Embassy Records

Did You Know?

• The artist who recorded the most songs for Embassy was Ray Pilgrim, who recorded almost 150 songs between 1960 and 1965 under pseudonyms like Bobby Stevens, the Typhoons, the Jaybirds, and the Starlings.
• Ken Barrie, later known as the voice of Postman Pat, recorded for Embassy under the name Les Carle.
• The final Embassy release of the 1960s was 'Keep Searchin' (We'll Follow the Sun)' by Paul Rich and the Beatmen in January 1965.

History 1954–1965

Embassy Records was created through a contractual arrangement between Oriole Records and Woolworths, with all product sold exclusively in Woolworths stores. Most releases were double A-side singles featuring cover versions of current or predicted UK Top 20 hits, and it was common for different artists or contrasting pop styles to appear on each side. Embassy is regarded as a UK equivalent of US labels such as Hit and early Bell Records. The recordings took place at Embassy Recording Studios in New Bond Street, Mayfair, and were manufactured by Oriole, which also licensed the material to foreign outlets.

The tight schedule required four songs to be recorded in a single three-hour session, including studio setup time and a mandatory musicians' coffee break, allowing just over 30 minutes per song. Consequently, the singers were first-rate professionals, often experienced big band or session vocalists who regularly broadcast live on BBC radio. They sometimes used their professional names but often adopted pseudonyms. Sessions typically occurred on Thursdays so that the cover discs could reach stores by the following Monday.

Besides current hit covers, Embassy also produced EPs of trad jazz, children's songs, light classical music, and songs from musicals.

History 1973–1980

CBS Records revived the Embassy imprint in 1973 under the slogan 'All the Best from Embassy', releasing budget albums of out-of-print, unissued, or foreign material originally from Columbia Records or its subsidiaries. The first 39 albums appeared in October 1973, featuring artists such as Barbra Streisand, Aretha Franklin, Tony Bennett, Sly & the Family Stone, Fleetwood Mac, and Blood, Sweat & Tears. Many other Columbia artists, including Johnny Mathis, the Byrds, Andy Williams, Johnny Cash, Tammy Wynette, and Spirit, had albums reissued on Embassy during the 1970s. CBS discontinued the imprint in 1980, though some Mexican Embassy releases are known from later in the 1980s.