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Tower Records (record label)

From Alfawiki
Tower Records
Company typeDivision of Capitol Records
IndustryMusic industry
Founded1964
Defunct1970
Headquarters
California
,
United States
Area served
United States
Key people
Mike Curb (A&R executive)
ProductsMusic records, singles, albums
OwnerCapitol Records (EMI), later Universal Music Group (catalog except Pink Floyd)
ParentCapitol Records

Tower Records functioned as an American record label from 1964 until 1970. Operating as a division of Capitol Records, Tower primarily issued music from artists who were less prominent than those signed directly to Capitol, including groups such as The Standells and The Chocolate Watchband, which later gained recognition as part of the "garage band" phenomenon. Consequently, Tower is closely linked to the 1960s garage rock scene.

Overview

Established in 1964 and named after Capitol’s main office building, Tower's initial catalog featured British Invasion performers like Freddie and the Dreamers, whose track "I'm Telling You Now" became Tower's sole chart-topping single on the Billboard charts. Additionally, Tom Jones’s six songs recorded in 1963 were released by Tower in 1965 following his breakthrough hit "It's Not Unusual," even though Jones was officially signed to London’s Parrot Records, a Capitol subsidiary. Tower was also responsible for introducing Harry Nilsson to a national audience. The label debuted with the single "Car Party/Outta Gas" by The Sunrays, produced by Murry Wilson, who was the father of the Beach Boys.

Between 1964 and approximately 1968, Tower’s singles and albums were distinguished by a brownish-orange label design. This was replaced around late 1968 with a multicolored striped motif until the label ceased operations near 1970. Collectors often use these label variations to determine pressing details and manufacturing origins.

In 1965, Tower took a bold step by releasing "You Turn Me On" by Ian Whitcomb, a track considered provocative at that time; it became the label’s second Top 10 hit, reaching No. 8 on Billboard. Other notable hits that year included "I Live For The Sun" by The Sunrays and "Dirty Water" by The Standells.

By 1966, Tower had established itself as an important force within garage rock, scoring hits such as Davie Allan & the Arrows' "Blues' Theme," which featured in The Wild Angels. In 1967, Tower secured the rights from EMI’s UK Columbia label (not to be confused with CBS-owned Columbia Records USA) to release Pink Floyd’s initial U.S. recordings. Although these releases saw limited commercial success at the time, three Pink Floyd albums and five singles issued on Tower have since become highly sought after by collectors. The single "See Emily Play" was re-released three times without breaking into the top 40; rare singles like "Flaming" and "Let There Be More Light" were never officially released in the UK. Following Tower’s shutdown, Pink Floyd’s material transferred to Capitol/EMI’s Harvest Records.

During 1967, several singles by The Chocolate Watch Band were also released on Tower; these records are now regarded as valuable collectibles. In 1968, the Mississippi sunshine pop ensemble Eternity's Children, who later became known as Starbuck, returned Tower to chart prominence with their song "Mrs. Bluebird."

In 1968, A&R executive Mike Curb joined Tower and managed numerous soundtrack projects including Wild in the Streets, along with overseeing Tower’s last major hit: Max Frost and the Troopers’ "The Shape of Things To Come."

Capitol closed Tower Records in 1970. The label briefly resurfaced in 1992 for EMI’s "Legends Of Rock And Roll" CD series featuring Best Of Freddie And The Dreamers. After EMI sold its recorded music division to Universal Music Group in 2012, UMG took over management of the Tower catalog through Capitol, except for Pink Floyd’s material, which was acquired globally by Sony Music in 2024 for $400 million. Previously, Pink Floyd’s rights had been licensed to Warner Music Group’s Parlophone in Europe and Sony elsewhere. Other British Invasion artists initially released on Tower, such as Freddie and the Dreamers, remain under Parlophone ownership today.

