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Enterprise Records
Enterprise Records was started in 1967 as a sub-label of Stax Records. It's best-known recording artist during its existence was Isaac Hayes, who secured a #1 R&B and pop crossover smash in 1971 with the soundtrack hit "Theme from Shaft". In addition to Isaac Hayes, Big Ben Atkins, Cliff Cochran, Connie Eaton, Maynard Ferguson , Little Sonny, O.B. McClinton, Eric Mercury and David Porter also recorded for the label. BackgroundEnterprise was a subsidiary of the Stax label. It was founded in 1967.[1] In May 1968, parent company Stax ended its relationship with the Atlantic label as they had merged with Gulf- Western Industries, Inc. which was the umbrella org. of Paramount Pictures. The upper management of Stax remained the same with Jim Stewart staying on as president and Al Bell staying on as vice-president. They were to work directly with Arnold D. Burk, who was the vice -president in charge of music operations for Paramount Pictures .[2] In addition to their desire to expand the Enterprise label, they were looking to do the same with their pop -rock label, Hip Records. It appears at the time, Enterprise was regarded as a jazz-folk label.[3] An example of some of the success Enterprise was having can be seen in the May 16, 1970 issue of Billboard where the label had three albums in the Billboard Best Selling Soul albums chart. The Isaac Hayes Movement album by Isaac Hayes was at no. 1, the Gritty, Groovy, & Gettin' It album by David Porter was at no. 4, and the Hot Buttered Soul album by Isaac Hayes was at no. 10.[4] The two Isaac Hayes LPs were also at no. 1 and no. 6 respectively in the Best Selling Jazz LP's chart that week.[5] HistoryIt was reported by Billboard in the magazine's June 29, 1968, issue that Maynard Ferguson had recently joined the Enterprise record label.[6] Albums on the Enterprise label that were "happening as per Ed Ochs' Soul Sauce column in Billboard, September 4, 1971 included Shaft by Isaac Hayes & the Bar-Kays, Victim of the Joke by David Porter, Funky Rock by Eric Mercury, and Black & Blue by Little Sonny.[7] Also that year, the Patchouli album by Big Ben Atkins was released on Enterprise ENS-102.[8][9] It was reported by Billboard in the May 12, 1973 issue that Enterprise was in the process of signing Weldon Lane, a former Capitol artist. They had just released an album for O.B. McClinton and were rushing out a single of his. They had also purchased a master recording in Orlando of Paige O'Brien (O'Brian), which resulted in the release of her single "Satisfied Woman".[10][11] Local artist Dale Yard recorded a single in a session was described as done with the total "Memphis country sound". The single "Purple Cow" bw "I'ma Goin' A Courtin'" which was released on Enterprise ENA-9068 was reviewed in the May 19 issue of Cash Box with the reviewer saying "The lively carefree nature of the tune should find many a country fanatic whistling and stomping along with the beat.[12][13] The label had also purchased some masters from the Capitol label. The first of them was a Roland Eaton recording which was re-mixed and then released. Enterprise were also about to release a single by Birmingham artist, Roger Hallmark, and an LP album by Eddie Bond. At the time the label's director of the country operation was Jerry Seabolt.[14] On the week of July 3, 1973, the Live at the Sahara Tahoe by Isaac Hayes was at its second week at no. 1 on the Record World R&B LP chart.[15][16][17] It was reported by Billboard in the magazine's May 25, 1974, issue that Stax Records via its Enterprise subsidiary was expanding its country division. It had recently signed three artists to the label. The label's country promoter and coordinator Merlin Littlefield said there would be more to come. With the expansion, Bill Hickman and Carol Stevenson had taken up positions in the office. For some time, Enterprise's country division had O.B. McClinton as their only artist. The recent additions were, Connie Eaton who had been Chart Records and the Atlanta GRC label, and Cliff Cochran who would be produced by Joe Allison and Hank Cochran. Enterprise was using Larry Butler who was an independent producer in Nashville was to handle most of the production and recording.[18] Also in the same issue, Bill Williams reported in his Nashville Scene section that when Cliff Cochran was to cut his new single for the label, his cousin-in-law, Jeannie Seely would be joining him on harmony vocals. The label also thought they were getting Jan Howard but she changed her mind and went to the Atlanta-based GRC Records label.[19] References
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