Casablanca Records

This article is about Casablanca, the record label. For other uses please see Casablanca (disambiguation).

Casablanca Records is a record label which was started by Neil Bogart in 1973 after leaving Buddah Records. The label released hits by Donna Summer, KISS, The Four Tops, Cher, Captain & Tennille, Angel, Stephanie Mills, The Sylvers, The Village People, and Parliament. PolyGram acquired a 50 percent stake in 1977 and later acquired the remaining half for $15 million in 1980. Afterwards the label had hits with Lipps Inc, Cameo, and Irene Cara. The label was shut down in 1984.

In 2004, the name was revived for a joint venture between Universal Music Group and Tommy Mottola. In a Billboard article, Mottola said that he chose the name as an homage to the original label, but that there was no direct connection between the old and new labels. Casablanca is now a part of Universal Motown Records Group.

History

In 1973 Neil Bogart formed Casablanca Records with money Warner Brothers put up. Originally the he wanted to call the label Emerald City after the city in The Wizard of Oz, but since Warner owned the rights to the movie Casablanca, it was easier to get the rights to use that name and it was also much better for promotions. Neil's first big signing was the rock group KISS.

The label became very popular in the disco business. Warner and Neil didn't get along very well since Neil wanted more freedom to release records whenever he wanted and not according to a timetable which was the major labels, like Warner's, way. Neil and Warner came to an agreement that Neil on a monthly basis would pay back the money Warner had put into the company, which he did. After the split with Warner the Casablanca office were moved to Sunset Boulevard.

Rumors

There is some rumors that Tommy Mottola will be signing more artists to his Casablanca Records later in 2006 and 2007. Mottola hopes to bring Casablanca Records back to life

Releases

Shall We Dance? Soundtrack-2004
Speak-Lindsay Lohan-2004
Bride & Prejudice Soundtrack-2004
Finally Out Of P.E.-Brie Larson-2005
A Little More Personal (Raw)-Lindsay Lohan-2005

Current Artists

External links

Releases at discogs.com

1973 establishments | Record labels | Vivendi subsidiaries | Universal Motown subsidiaries