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Reprise Records

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Reprise Records
Parent companyWarner Music Group
Founded1960 (original)
1987 (relaunch)
FounderFrank Sinatra
Defunct1976 (original)[a]
StatusActive
Distributor(s)
GenreVarious
Country of originUnited States
Official websitewarnerrecords.com

Reprise Records is an American record label founded in 1960 by Frank Sinatra. It is owned by Warner Music Group, and operates through Warner Records, one of its flagship labels.[1]

Artists currently signed to Reprise Records include Green Day, Enya, Michael Bublé, Eric Clapton, Stevie Nicks, Neil Young,[a] Deftones, Mastodon, Lindsey Buckingham, Josh Groban, Disturbed, Idina Menzel, My Chemical Romance, Gerard Way, Dwight Yoakam, Never Shout Never, and Billy Strings.

History

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Beginnings

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"Tricolor" label, used by Reprise until 1968. (Label to the Kinks' Something Else.)

Reprise Records was formed in 1960[1] by Frank Sinatra in order to allow more artistic freedom for his own recordings. Soon thereafter, he garnered the nickname "The Chairman of the Board".[2] He was dissatisfied with Capitol Records, and he attempted to purchase Norman Granz's Verve Records,[3]

Sale to Warner Bros.

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In August 1963, as part of a film deal, Warner Bros. purchased Reprise (which had been losing money) from Frank Sinatra, who nonetheless retained a 1/3 interest in the label.[3]

Revival and Reprise today (1985–present)

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In late 1985, some copies of the Dream Academy's hit single "Life in a Northern Town" were pressed on the Warner Bros. label bearing the Reprise logo.[4] 1986 saw releases bearing Reprise labels from the Dream Academy as well as Dwight Yoakam.[5] In summer 1987, Warner Bros. Records chairman Mo Ostin and label president Lenny Waronker officially announced the reactivation of Reprise, including its own separate promotions department, and former Warner Bros. Vice President of Promotion Rich Fitzgerald was appointed as label vice president.[6] Neil Young stated in a documentary about his life that Charles Manson was turned down by Reprise.[citation needed]

In 2010, Reprise opened a country music division, operating as part of Warner Music Group Nashville, featuring Blake Shelton, the JaneDear Girls, Michelle Branch and Frankie Ballard as part of its roster.[7]

In September 2011, several layoffs took place at Reprise Records and other Warner labels.[8]

Reprise Records artists

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Main article: List of Reprise Records artists

Labels

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Parent organizations

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See also

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Explanatory notes

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  1. ^ a b Despite the label dissolving in 1976, Neil Young remained signed to it until the release of his 1982 album Trans, which saw him signed to Geffen Records until he rejoined the reactivated label in time to release his 1988 album This Note's for You following a rocky tenure with Geffen that saw lawsuits. Young remains signed with Reprise to this day, a tenure bested only by founder Frank Sinatra, who, from 1976 to 1982 shared the label with Young and then was its sole artist until 1987.

References

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  1. ^ a b Edwards, David. "Reprise Records Story". Bsnpubs.com. Retrieved May 21, 2013.
  2. ^ John Ward (December 11, 1990). "The Chairman of the Board hits another quarter century". The Tech.
  3. ^ a b Giles, Jeff (February 13, 2016). "To Play and Play Again: How Frank Sinatra's Thirst for Creative Freedom Led to Some of Classic Rock's Greatest Records". ultimateclassicrock.com. Diffuser Network. Retrieved August 2, 2016.
  4. ^ "The Dream Academy - Life In A Northern Town". 45cat.com. Retrieved October 7, 2021.
  5. ^ "Reprise Label Discography - USA - Page 27 - 45cat". 45cat.com. Retrieved October 7, 2021.
  6. ^ "Reprise Recs". Archived from the original on July 15, 2011.
  7. ^ "Warner Music Nashville Official Website". Warner Music Nashville Official Website. Retrieved May 8, 2016.
  8. ^ "Updated: Layoffs at Warner Bros./Reprise | Billboard.biz". Archived from the original on September 25, 2011. Retrieved September 10, 2011.
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