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Swan Records

From Alfawiki
Swan Records
Company typeRecord label
IndustryMusic
Founded1957
FateDeclared bankruptcy in 1967
Headquarters
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
,
United States
ProductsRecords
OwnerBernie Binnick and Tony Mammarella (joint owners), Dick Clark (former financial interest)
ParentCameo-Parkway Records (distribution)

Swan Records was a record label operating in the United States during the mid-1900s, established in 1957 and headquartered in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It also operated a subsidiary label known as Lawn Records.

History

While Swan Records found success with various American musicians on the charts, its most notable achievement came when the British music company EMI licensed the Beatles’ recording of "She Loves You" with the B-side "I'll Get You". Issued as Swan 4152, this single climbed to the top of the U.S. charts on March 21, 1964, after EMI’s American branch, Capitol Records, chose not to distribute Beatles singles in the U.S. market.

Swan additionally held the rights to the German-language version "Sie Liebt Dich," which reached number 97 on the charts in 1964.

The popularity of "She Loves You" helped sustain Swan Records throughout the British Invasion, although the label eventually declared bankruptcy in 1967.

The label’s early direction was shaped by producer-songwriters Bob Crewe and Frank Slay.

Beyond "She Loves You," Swan’s catalog included hits such as "Palisades Park" from 1962, penned by Chuck Barris and performed by their leading artist, Freddy Cannon. Cannon also charted with tracks like "Tallahassee Lassie" and "Way Down Yonder in New Orleans" before transferring to Warner Brothers in 1964. Another significant success was the instrumental "Wild Weekend" by The Rockin' Rebels, re-released in 1962 after Buffalo DJ Tommy Shannon adopted it as his radio show theme. The band also produced "Rockin' Crickets." Additionally, Link Wray, famed for "Rumble," achieved modest chart presence with "Jack The Ripper" on Swan; this track was initially released on Mar-Lee's Masters Releasing label in 1960.

Swan Records was jointly owned by Bernie Binnick and Tony Mammarella, while Dick Clark reportedly held a financial interest. Following payola scandals in the early 1960s, Clark divested his stake to prevent conflicts of interest. Distribution of Swan’s records was managed by fellow Philadelphia-based label Cameo-Parkway Records, recognized for teen dance hits such as "The Twist" and "Limbo Rock."

Among Swan’s early charting singles was "Click Clack" by Dickie Doo and the Don'ts, produced by Gerry Granahan under a pseudonym referencing Dick Clark’s son; it reached the Billboard top 30 in February 1958. Earlier that year, Billy & Lillie’s "La Dee Dah" had become Swan’s first top-10 hit, peaking at number nine in January.

In 1958, Mary Swan recorded "My Heart Belongs to Only You" (#S4016B), followed by a modestly successful single, "Prisoner of Love" (#4028), released in 1959.

The Three Degrees experienced moderate success with their rendition of "Close Your Eyes" on Swan but later achieved greater acclaim through Roulette Records and subsequently with Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff's Philadelphia International Records.

In 1973, Masters Releasing, Inc., owned by executives Steve Brodie and Leonard "Lenny" Silver (who later founded Amherst Records), acquired all sound recording rights from Swan’s bankruptcy trustees. Freddy Cannon retained ownership of his recordings made under Swan and Warner Bros., releasing a single through Amherst Records in the 1980s.

Numerous releases from Swan carried an educational message urging young listeners not to drop out of school.

In 2007, Bruce Spizer authored The Beatles Swan Song: 'She Loves You' & Other Records, a detailed account of The Beatles’ releases on Swan and other labels.

Swan Records artists

See also

External links

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