Vik Records
| Company type | Division of RCA Victor Records |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music industry |
| Founded | April 20, 1953 |
| Founder | Joe Carlton |
| Defunct | November 1, 1958 |
| Fate | Label closed; some artists absorbed into RCA Victor, others signed with other labels |
Key people | Joe Carlton, Bob Rolontz |
| Parent | RCA Victor Records |
Vik Records operated as a division of RCA Victor Records, founded in April 1953. Before receiving its official name, RCA introduced the label with independent distribution and informally referred to it as Label "X" until its formal establishment on April 20, 1953. Under the leadership of Joe Carlton, the company aimed to carve out a niche by concentrating on cover renditions of R&B tracks and similar styles, featuring performers such as The Three Chuckles, Eddie Fontaine, and Louis Jordan.
Among the prominent artists associated with Label X were Helen O'Connell, Betty Clooney, Terry Fell, Helen Grayco, Gordon Jenkins, Richard Maltby Sr., Norman Petty, and notably Andy Williams, who released his initial solo recordings through this label.
On January 1, 1956, the label underwent a rebranding to Vik, reissuing prior releases under the new brand identity. Vik's lineup included talents like Marty Gold, Gisele MacKenzie—who achieved success with the track "Hard to Get"—Pat Suzuki, Lee Denson, and the acclaimed R&B duo Mickey & Sylvia.
Bob Rolontz, who managed Vik following his tenure at another RCA subsidiary, candidly described Vik’s artist roster as "probably the worst collection of talent in the world," highlighting the challenges faced in establishing the label's commercial foothold. As a result, RCA ceased operations of Vik on November 1, 1958. Some performers were absorbed into RCA Victor's roster, while others, including Brook Benton and Teddy Randazzo, signed with competing labels such as Mercury Records and ABC Records.