bud Ashton, the Beatmen, and the Happy Knights were generic titles not tied to fixed line-ups. Similarly, names like the Typhoons, Jaybirds, and Starlings referred to flexible ensembles composed of musicians available for particular sessions. Backing vocals were frequently provided by the Mike Sammes Singers, though they typically remained uncredited.
History 1973–1980
In 1973, CBS Records brought back the Embassy label under the tagline "All the Best from Embassy" to issue budget-friendly albums in the UK and Europe. These releases consisted mainly of out-of-print, previously unreleased, or international recordings originally issued by Columbia Records or its affiliated labels. The initial batch, launched in October 1973, included 39 albums showcasing artists such as Barbra Streisand, Aretha Franklin, Tony Bennett, Sly & the Family Stone, Fleetwood Mac, and Blood, Sweat & Tears. Throughout the 1970s, Embassy continued to reissue works by Columbia artists like Johnny Mathis, the Byrds, Andy Williams, Johnny Cash, Tammy Wynette, and Spirit. The label ceased operations in the UK and Europe in 1980, although some Embassy releases from Mexico surfaced later during that decade.
Other uses of name
- Embassy Records, a brief-lived label that distributed Warriors Dance releases during the 1990s
- Embassy Records, an independent music label located in New Orleans
- Embassy Productions, a heavy metal record label active in the 1990s
- Avco Embassy, a label responsible for records by the Chambers Brothers, the Stylistics, and Henry Mancini throughout the 1960s and 1970s
- Embassy 9 Records, a Canadian independent electronic music label based in Chilliwack, British Columbia
See also
- Conqueror Records, a record label sold through Sears stores
- Oriole Records (U.S.), McCrory's proprietary store brand record label
- List of record labels
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