Buddah Records
American label known for bubblegum pop and diverse distribution.
Buddah Records (later known as Buddha Records) was an American record label founded in 1967 in New York City. It emerged from Kama Sutra Records and handled a wide range of genres, including bubblegum pop, folk rock, experimental music, and soul. The label also distributed numerous independent labels such as Curtom Records, Charisma Records, and Sussex Records.
Quick Facts
- Parent
- Sony Music Entertainment
- Founded
- 1967
- Founder
- Art Kass
- Artie Ripp
- Hy Mizrahi
- Phil Steinberg
- Defunct
- 2002
- Distributor
- Legacy Recordings (reissues)
- Country
- U.S.
- Location
- New York City
Facts from the source article.
History
Kama Sutra Records had bolstered MGM Records's profits in 1965 and 1966, largely through the success of The Lovin' Spoonful. Kass brought in 24-year-old Neil Bogart, a former MGM General Manager and Cameo-Parkway VP, to oversee daily operations. Bogart enlisted Cameo-Parkway producers Jerry Kasenetz and Jeffry Katz, the Ohio Express, and ex-Cameo artists the Five Stairsteps. Buddah's first single was Yes, We Have No Bananas / The Audition by the Mulberry Fruit Band, and its first album was Safe as Milk by Captain Beefheart & His Magic Band. The label initially made its mark with bubblegum pop acts like Ohio Express and the 1910 Fruitgum Company, but The Lemon Pipers gave Buddah its first No. 1 hit with Green Tambourine in February 1968. Viewlex purchased a controlling interest in 1968, leading to the departure of Ripp, Steinberg, and Mizrahi, leaving Kass and Bogart in charge. As bubblegum declined, Buddah branched into gospel, folk-country, and R&B. Bogart's promotion efforts yielded strong chart results; music industry historian Bob Hyde estimated that during their heyday, Buddah and its associated labels charted over 100 singles, with about one in five issued charting, compared to the major-label ratio of one in twenty. Notable hits from 1969–1973 included The Brooklyn Bridge's Worst That Could Happen, The Isley Brothers' It's Your Thing, The Edwin Hawkins Singers' Oh Happy Day, Lou Christie's I'm Gonna Make You Mine, Melanie's Lay Down (Candles in the Rain) and What Have They Done to My Song Ma, and The Five Stairsteps' O-o-h Child.
Subsidiary and affiliated labels
Buddah distributed many labels, including its wholly owned subsidiary Kama Sutra Records from 1969 to 1976. Other distributed labels included Curtom Records (Curtis Mayfield), Sussex Records (Clarence Avant), T-Neck Records (the Isley Brothers), Charisma Records (Tony Stratton Smith), Hot Wax Records (Holland-Dozier-Holland), Cobblestone Records (jazz), Pavilion Records (gospel, known for Oh Happy Day), and Studio One Records (Jamaican label, with releases from its back catalog in 1978). Additional subsidiaries or associated labels included Radio Active Gold, Team, Super K, Royal American, Symbolic, Eleuthera, Ember, Pace, Desert Moon, Pi Kappa, Southwind, April, Thomas, Harbour, Music Merchant, National General, and Brut.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who founded Buddah Records?
Buddah Records was founded by Art Kass, Artie Ripp, Hy Mizrahi and Phil Steinberg.
Who owns Buddah Records?
Buddah Records is owned by Sony Music Entertainment.
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