Smash Records
| Company type | Subsidiary |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music industry |
| Predecessor | Mercury Records (parent label) |
| Founded | 1961 |
| Founder | Irving Green |
| Defunct | 1970 (original), 1996 (revived) |
| Fate | Ceased operations in 1970; revived in 1980s and 1991; discontinued in 1996 |
| Headquarters | United States |
Area served | United States |
| Parent | Mercury Records, later PolyGram, Island Records |
Smash Records was a United States-based record label created in 1961 as an imprint under Mercury Records.
History
In March 1961, Irving Green, president of Mercury Record Corporation, initiated Smash Records as a pop-oriented subsidiary aimed at increasing visibility and sales for emerging artists and independently produced masters.
The label achieved its inaugural number one hit on the Billboard Hot 100 during the summer of 1961 with Joe Dowell’s rendition of "Wooden Heart."
By November 1961, Charles Fach, then head of Smash, broadened the label’s scope to include the "country and western" genre by signing talents such as Billy Deaton and Howard Crockett. Production for this segment was managed by Mercury A&R director Shelby Singleton, who had a strong interest in Southern musical styles and had previously brought artists like the Big Bopper and Johnny Preston into Mercury’s roster.
The artist lineup at Smash expanded to feature a variety of performers including Frankie Valli, James Brown, Bruce Channel, Roger Miller, The Left Banke, Bill Justis, and Jerry Lee Lewis. Due to contractual issues with King Records, James Brown released all instrumental tracks from his band between 1964 and 1967 through Smash, notably including his influential 1964 proto-funk track "Out of Sight."
Smash utilized a shared singles catalog numbering system alongside affiliated labels such as Fontana Records. The label ceased operations in 1970 following Mercury’s decision.
After Mercury was acquired by PolyGram in 1972, Smash was revived during the 1980s primarily for reissues. In 1991, PolyGram reestablished Smash as an R&B and dance focused imprint based out of Chicago. Initially managed under PolyGram Label Group (PLG), later Independent Label Sales (ILS), and eventually under the umbrella of Island Records, this iteration of Smash was discontinued in 1996. Notable releases from this period included house producer LaTour’s hit "People Are Still Having Sex" along with dance chart successes by Jamie Principle.
Artists
- The Angels
- The Asylum Choir
- James Brown
- The Caravelles
- Mother Maybelle Carter
- Jimmy Castor
- Bruce Channel
- Crunch-O-Matic
- D'Bora
- Dee Jay & The Runaways (also associated with Iowa Great Lakes Recording Company)
- Joe Dowell
- Pete Drake (recognized for his talking steel guitar technique)
- The Festivals
- Jay & the Techniques
- Bill Justis
- Dickie Lee
- Hudsen Bay Co.
- Left Banke
- Jerry Lee Lewis
- Linda Gail Lewis
- Jamie Loring
- LaTour
- Chris Mars
- M-Doc
- The Mesmerizing Eye
- Luke "Long Gone" Miles
- Roger Miller
- The Millions
- The Nouns
- Jamie Principle
- Charlie Rich
- Sir Douglas Quintet
- Millie Small
- Swingin' Medallions
- Pleasure Game
- Presence
- Sheep on Drugs
- The Tempests
- Ten Tray
- Frankie Valli
- Eric Von Schmidt
- The Walker Brothers
- Scott Walker
- Cookie Watkins
- Yello