Varèse Sarabande
| Company type | Subsidiary |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1972 |
| Founder | Dub Taylor, Chris Kuchler |
| Headquarters | Beverly Hills, California , United States |
Area served | Worldwide |
Key people | Robert Townson (former president until early 2019) |
| Products | Film scores, original cast albums, classical music reissues |
| Owner | Concord Music Group |
| Parent | Concord Music Group (under Craft Recordings imprint since 2018) |
Varèse Sarabande is a United States-based record label under the ownership of Concord Music Group and distributed through Universal Music Group, concentrating primarily on film scores and original cast albums. Its specialty lies in reissuing rare or out-of-print records alongside launching new projects by artists not signed to major labels. The label’s name is a fusion of the surname of French-born composer Edgard Varèse and the term sarabande, a type of dance.
Since February 2018, Varèse Sarabande has functioned as a subdivision of Concord’s Craft Recordings imprint.
History
Founded in 1972 as Varèse International, the label began as an avant-garde classical music imprint created by Dub Taylor and Chris Kuchler. The inaugural LP release was "Lumiere," performed by Dub Taylor. In 1977, Tom Null’s Sarabande Records merged with Varèse International, resulting in the formation of Varèse Sarabande Records. Early offerings included reissues sourced from American classical labels such as Decca, Remington, and JVC. The label’s first film soundtrack album was released in 1978, spearheaded by Hollywood writer/director Bruce Kimmel, who subsequently managed its Broadway division.
The company gained prominence mainly through soundtrack releases rather than classical music, with standout titles including John Carpenter’s Halloween, Goblin’s Dawn of the Dead, Fred Myrow’s Phantasm, several The Twilight Zone albums, and George A. Romero’s Night of the Living Dead. Classical projects continued under Tom Null's guidance, including the brief-lived Andante imprint. Early production efforts were notably influenced by Scot W. Holton until his death.
Originally headquartered at 6404 Wilshire Boulevard in Los Angeles, the label relocated multiple times within California before establishing its base in Beverly Hills following its acquisition by Concord Music in 2018.
Throughout the late 1970s and into the 1980s, Varèse Sarabande emerged as one of the leading producers of soundtrack LPs. With the introduction of CDs in 1983, it transitioned to issuing both soundtracks and classical reissues on this new medium. From 1990 onward, the label has issued up to 50 new soundtrack albums annually, amassing one of the largest collections of soundtrack recordings worldwide. In the early 1990s, Varèse strategically shifted focus from classical music toward Broadway, cabaret, and show tune albums featuring renowned performers.
To commemorate key anniversaries, Varèse released multi-disc compilations celebrating its 25th (2003), 30th (2008), 35th (2013), and 40th (2018) years in operation. Robert Townson led the label from 1989 until early 2019, overseeing substantial business expansion; his final project was a reissue of Jerry Goldsmith’s Raggedy Man soundtrack.
Today, Varèse Sarabande continues to broaden its catalog with both new releases and reissues. Its commercial platform at VareseSarabande.com includes the exclusive Varèse CD Club, which offers limited-edition expanded or previously unreleased classic soundtracks available for purchase directly or via specialty retailers.
Colosseum Schallplatten
Located in Nuremberg, this German record company acted as Varèse Sarabande’s European counterpart, distributing most of its titles overseas since launching the 47000 CD series. Early European Varèse CDs were either imported or manufactured by Colosseum using JVC disc technology; Varèse pressings featured a solid black design while Colosseum’s used an outlined red motif. This arrangement enabled independent production and availability of numerous Varèse titles that had gone out of print in the United States.
After 1989, Colosseum produced several Europe-exclusive CD editions associated with Varèse bearing VSD catalog numbers. Additionally, it expanded its catalog with its own series using CVS codes on certain European pressings of new Varèse releases. Some VSD catalog numbers also appeared on reissues and exclusive digital downloads.
Colosseum served as the sole distributor for Varèse Club titles within Europe, often maintaining availability long after U.S. stock had sold out. The label ceased operations at the end of 2015.
Soundtrack Listeners Communications (SLCS)
Between 1990 and 1997, Varèse Sarabande partnered with Japan's Soundtrack Listeners Communications (SLCS), overseen by Yashiro Wada, to license both classic and contemporary releases. SLCS focused on launching soundtracks on CD for the first time and reissuing previously unavailable CDs and vinyl records, catering primarily to collectors. Their limited-edition SLCS Club produced up to 1,000 copies of select titles, including John Williams's Space Camp and Henry Mancini's Return of The Pink Panther. Many of these editions included OBI strips detailing Japanese release information and pricing, enhancing their appeal to collectors.
The artwork for SLCS releases typically utilized original US poster designs, sometimes modified for a unique presentation, while the audio content remained consistent with Varèse’s versions unless the label authorized expansions. Additionally, SLCS issued Japan-only soundtracks sourced from Varèse’s vinyl catalog, such as Joseph LoDuca’s Evil Dead/Evil Dead 2 and John Harrison’s Creepshow, along with a compilation of Jerry Goldsmith’s work titled Jerry's Recall.
In the United States market, these imports were sold at approximately twice the usual price, generally ranging between $30 and $40 per single-disc release. SLCS ended its operations in 1997.
Volcano Records
Following the closure of Soundtrack Listeners Communications, Varèse Sarabande initiated a distribution arrangement with Volcano Records in Japan starting in 1998. Unlike SLCS, Volcano Records maintained a wider musical scope beyond just soundtracks but continued similar practices by issuing Varèse’s US releases featuring upgraded artwork and frequently improved audio fidelity. A highlight from Volcano was the exclusive near-complete release of the "Lionheart" soundtrack by Oscar-winning composer Jerry Goldsmith, which had previously been available only in partial segments.
Volcano Records ceased its activities around 2001.