A&M RECORDS HISTORY 1970-1979
1970
A&M Records Canada was established in February.
In June, Supertramp signed with A&M Records.
A&M agreed to distribute Ode Records.
A&M placed 13 singles and 18 albums on the Billboard charts. The Sandpipers and Spooky Tooth each were the chart-toppers with two albums and the Carpenters had the most singles with four. The Carpenters won both of A&M's Grammys this year. A total of 11 RIAA gold records were given to A&M. The Carpenters, Joe Cocker and Burt Bacharach received three each.
1971
In May, recording act Free disbanded.
In September, Kip Cohen joined A&M Records.
In music industry awards, Jerry Moss was named Record Executive of the Year at the Gavin Awards, and the National Association of Record Merchandisers (NARM) Record Company of the Year award went to A&M.
A&M placed 10 singles and 25 albums on the Billboard Pop charts. The artists with most albums on Billboard Pop Chart: Carpenters, Rita Coolidge, Free, Humble Pie, Sergio Mendes & Brasil '66 and Brasil '77 each with two albums. The Carpenters and Cat Stevens each had three singles on the Billboard chart.
It was A&M's second best year in its history at the Grammys. Carole King, an A&M artist by Ode Records distribution agreement, won four Grammys and the Carpenters won two. It was also A&M's fourth best year in history winning 11 RIAA gold records--four for the Carpenters, three for Carole King and two for Cat Stevens.
1972
In January, Free reorganized.
Billy Preston won the only Grammy of the year. RIAA gold records continued at an historic pace, 11 more. Leading the RIAA certs were Humble Pie and Cheech & Chong who each received two plaques.
On the Billboard charts, 18 singles and 26 albums. Humble Pie and Billy Preston each had two albums on the charts and the Carpenters had three singles.
1973
On October 15, A&M Canada opened its A&R and publishing house.
There were four Grammys given to A&M and Ode artists this year. Of the ten RIAA gold records, half went to the Carpenters, and two to Billy Preston.
A total of 19 singles and 20 albums were on the Billboard charts. With eight singles in the Top 10, this was one of A&M's best years on that chart. The Carpenters led A&M acts for most albums on the charts (2) and most singles (4).
1974
Artists signed this year included Peter Allen and Styx.
In January, Kip Cohen was named A&M's Vice President of A&R.
In June, A&M Records agreed to distribute George Harrison's Dark Horse Records worldwide for five years.
In the first of only three times, A&M did not win a Grammy. RIAA gold records were awarded to seven different A&M artists.
The year came to an end with 20 singles and 24 albums having entered the Billboard charts. Cat Steven had four singles on the chart. Burt Bacharach, Nazareth, the Ozark Mountain Daredevils and Paul Williams each had two albums on the chart.
1975
In February, the Tubes signed with A&M Records.In A&M corporate dealings, Horizon Records was announced as a jazz record series, not a label in May. June 11 was the official first commercial use of Horizon logo (script style). In July, Almo Publications, a division of Almo Music, was established to develop music books for 18 A&M acts. October 29 was the first commercial use of Almo Publications logo (jack-in-the-box style). And, in December, Jolene Burton named Vice President of Financial Affairs. She had more than lived up to her nickname, The First Lady of A&M, originally a tribute to being the first employee on the label.
The Carpenters and the Captain & Tennille brought home the two Grammys for the year, and the bulk of the nine RIAA gold records--three for the Captain & Tennille and two for the Carpenters.
Some 22 singles and 34 albums entered the Billboard Pop charts. 1975 was one of three of A&M's best years with eight singles in the Top 10. The Captain & Tennille led the singles with four. Chuck Mangione, the Strawbs, Cat Stevens, Rick Wakeman and Paul Williams each put two albums on the chart.
1976
On the business side, A&M Records now had over 300 employees. In February, A&M named John Anthony as its East Coast Director of A&R. September 24 was the first commercial use of Almo Rapid Play logo for its line of music books and sheet music. In December, A&M Records brought suit against Dark Horse Records to dissolve distribution agreement; sought $10M in damages, and ultimately won $4 million.
Chuck Mangione won the only Grammy for the year. 1976 was A&M's second best in history for RIAA gold records. They received 13, including four for the Captain & Tennille, two for Cat Stevens, and two for Nazareth. This was also the first year that RIAA began its platinum certifications. Earlier recordings deserving of platinum status were not dated. In 1976, A&M artists received three platinum records.
