Pickwick Records
| Company type | Record label |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1950 |
| Founder | Cy Leslie |
| Fate | Acquired by American Can Company in 1977; assets sold to PolyGram later in 1977; shuttered in 1983 |
| Headquarters | San Francisco , United States |
| Products | Budget-priced albums, imitation recordings, discounted reissues, repackaged releases |
| Parent | PolyGram (from 1977 until shuttering in 1983) |
Pickwick Records was a U.S.-based record label and UK distributor recognized for its affordable album offerings, which included imitation recordings, discounted reissues, and repackaged releases under various imprints such as Design, Bravo (which was later renamed International Award), Hurrah, Grand Prix, as well as children's music issued on the Cricket and Happy Time labels.
The company also handled distribution for smaller independent labels including Sonny Lester's Groove Merchant, Gene Redd's De-Lite Records, Chart Records, and Sweden's Sonet Records—managing North American releases of Bill Haley & His Comets in the late 1960s—and issued records from the UK-based Hallmark Records.
History
Established in 1950 by entrepreneur Cy Leslie, Pickwick originated as Pickwick Sales Corporation (later known as Pickwick International). Leslie initially introduced a prerecorded greeting card service that evolved into Voco Records, a label dedicated to children's music. Following the success of its Cricket children's imprint, Pickwick expanded into the LP market by 1957 with budget-priced albums under the Design brand. Throughout the 1960s and early 1970s, their releases commonly featured the "Pickwick/33" designation.
Among notable contributors, singer-songwriter Lou Reed worked at Pickwick during the mid-1960s as a staff songwriter and session musician, creating sound-alike albums and compilations prior to co-founding The Velvet Underground.
In the late 1960s, Amos and Daniel Heilicher merged their Musicland retail chain with Pickwick International. Capitol Records initially held a stake in Pickwick and licensed recordings from artists such as Frank Sinatra, The Beach Boys, and Nat King Cole for release through Pickwick; however, Capitol divested its interest by 1970.
During the 1970s, Pickwick increasingly focused on reissuing discontinued LPs from major label catalogs—most notably RCA Camden—including prominent Elvis Presley albums. Following Presley’s death in 1977, RCA reclaimed these rights due to heightened sales. Additionally, Pickwick reissued Motown LPs featuring modified artwork and track lists until Motown resumed direct re-releases in the early 1980s.
The company launched a subsidiary named P.I.P and also distributed Gene Redd’s De-Lite Records, which achieved major success with funk group Kool & The Gang in the mid-1970s. P.I.P further attained dance chart hits with Gary Toms Empire.
In 1977, American Can Company acquired Pickwick and relocated its headquarters to Minneapolis before selling its assets to PolyGram later that year. Under PolyGram’s management, De-Lite continued releasing material during Kool & The Gang’s resurgence but was ultimately integrated into Mercury Records; De-Lite was eventually purchased by Unidisc.
While owned by PolyGram, Pickwick resumed producing sound-alike albums along with disco-themed Christmas records primarily performed by session musicians under the name Mirror Image. This activity persisted until PolyGram shuttered Pickwick in 1983.
The Hallmark label was later revived as a budget record imprint owned by the Pickwick Group.
Current ownership
The rights to Pickwick's catalogue, which includes the De-lite/Mercury collection of Kool & The Gang, currently belong to Universal Music, a company created through the 1999 consolidation of the MCA and PolyGram labels.
Criticism
During the early 1980s, Pickwick issued "audiophile" vinyl records pressed on heavier discs (weighing between 180 and 240 grams). However, some audio enthusiasts judged their sound quality to be inferior compared to conventional vinyl. These heavier LPs were soon withdrawn from production, although certain collectors value them highly—such as a 2003 auction where The Beach Boys Greatest Hits sold for more than $2,500, and in 2008, a sealed copy of James Bond—The Themes commanded $4,000.
Pickwick also gained recognition for producing "soundalike" albums that often suggested association with original performers but actually featured studio musicians or vocalists from within the company. For example, their 1984 release titled The Everly's was performed by a group named "Twice Divided."
References in popular culture
Pickwick was portrayed as the label nearly signing the fictional band Crème Brulée in the British television comedy series The League of Gentlemen, highlighting its reputation for market-stall style sales in the UK.
In addition, hip-hop artist Thes One of People Under The Stairs mentions Pickwick in his song "43 Labels I Like" from the 2000 album Question in the Form of an Answer.
See also
External links
- Articles with short description
- American record labels
- Record labels established in 1950
- Record labels disestablished in 1977
- Reissue record labels
- Entertainment companies based in California
- Companies based in San Francisco
- American companies established in 1950
- 1950 establishments in California
- 1977 disestablishments in California
- 1977 mergers and acquisitions
- 5
- Companies of the United States by year of establishment