Stories Behind Record Labels Trivia Quiz

Answer: Decca

After performing 15 songs for producer Tony Meehan of Decca Records, the decision was made not to offer the group a record contract. The decision was based on the fact that the company felt guitar based music was going nowhere and the group didn't have a future in show business. Obviously, that was a huge error.

Instead, Decca decided to offer the contract to The Tremeloes, a talented band who went on to release some great music, but had nowhere near the success of The Beatles.

Answer: Frank Sinatra

It was after Sinatra entered the record business that he got the name "Chairman of the Board". Sinatra's premise was that his artists would have complete control and ownership of their music. The initial stable of artists included obvious selections such as Dean Martin and Sammy Davis Jr., but he offered opportunities to artists as diverse as Bing Crosby, Rosemary Clooney and even comedian Redd Foxx.

In 1963 the company was sold to Warner Bros., which has been the distributor of Reprise's music ever since. Jimi Hendrix, The Beach Boys, Fleetwood Mac, Green Day and Eric Clapton are some of the heavyweight acts who have recorded for Reprise over the years.

Answer: Madonna

Madonna and her team of executives formed Maverick Records in 1992. Madonna acted as CEO from the beginning days until 2004. During her time as boss, the label had great success with acts like Alanis Morissette, The Prodigy, Deftones and Michelle Branch all releasing hit records on the label.

In 2004, the relationship with Maverick and their parent company, Warner Bros., soured when the two sides sued each other over lost money. Madonna was ultimately bought out of her ownership of the company and she no longer has any affiliation with the company.

Answer: Chess Records

Leonard Chess bought into Aristrocrat Records in 1947. After bringing his brother into the business in 1950, the two took complete control of the company and renamed it to Chess Records. Over the history of the company, nearly every major player in Chicago blues music has worked with the good people at Chess Records. Bo Diddley, Denise LaSalle, Muddy Waters, Sonny Boy Williamson, Etta James and Howlin' Wolf are a short list of the many artists to record on Chess Records.

The Rolling Stones would record three times at the Chess Records studios. "2120 South Michigan Avenue" was their instrumental homage to the famed studios and the music that had been created there. The Rolling Stones, like The Beatles and so many other British acts of the era, held American blues music in high regard and they were always wanting to find ways to relate more closely to that style of music. By recording at Chess Records, they felt closer to the history of blues and the people who had recorded it.

Answer: Casablanca Records

I emphasized the name Bogart in hopes that you would associate that name with the movie "Casablanca", which is also the correct answer to the question. Bogart formed the label in 1973 and included Donna Summer, Cher, The Village People and George Clinton in their ranks.

The company was bought out by Polygram Records in 1980 and Bogart was forced out of the business. Eventually, the Casablanca name would be shut down and the artists on the label would be transferred over to Mercury Records.

Answer: Physical Graffiti

There were only a total of 27 albums to appear on the Swan Song label, but the quality of those albums is mighty impressive. All of Led Zeppelin's album from "Physical Graffiti" to "Coda", Bad Company's first six albums, "Silk Torpedo" by Pretty Things and even solo work from Robert Plant and Jimmy Page.

In addition to music, the label was involved with film. "Monty Python and the Holy Grail" was a Swan Song project in 1975.

Answer: Bill Haley

Bill Haley and his Comets released "Rock Around the Clock" on Decca Records. Several other of his hit singles were also released on Decca. Sun Records, along with its famous logo, was the face of rockabilly and soul music in the southern United States in the early 1950s. Early hits from Elvis Presley recorded at the Sun Studios included "That's All Right" and "Blue Moon of Kentucky".

Answer: Jay Z

Death Row Records primarily signed west coast artists, and Jay Z is a New Yorker who was once CEO of Def Jam Records. Jay Z owns the Roc-A-Fella label, as well, and that is who releases his music.

Death Row Records was a major label in the hip hop and rap genre for several years until legal problems, substance abuse issues, murder implications and financial difficulties forced the label to be auctioned. Over the years, the label sold nearly one billion albums and generated over seven billion dollars in total sales.

Answer: Sub Pop

Sub Pop started as a fanzine to earn the label's founder Bruce Pavitt college credits while attending Evergreen State College. After the magazine started selling cassette tapes with local music on them, the label took off. The label has had two platinum releases with Nirvana's "Bleach" and the Flight of the Conchords debut, self-titled album.

The label's founder sold a share of the company to Warner Bros. and then ultimately left the business altogether.

Answer: Goo Goo Dolls

The Goo Goo Dolls released four albums for Metal Blade including "A Boy Named Goo", which featured the hits "Naked", "Name" and "Only One". Metal Blade was put together by Brian Slagel in Los Angeles while he was working in a record store. He had a passion for local heavy metal music and he wanted to find a way to showcase the talent in the area.

He put together a compilation album featuring music from Metallica, Ratt and Black 'N Blue and released it. The success of that compilation prompted the creation of Metal Blade.