Carrere Records

Early days

Claude Carrere first worked with Annie Chancel in 1962, giving her the stage name Sheila, and for a period she was his only artist. He founded Carrere Productions, with records issued through Philips Records.

During the late 1960s, he launched Disques Carrere, and by 1972 he was handling his own production and distribution. The label signed many other singers, including Ringo, Dalida, and Claude François. In 1977, the disco act Sheila and B. Devotion formed, and Carrere began exporting his records.

British record market

Claude Carrere entered the British record business after La Belle Époque’s “Black Is Black” hit number two in the UK through EMI. He put Freddie Cannon, then EMI’s Commercial A&R Director, in charge of Carrere UK. Cannon set up shop at Hansa Records UK in June 1978 and brought on the South African group Clout.

The label’s first UK single was Clout’s “Substitute,” which also reached number two in 1978. Cannon and A&R man Peter Hinton signed the Incredible Kidda Band, then in 1979 picked up the NWOBHM act Saxon, whose original name “Son of a Bitch” Cannon changed. Saxon put out their first album the next year and stuck with Carrere until 1984.

In 1981, Cannon added Australian bands The Church and Rose Tattoo, plus American Don Dokken. Carrere also issued the Buggles’ final record, Adventures in Modern Recording, with US distribution through Columbia. Debbie Bonham joined the label and released her well-received album For You and the Moon in 1984. Working with Carrere Italy’s Luigi Arduino and Claude Carrere, Cannon signed Italian singer Raf and got worldwide rights for his hit “Self Control” that same year.

Peter Hinton left in 1984. In 1985, Carrere put out Phyllis Nelson’s “Move Closer,” a ballad that became the label’s biggest UK seller and a number one hit. That year also saw Nana Mouskouri’s “Only You” climb to number two in Britain, while the sub-label Stars Only released Gloria Gaynor’s “My Love Is Music,” produced by Didier Marouani.

Musical reach

Carrere UK helped develop album-selling artists for the worldwide label, including Demon, Rage, and Jim Capaldi. Saxon, Rose Tattoo, The Church, Dokken, and Debbie Bonham were launched by Carrere and continue performing. Other notable artists included Princess Stéphanie of Monaco, Dollar, Dutch group Luv', Boney M., Ottawan, and FR David, whose "Words" was a major international hit.

Carrere UK closure

In June 1988, exactly ten years after opening, Cannon departed and closed Carrere UK, joining PWL Records as International Director. Claude Carrere loaned his music company to Warner Music France.

Carrere closed down in 1993, though the Carrere family retains rights to its catalogs. Claude Carrere died on April 10, 2014. Carrere was the only French label to achieve multiple international successes, including a US Adult Contemporary number one with "Friends and Lovers" by Gloria Loring and Carl Anderson.