History Creator / ABCRecords

In TheFifties, the American record industry was taking off in a big way -- and two of the biggest labels, {{Creator/Columbia|Records}} and {{Creator/RCA|Records}}, were then owned by broadcast networks (Creator/{{CBS}} and Creator/{{NBC}}, respectively). The third network, [[Creator/AmericanBroadcastingCompany ABC], decided to enter this lucrative field with ABC-Paramount Records, which was launched in 1955.

In TheFifties, the American record industry was taking off in a big way -- and two of the biggest labels, {{Creator/Columbia|Records}} and {{Creator/RCA|Records}}, were then owned by broadcast networks (Creator/{{CBS}} and Creator/{{NBC}}, respectively). The third network, Creator/{{ABC}}, decided to enter this lucrative field with ABC-Paramount Records, which was launched in 1955.

* Music/LongJohnBaldry

!!ABC-Paramount acts with Wiki/TVTropes pages (several of these transferred to ABC after the name change)

!!ABC acts with Wiki/TVTropes pages (some of these were transferred from Dunhill, Impulse! and other ABC-owned labels)

* Music/{{Genesis}}[[note]]A 1974 reissue of ''Music/{{Trespass|GenesisAlbum}}'', which had previously been released on Impulse! in America[[/note]]

While ABC-Paramount released its share of GenreMotif/EasyListening music, it was also the first major label created during the RockAndRoll era, and it was more enthusiastic about the new style than its older, stodgier competitors. The company had hits with both {{Teen Idol}}s (Paul Anka, George Hamilton IV, Brian Hyland, Barry Mann) and groups (Joe Bennett and the Sparkletones, Danny and the Juniors, the Poni-Tails, the Royal Teens). It was also a major presence in RAndB, where its signings included Music/FatsDomino, [[Music/CurtisMayfield The Impressions]], Music/BBKing, Lloyd Price, and Music/RayCharles, who was wooed away from Creator/{{Atlantic|Records}} with a generous $50,000 contract and ownership of his recordings. The company also had successful subsidiaries, including [[Creator/ImpulseRecords Impulse!]] (a {{Jazz}} imprint that soon became legendary) and Creator/{{Dunhill|Records}} (which ABC originally distributed, then bought from co-founder Lou Adler). On the down side, ABC-Paramount was one of several American labels that failed to break Music/CliffRichard stateside[[note]]Creator/{{Capitol|Records}} and Creator/{{Epic|Records}} were the others[[/note]], and the company was caught flat-footed by UsefulNotes/TheBritishInvasion.

* Creator/BurgessMeredith[[note]]During the ''Series/Batman1966'' fad, Meredith recorded a novelty single for ABC-Paramount as ComicBook/ThePenguin[[/note]]