Front Line (record label)
Virgin's 1978–79 reggae sub-label: roughly 20–25 albums and done.
Twenty-five or so numbered sleeves — FL 1 through roughly FL 25, minus a few gaps and some reissue slots — is all Front Line managed before the shutters came down in 1979. Richard Branson spun the label up in 1978 as a Virgin Records subsidiary with one job: reggae, and nothing else.
The groundwork was already there. Branson had been pressing reggae records going back to BB Seaton's "Dancing Shoes" in 1974, and from 1975 onward he was actively signing roots reggae acts. Between those years and the Front Line launch, Virgin put out well-received records from U-Roy, The Mighty Diamonds, Keith Hudson, Johnny Clarke, Peter Tosh, and I Roy. There's a persistent story that Johnny Rotten ended up at Virgin partly because of how the company treated its reggae catalogue.
By 1978, Branson went all-in on the dedicated subsidiary and made the trip to Kingston himself, bringing back Prince Far I, Big Youth, Prince Hammer, Tappa Zukie, and The Twinkle Brothers. A good chunk of the artists Virgin had already had on its roster simply shifted over to Front Line. Two years in, Branson called it done. A few of those artists stuck around with Virgin proper, and by the 2000s a wave of Front Line titles got reissued on compact disc.
Quick Facts
- Parent
- Virgin Records
- Founded
- 1978
- Founder
- Richard Branson
- Genre
- Reggae
- Country
- UK
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
Virgin had been releasing reggae records since BB Seaton's 'Dancing Shoes' in 1974. By 1975, label owner Richard Branson had begun signing roots reggae artists, and in the three years that followed, Virgin released successful albums by the likes of U-Roy, The Mighty Diamonds, Keith Hudson, Johnny Clarke, Peter Tosh, and I Roy. Johnny Rotten is rumoured to have signed with Virgin because of the company's progressive policy towards reggae. In 1978, Branson decided to form a subsidiary label dedicated wholly to reggae, and called this Front Line.
Branson traveled to Kingston and signed artists to the label including Prince Far I, Big Youth, Prince Hammer, Tappa Zukie, and The Twinkle Brothers. Many of the artists who had previously released records on Virgin also moved to the new label. Front Line folded after two years although some of the artists remained signed to Virgin. Many of the albums were reissued on compact disc in the 2000s.
Reader's Guide
Front Line represents a concentrated effort by Virgin Records to capture the roots reggae market in the late 1970s. Though active only from 1978 to 1979, the label issued over forty albums and numerous singles, featuring major Jamaican artists such as Culture, Gregory Isaacs, The Mighty Diamonds, and Prince Far I. The label's catalogue includes seminal albums like Culture's 'Harder Than The Rest' and 'International Herb', Gregory Isaacs' 'Cool Ruler' and 'Soon Forward', and Prince Far I's 'Message from the King'. Front Line also released dub albums and samplers that compiled the label's output. The label's brief lifespan did not diminish its impact; many of its albums were reissued on compact disc in the 2000s, ensuring continued access to this body of work. Front Line stands as a testament to Virgin's commitment to reggae during a fertile period for the genre.
Did You Know?
- Front Line was formed by Virgin Records owner Richard Branson in 1978 as a reggae-only subsidiary.
- Branson traveled to Kingston to sign artists including Prince Far I, Big Youth, and The Twinkle Brothers.
Frequently Asked Questions
What was Front Line Records?
Front Line was a reggae-only subsidiary imprint of Virgin Records, active from 1978 to 1979. It existed to give the label a dedicated home for roots reggae releases separate from Virgin's broader catalog.
Who founded Front Line and what was the idea behind it?
Richard Branson, the head of Virgin Records, spun off the imprint in 1978 after three years of successful reggae signings on the parent label. The goal was to concentrate all reggae output under one focused banner rather than scattering it across Virgin's general releases.
Which artists recorded for Front Line?
The roster included major roots and dancehall names such as Prince Far I, Big Youth, Tappa Zukie, The Twinkle Brothers, Culture, and Gregory Isaacs. These artists represented the full spectrum of Jamaican music from deep roots to early dancehall.
How long did Front Line last and how many records did it put out?
The label operated for roughly one year, from 1978 to 1979, before Branson folded it back into Virgin. Its numbered catalog spans from FL 1 to approximately FL 25, accounting for about twenty to twenty-five album releases including some reissues.
Why is Front Line considered significant in reggae history?
Though brief, it gave a concentrated run of high-profile Jamaican artists a dedicated label identity during a pivotal transition period in the genre. Its existence shows how seriously a major UK independent took roots reggae as a standalone category in the late 1970s.
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