|
|
Post by LC on Jan 22, 2024 22:44:12 GMT -5
Casey mentioned how Rupert Holmes' song was released on Infinity Records, which folded, and then on MCA. Therein lies a very interesting story worthy of Casey himself:
Formed in 1977 as a way for the West Coast-based MCA Records to expand its footprint east, Infinity Records proved to be one of the most expensive failures in the history of the record business. Although the label had hits in 1979 with Hot Chocolate, Orleans, and Spyro Gyra, it was sunk by one very costly decision. That same year, Infinity paid a large sum of money to sign a new artist who was quite popular in Europe and was embarking on a big US tour. Hopes were high that this man’s debut album would be a big seller. Unfortunately, the album stalled at #126 and received poor reviews. Most of its one million copies of were returned to the label, leaving it with a huge financial loss.
While all this was going on amid the late-1979 music sales slump, Rupert Holmes had one of the hottest singles on the chart. When MCA folded Infinity in November, only three acts—Holmes, Spyro Gyra, and Orleans were brought over to MCA. All other acts were dropped, and Infinity’s releases went out of print. The success of “the Pina Colada song” certainly helped Holmes “Escape” from the debacle of Infinity.
And who was the hot new artist whose signing killed Infinity? None other than Pope John Paul II! His album “Pope John Paul II Sings at the Festival of Sacrosong,” was recorded in Polish.
|
|
|
|
Post by mga707 on Jan 23, 2024 10:41:59 GMT -5
Casey mentioned how Rupert Holmes' song was released on Infinity Records, which folded, and then on MCA. Therein lies a very interesting story worthy of Casey himself: Formed in 1977 as a way for the West Coast-based MCA Records to expand its footprint east, Infinity Records proved to be one of the most expensive failures in the history of the record business. Although the label had hits in 1979 with Hot Chocolate, Orleans, and Spyro Gyra, it was sunk by one very costly decision. That same year, Infinity paid a large sum of money to sign a new artist who was quite popular in Europe and was embarking on a big US tour. Hopes were high that this man’s debut album would be a big seller. Unfortunately, the album stalled at #126 and received poor reviews. Most of its one million copies of were returned to the label, leaving it with a huge financial loss. While all this was going on amid the late-1979 music sales slump, Rupert Holmes had one of the hottest singles on the chart. When MCA folded Infinity in November, only three acts—Holmes, Spyro Gyra, and Orleans were brought over to MCA. All other acts were dropped, and Infinity’s releases went out of print. The success of “the Pina Colada song” certainly helped Holmes “Escape” from the debacle of Infinity. And who was the hot new artist whose signing killed Infinity? None other than Pope John Paul II! His album “Pope John Paul II Sings at the Festival of Sacrosong,” was recorded in Polish. Similarities there to what almost happened at newly-formed Casablanca Records five years earlier. In late 1974 they released a two-record LP set "Tonight Show--Here's Johnny!" that contained music and comedy excerpts from that show. While the LP set went 'gold'(500,000 sold, or at least shipped) and peaked at #30 in early 1975, it was a big money-loser for the label with a lot of unsold units being returned to the label. Luckily for Casablanca, within a year hit LPs and singles by Kiss and Donna Summer would save the label. |
|
|
|
Post by 1finemrg on Jan 23, 2024 11:22:47 GMT -5
Casey mentioned how Rupert Holmes' song was released on Infinity Records, which folded, and then on MCA. Therein lies a very interesting story worthy of Casey himself: Formed in 1977 as a way for the West Coast-based MCA Records to expand its footprint east, Infinity Records proved to be one of the most expensive failures in the history of the record business. Although the label had hits in 1979 with Hot Chocolate, Orleans, and Spyro Gyra, it was sunk by one very costly decision. That same year, Infinity paid a large sum of money to sign a new artist who was quite popular in Europe and was embarking on a big US tour. Hopes were high that this man’s debut album would be a big seller. Unfortunately, the album stalled at #126 and received poor reviews. Most of its one million copies of were returned to the label, leaving it with a huge financial loss. While all this was going on amid the late-1979 music sales slump, Rupert Holmes had one of the hottest singles on the chart. When MCA folded Infinity in November, only three acts—Holmes, Spyro Gyra, and Orleans were brought over to MCA. All other acts were dropped, and Infinity’s releases went out of print. The success of “the Pina Colada song” certainly helped Holmes “Escape” from the debacle of Infinity. And who was the hot new artist whose signing killed Infinity? None other than Pope John Paul II! His album “Pope John Paul II Sings at the Festival of Sacrosong,” was recorded in Polish. Similarities there to what almost happened at newly-formed Casablanca Records five years earlier. In late 1974 they released a two-record LP set "Tonight Show--Here's Johnny!" that contained music and comedy excerpts from that show. While the LP set went 'gold'(500,000 sold, or at least shipped) and peaked at #30 in early 1975, it was a big money-loser for the label with a lot of unsold units being returned to the label. Luckily for Casablanca, within a year hit LPs and singles by Kiss and Donna Summer would save the label. History kind of repeated itself at Casablanca in 1978 when solo albums were released simultaneously by members of Kiss. Joke was the albums shipped Gold, but were returned Platinum. As for Infinity records, any momentum that was building for the band New England was lost when the label went under. Their first single "Don't Ever Wanna Lose Ya" reached #40, and the follow-up "Hello, Hello, Hello" peaked at #69. Also lost in the shuffle was Orleans great follow-up to "Love Takes Time". The ballad "Forever" only managed to bubble under. |
|
