New Trailer For ‘Spinning Gold’ The Rise Of Casablanca Records Movie

[kenneth]

The chapter that was written about Casablanca Records in a book which I think was called “Hit Men” was a fascinating study of 1980s excess, fascinating and sad at the same time. I still think they had some of the greatest album cover designs, most of which were done by a company called Gribbitt! This could be a very interesting movie if it’s written and cast well.

On a sidenote, I wasn’t aware the Isley brothers ever recorded for Casablanca! Or Gladys Knight for that matter. Although I think Neil Bogart had a lot to do with Buddha records before he formed Casablanca, so maybe that’s where the reference comes from.

[milven]

The chapter that was written about Casablanca Records in a book which I think was called “Hit Men” was a fascinating study of 1980s excess, fascinating and sad at the same time. I still think they had some of the greatest album cover designs, most of which were done by a company called Gribbitt! This could be a very interesting movie if it’s written and cast well.

On a sidenote, I wasn’t aware the Isley brothers ever recorded for Casablanca! Or Gladys Knight for that matter. Although I think Neil Bogart had a lot to do with Buddha records before he formed Casablanca, so maybe that’s where the reference comes from.

There was plenty of excess in the industry in the seventies and eighties and Casablanca was no exception. Johnny Carson was presented a gold record on the Tonight Show days after the release of HERES JOHNNY: MAGIC MOMENTS FROM THE TONIGHT SHOW. Casablanca had sent tons of free product out to retailers and they counted them as sales. Eventually, the unsold purchased product and free product was returned to Casablanca and the famous industry joke was that Casablanca "shipped the LP Gold and it was returned Platinum."







I don't remember the Isleys recording for Casablanca either. As for Gladys, I think she is referenced because of her association with Neil at Buddah. However, the Pips did record two albums on their own while they were going through legal problems with the labels.





n 1977 complex legal maneuvers began between Motown, Buddah, Gladys Knight and the Pips, and Columbia Records, where the family foursome was attempting to move. The result was that Gladys was not able to record with the Pips.

Instead, the group recorded two LP’s [[with no chart singles) for Casablanca and Gladys did one solo album for Buddah. In 1980 they reunited on Columbia and hit with “Landlord” [[#46 Pop, #3 R&B), but through 1986 only “Save the Overtime [[For Me)” [[#66 Pop, #1 R&B) and its accompanying gold LP did well for them.

In 1986 the group switched to MCA and came up with their biggest record since the 12-year-old “The Way We Were” medley with “Love Overboard” [[#13 Pop, #1 R&B) showing they’d lost none of their class, polish, or hitmaking ability.

After 58 R&B charters and 41 trips up the Pop Top 100 ladder, Gladys Knight and the Pips, one of soul’s worthiest successes, continued to turn out quality music in performance and on record.

– Jay Warner

[reese]

I bought that TONIGHT SHOW album many years after its release. I think some of the performances on it aren't even from the show. I know that Judy Garland's THE MAN THAT GOT AWAY was actually taken from her Carnegie Hall album.

Re the Isleys and Neil, I think their label T-NECK was distributed by Buddah before moving to CBS.

[milven]

Re the Isleys and Neil, I think their label T-NECK was distributed by Buddah before moving to CBS.

Yes, you're right. I forgot all about that. Distribution of labels changed constantly in those days, but in my mind, I guess that I always associated T-NECK with Sony. Thanks.