Another solid year on the Billboard charts with 22 singles and 30 albums. Joan Baez and Nazareth were tops with two albums and Peter Frampton with four singles.
1977
Most notorious signing and release from A&M Records--the Sex Pistols. They were signed privately to the label on March 9. The public signing was staged on March 10, and A&M was going to rush the Pistols' single God Save the Queen to promote their newest artist. The Sex Pistols, however, had another record: their reputation for offensive behavior. Their conduct at the public signing, and the reaction it caused among other A&M artists who questioned whether the Pistols could fit into the A&M "family", caused Alpert and Moss to buy out the Pistols contract. They were dropped from the artist roster on March 16. By then, some copies of the single had been printed and found their way to the public.
Squeeze signed with A&M in July.
There were many promotions at A&M headquarters in April...Jerry Moss's new title was Chairman, Herb Alpert became Vice Chairman, Gil Friesen was now President, Bob Fead was named the Senior Vice President, Chuck Kaye became President of Irving/Almo Music and Rondor Music, and Gerry Lacoursierie became President of A&M Records Canada.
On June 22, the Financial Center (nicknamed Jolene's building) opened at 1336 N. La Brea Avenue; Financial Affairs had over 40 employees under Jolene Burton.
Horizon Records also received top attention this year. In November, Tommy LiPuma was chosen to head the division and in December he became Vice President of A&M and Creative Developer of Horizon Records, now as a contemporary music series rather than a one-record deal for jazz artists.
A&M started A&M Pacific, hiring its own direct sales staff to work directly with its major retailers, one-stops and rack jobbers. Headed by Les Silver, National Sales Manager, A&M Pacific had a staff of four. A&M Pacific was A&M's first step toward developing a full national sales staff.
A&M Records Europe was established in Paris.
At the Grammy Awards, the Brothers Johnson were the only A&M act to be honored. 1977 was A&M's best year ever for RIAA gold records. Nineteen certifications were given to artists. Top artists each had two certs, the Captain & Tennille, Brothers Johnson, L.T.D., Styx and Supertramp. There were also four RIAA platinum certifications, each to different artists.
It was also one of A&M's two best years on the Billboard Pop album chart with a record five albums in the Top 10, and a total of 31 A&M albums entered the Billboard chart. Of those 31, two each belonged to the Captain & Tennille, Nils Lofgren, Nazareth and Rick Wakeman. Of the 21 singles to chart, Peter Frampton, with three, led A&M.
1978
Major artist developments included signing Joe Jackson in February. On March 22, 1978, Miles Copeland optioned the Police single Roxanne to A&M Records.
A&M opened promotional offices in CBS Records facilities in the Netherlands and Germany.
A&M Records entered the cutout market hoping to get products exposed that radio would not play.
Meanwhile at Almo Music, the Almo Publications logo (jack-in-the-box style) was approved as a registered trademark on June 13 and the Almo Rapid Play logo approved as a registered trademark on July 18.
September 1 was the first commercial use of Horizon Records logo (3 sunrise style), and on September 12, the Horizon Records logo (script style) approved as registered trademark.
A&M artists won two Grammys, 12 RIAA gold records and 6 RIAA platinum records during 1978. Rita Coolidge, Chuck Mangione and Styx were the leaders as each were awarded two gold records.
A&M artists placed 22 singles and 22 albums on the Billboard Pop charts. The albums were all from different artists. The Captain & Tennille, Rita Coolidge and Pablo Cruise each had three singles on the chart.
1979
In artist news, on March 12, the Carpenters signed a new recording contract with A&M.
1979 was a difficult year for the recording industry and for A&M Records. On February 15, RCA Records began distributing A&M Records. This marked the end of A&M Records independent distribution. On August 17, Horizon Records was dissolved. One bright note was that A&M agreed to distribute I.R.S. Records.
At the Grammys, three Grammys went to A&M Records. Six RIAA gold and two platinum records went to different artists.
Still strong on the charts with 21 singles and 34 albums for the year. Six artists had two albums on the charts--Bell & James, Head East, Joe Jackson, Pablo Cruise, Police and Sad Cafe. Styx and Supertramp led the singles artists with three songs on that chart.
