Atco Records
Herb Abramson returned to Atlantic Records from military service in 1955 and devised a new label outlet. The planned name for this venture was Atlas, but the company changed it to ATCO after discovering an existing Atlas Records. This abbreviation stood for Atlantic Corporation and served as a home for acts that did not fit the main Atlantic brand format. Main Atlantic released blues, jazz, rhythm and blues, and soul music during those early years. ATCO produced some jazz albums featuring Harry Arnold, Betty Carter, King Curtis, Herb Geller, Roland Hanna, and Helen Merrill. It also provided distribution for other labels including RSO, Volt, Island, Modern, Ruthless, Hansa, and Rolling Stones.
ATCO's rock era began with Bobby Darin and The Coasters in the late 1950s. In the early 1960s, Atlantic licensed material from international sources leading to instrumental hit singles by Jorgen Ingmann, Acker Bilk, and Bent Fabric. Starting in the mid-1960s, ATCO moved into rock-and-roll with Sonny and Cher, Buffalo Springfield, Vanilla Fudge, Iron Butterfly, and Cream. The label released a single in the US by the Beatles called Ain't She Sweet in 1964. That track had been recorded in Hamburg in 1961 with lead vocals by John Lennon. It reached No. 19 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in August 1964. New drums were overdubbed by session drummer Bernard Purdie for that release. In 1966, ATCO issued Substitute by the Who through an arrangement with UK Polydor Records due to disputes involving Shel Talmy and Decca Records.
During the 1970s, Atlantic Records broadened its own roster causing ATCO to become deemphasized. Many acts eventually had their material released under the main Atlantic brand instead of the subsidiary. In the middle 1970s, ATCO became increasingly used for hard rock acts and some British and European bands. The label issued early albums from AC/DC during this period. Starting in 1978, however, AC/DC releases were issued directly on Atlantic until their contract ended in the 1990s. In 1980, ATCO's visibility rose with strong chart performances from Pete Townshend's Empty Glass album. Gary Numan also achieved success with his song Cars that same year. As the 1980s wore on, ATCO continued to have streamlined success with artists such as Sweet Sensation, JJ Fad, and Michel'le while steadily becoming less active overall.
The last number one hit on ATCO was If Wishes Came True by Sweet Sensation in 1990. The following year, Atlantic Records Senior VP Sylvia Rhone orchestrated a merger between ATCO and EastWest Records America. They briefly operated the combination as Atco/EastWest Records before dropping the name entirely by 1994. The label reverted to the EastWest Records America branding after that decision. During this time, EastWest moved its operations to Atlantic's sister label Elektra Records. As a result of Elektra's takeover, ATCO's back catalog and retained artists came under its control. In the decade to come, the ATCO name and logo would be occasionally used on reissues but the imprint itself remained dormant.
In 2005, after more than a decade in hibernation, ATCO released the soundtrack for the Bobby Darin biopic Beyond the Sea. That film starred Kevin Spacey and featured his renditions of Darin's songs. This project led Warner Music Group to reactivate the label in 2006 in conjunction with Rhino Entertainment. Scarlett Johansson, Keith Sweat, and Art Garfunkel were among the first artists signed to the revived label. Garfunkel issued Some Enchanted Evening on the 30th of January 2007. Johansson released Anywhere I Lay My Head on the 20th of May 2008. QueensrÜche put out American Soldier on the 31st of March 2009 while The New York Dolls released Cause I Sez So on the 5th of May 2009. Shortly thereafter, ATCO became dormant again.
In 2020, ATCO returned to the aegis of Atlantic Records where it was relaunched. On February 14, Billboard announced that Atlantic Records President of A&R Pete Ganbarg was appointed president of the newly relaunched label. Ganbarg's first ATCO signing is Philadelphia-based alternative act Zero 9:36. The label operates as an imprint of Atlantic Records under the ownership of Warner Music Group. It has seen infrequent activity over several decades before this latest return to operations.
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Common questions
What does the name ATCO stand for?
ATCO stands for Atlantic Corporation. The label was originally planned to be named Atlas but changed its name after discovering an existing Atlas Records.
When did ATCO release the Beatles single Ain't She Sweet in the US?
The label released the track Ain't She Sweet in August 1964. This song had been recorded in Hamburg in 1961 with lead vocals by John Lennon and reached No. 19 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart that same month.
Which artists were signed to ATCO when it reactivated in 2006?
Scarlett Johansson, Keith Sweat, and Art Garfunkel were among the first artists signed to the revived label. Garfunkel issued Some Enchanted Evening on the 30th of January 2007 while Johansson released Anywhere I Lay My Head on the 20th of May 2008.
Who is the president of the relaunched ATCO label as announced in February 2020?
Atlantic Records President of A&R Pete Ganbarg was appointed president of the newly relaunched label. His first signing for the label is Philadelphia-based alternative act Zero 9:36.
What happened to ATCO after the merger with EastWest Records America in 1991?
The label dropped the name Atco/EastWest Records entirely by 1994 and reverted to the EastWest Records America branding. As a result of Elektra's takeover, ATCO's back catalog and retained artists came under its control before the imprint remained dormant.