Rolling Stones Records
Vanity label of the Rolling Stones, founded in 1970.
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Rolling Stones Records was launched in 1970 by the Rolling Stones—Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Mick Taylor, Charlie Watts, and Bill Wyman—once their deal with Decca Records ended. Marshall Chess, whose father Leonard founded Chess Records, became the label’s first head. In the United States, it was initially distributed through Atco Records, a subsidiary of Atlantic Records. The label’s purpose was to let the band keep control of their music and allow each member to put out solo work.
The first release was *Brian Jones Presents the Pipes of Pan at Joujouka* in 1971, an early world music album. The following year saw *Jamming with Edward!*, a set of 1969 recordings by Jagger, Wyman, and Watts alongside Nicky Hopkins and Ry Cooder. Bill Wyman put out two solo albums on the label: *Monkey Grip* in 1974 and *Stone Alone* in 1976. He felt the label’s sales and promotion teams gave him little attention, since major Rolling Stones campaigns were scheduled close to both releases, so he moved to A&M for his next solo project. In December 1978, Richards released a solo single on the label: a cover of Chuck Berry’s “Run Rudolph Run” backed by Jimmy Cliff’s “The Harder They Come.”
Unlike vanity labels such as Apple, Grunt, Purple, or Swan Song, Rolling Stones Records rarely signed outside artists. The first external act was Kracker, a Cuban American rock group produced by Stones producer Jimmy Miller, in 1973. Kracker and Billy Preston opened for the Stones on their 1973 European tour. John Phillips joined the label in 1976. In 1977, former Wailer Peter Tosh signed on; his debut for the label, *Bush Doctor*, featured Jagger on “Don’t Look Back” and saw moderate success. Tosh left in 1981 due to personal conflicts with Richards and Jagger, as well as the recent death of Bob Marley.
On 1 April 1971, the band struck a five-album distribution deal with Ahmet Ertegun of Atlantic Records. In the US, Atlantic handled distribution until 1984. In the UK, WEA distributed from 1971 to 1977, then EMI from 1978 to 1984. In 1986, Columbia Records took over US distribution, with CBS handling the rest of the world until 1991. Jagger’s first solo albums, *She’s the Boss* (1985) and *Primitive Cool* (1987), came out through a partnership between Rolling Stones Records and CBS Records (now Sony Music).
- Founded
- 1970
- Founders
- Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Mick Taylor, Charlie Watts, Bill Wyman
- Field
- Record label
- Known for
- Rolling Stones releases and the tongue and lips logo
Lore & Background
Rolling Stones Records was established in 1970 after the Rolling Stones' contract with Decca Records expired. The label was initially headed by Marshall Chess, son of Chess Records founder Leonard Chess. Its first release was Brian Jones Presents the Pipes of Pan at Joujouka in 1971, a pioneering world music LP. In 1972 the label released Jamming with Edward!, a collection of tracks recorded by Jagger, Wyman, and Watts with Nicky Hopkins and Ry Cooder in 1969. Bill Wyman released two solo albums through the label, Monkey Grip in 1974 and Stone Alone in 1976, but found that the label's promotional and sales people paid very little attention to him, as the Rolling Stones had albums due out shortly after both releases which were the subject of major marketing campaigns. As a result, Wyman chose to record his next solo album with A&M. The label also released a solo single by Richards in December 1978, featuring a rendition of Chuck Berry's "Run Rudolph Run" backed by a version of Jimmy Cliff's "The Harder They Come".
Reader's Guide
Rolling Stones Records never made much of an effort to sign outside artists, unlike other vanity labels of the era. Kracker, a Cuban American rock group produced by Rolling Stones producer Jimmy Miller, was the first outside act to be signed in 1973. John Phillips was signed in 1976. Peter Tosh signed with the label in 1977 and released Bush Doctor, which featured Jagger on the track "Don't Look Back". Tosh left the label in 1981 due to personal problems with Keith Richards and Mick Jagger, and the recent passing of Bob Marley. The label was discontinued in 1992 when the band signed to Virgin Records in partnership under their company Promotone BV, but the tongue and lips logo remains on all post-1970 Rolling Stones releases. The label's distribution changed hands multiple times: in the US, Atlantic distributed until 1984, then Columbia from 1986 to 1991; in the UK, WEA from 1971 to 1977 and EMI from 1978 to 1984. In 2008, the group switched distribution of back catalogue and new material to Polydor Records in the UK and Interscope Records in the US.
Did You Know?
- The first album released on Rolling Stones Records was Brian Jones Presents the Pipes of Pan at Joujouka in 1971.
- Peter Tosh signed with Rolling Stones Records in 1977 and left in 1981 due to personal problems with Keith Richards and Mick Jagger.
- Bill Wyman released two solo albums on the label, Monkey Grip (1974) and Stone Alone (1976), but felt neglected by the label's promotional efforts.
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