Charisma Records
British label founded 1969, home to Genesis and Monty Python.
Charisma Records, often called The Famous Charisma Label, was a British imprint launched in 1969 by ex-journalist Tony Stratton Smith. It found major success with Genesis, Peter Gabriel, Julian Lennon, and Monty Python. Its inaugural release was Rare Bird's self-titled debut LP in December 1969, which produced the label's first hit, "Sympathy," the following year.
Quick Facts
- Parent
- Universal Music Group
- Founded
- 1969
- Founder
- Tony Stratton Smith
- Defunct
- 1986
- Distributor
- EMI Records (United Kingdom); Capitol Music Group (United States)
- Genre
- Progressive rock, comedy
- Country
- England
Facts from the source article.
Distribution
Charisma's initial UK manufacturing and distribution was handled through a licensing deal with Lee Gopthal's B&C Records, sharing the B&C catalogue series for singles and albums until B&C stopped releasing records on its own label and focused on marketing. In early 1972, B&C arranged for Precision Tapes to manufacture and distribute Charisma's albums on tape. From early 1970, European distribution was managed by Phonogram Inc. In the US and Canada, Charisma recordings were first licensed to other labels, including ABC Records and its subsidiaries Impulse, Probe, and Dunhill, which handled Van der Graaf Generator and Genesis. Elektra Records released US records by Atomic Rooster, Audience, Lindisfarne, and Jack the Lad. In 1971, Charisma made a distribution agreement with Buddah Records and began issuing US albums on the Charisma label, such as Pawn Hearts by Van der Graaf Generator and Nursery Cryme, Foxtrot, and Genesis Live by Genesis. Atlantic Records distributed Charisma recordings in the US from 1973 to 1974, including many Genesis titles. In 1976, Charisma signed a UK distribution deal with Polydor lasting until 1980. In Canada, many releases were distributed by GRT and PolyGram Canada. Between 1980 and 1982, Charisma operated a subsidiary, Pre Records, for new wave and reggae acts, whose roster included Scars, Prince Far I, Delta 5, Gregory Isaacs, the Monochrome Set, and Congo Ashanti Roy; Pre also licensed albums by the Residents and Tuxedomoon from Ralph Records. In Europe, Pre's releases appeared on the Charisma label.
Collectable "pink scroll" label design
Charisma's first UK label was a distinctive magenta scroll design, commonly called "pink scroll" by collectors; magenta was the colour Stratton Smith chose for the label, later reflected in his horseracing colours. The second logo, introduced in 1972, featured John Tenniel's drawing of the Mad Hatter, sometimes combined with other images from Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, making the label instantly recognizable. The pink scroll label was used in the UK from 1969 until mid-1972, then replaced by the Mad Hatter label designed by Paul Whitehead. In the US, pink scroll labels appeared on Buddah-distributed releases in late 1973 and early 1974, while Atlantic-distributed releases used a variation of the Mad Hatter design. Much early distinctive artwork was created by Paul Whitehead; his original illustrations for three Genesis albums were stolen from the Charisma archives when the label was sold to Virgin Records in 1983, with Whitehead claiming that staff looted the office upon learning of the imminent sale.
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