Label designs

  • 1964–1968: Label in a brownish-orange hue displaying the Tower emblem on the left side
  • 1968–1970: Label featuring multi-colored stripes with the Tower logo positioned on the left (album labels present the logo at the top)

Singles that charted

  • Chittlins—Gus Jenkins—Tower 107—Reached US No. 113, November 1964
  • Apache '65—The Arrows with Davie Allan—Tower 116—Peaked at US No. 64, February 1965
  • This Sporting Life—Ian Whitcomb & Bluesville—Tower 120—Achieved US No. 100, March 1965
  • "I'm Telling You Now"—Freddie & The Dreamers—Tower 125—Topped US charts at No. 1, March 1965
  • Little Lonely One—Tom Jones—Tower 126—Climbed to US No. 42, May 1965
  • You Were Made For Me—Freddie & The Dreamers—Tower 127—Reached US No. 21, May 1965
  • You Turn Me On (Turn On Song)—Ian Whitcomb & Bluesville—Tower 134—Hit US No. 8, May 1965
  • I Live For The Sun—The Sunrays—Tower 148—Peaked at US No. 51, September 1965
  • N-E-R-V-O-U-S! — Ian Whitcomb—Tower 155—Reached US No. 59, September 1965
  • Send A Letter To Me—Freddie & The Dreamers—Tower 163—US No. 123, October 1965
  • Dirty Water—The Standells—Tower 185—US No. 11, April 1966
  • Chills And Fever—Tom Jones—Tower 190—US No.125, December 1965
  • Andrea—The Sunrays—Tower 191—US No.41, January 1966
  • Still—The Sunrays—Tower 224—US No.93, May 1966
  • Sometimes Good Guys Don't Wear White—The Standells—Tower 257—US No.43, August 1966
  • Theme From "The Wild Angels"—Davie Allan & The Arrows—Tower 267—US No.99, November 1966
  • Where Did Robinson Crusoe Go With Friday On Saturday Night—Ian Whitcomb—Tower 274—US No.101, November 1966
  • Why Pick On Me—The Standells—Tower 282—US No.54, October 1966
  • Winchester Cathedral—Dana Rollin—Tower 283—US No.71, November 1966
  • Blue's Theme—The Arrows featuring Davie Allan—Tower 295—US No.37, April 1967
  • Riot On Sunset Strip—The Standells—Tower 314—US No.133, March 1967
  • Edelweiss — Vince Hill — Tower323 — USNo.119 , April 1967
  • Devil's Angels — Davie Allan & The Arrows — Tower341 — USNo.97 , July 1967
  • Can't Help But Love You — The Standells — Tower348 — USNo.78 , November 1967
  • See Emily Play — Pink Floyd — Tower356 — USNo.134 , September 1967
  • Mrs. Bluebird — Eternity's Children — Tower416 — USNo.69 , July 1968
  • Shape Of Things To Come — Max Frost & The Troopers — Tower419 — USNo.22 , September 1968
  • Sunshine Among Us — Eternity's Children — Tower439 — USNo.117 , September 1968
  • Fifty-Two Percent — Max Frost & The Troopers — Tower452 — USNo.123 , December 1968

Albums that charted

  • I'm Telling You Now — Freddie & The Dreamers — Tower5003 — Reached US No.86, May 1965
Contains only two tracks by Freddie & The Dreamers; remaining songs by British artists
  • You Turn Me On — Ian Whitcomb — Tower5004 — Peaked at US No.125, July 1965
  • Dirty Water — The Standells — Tower5027 — Achieved US No.52, July 1966
  • Way Out West — Mae West — Tower5028 — Reached US No.116, July 1966
  • The Wild Angels (Soundtrack) — Davie Allan & The Arrows — Tower5043 — Peaked at US No.17, October 1966
  • The Wild Angels, Volume II — Davie Allan & The Arrows — Tower5056 — Reached US No.94, April 1967
  • Devil's Angels (Soundtrack) — Davie Allan & The Arrows — Tower5074 — Charted at US No.165, August 1967
  • The Piper at the Gates of Dawn — Pink Floyd — Tower5093 — Reached US No.131, December 1967
  • Wild In The Streets (Soundtrack) — Tower5099 — Peaked at US No.12, July 1968
  • Best Of The Soundtracks (Compilation) – Various artists – Tower5148 – Charted at US No.198, February 1969

Other Artists Signed to Tower

Between approximately 1965 and 1970, Curless recorded for Tower before transitioning to the parent company, Capitol. Additionally, Tower reissued some of his earliest tracks originally released on Event and Tiffany labels through compilation albums.
Her only release with Tower, the single "What's A Girl To Do"/"When You Get What You Want" (Tower 326), mistakenly credited her as "Annettte."
This group released a rare garage rock single accompanied by an uncommon promotional color picture sleeve.
Known for the single "Little Tommy's Letter"/"Ruth From Duluth" (Tower 187).

External links

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