Axe Records is a Canadian record label founded by Greg Hambleton in 1972. After a number of years of inactivity, the label was revived in 2013. It is particularly notable as the original recording label of Canadian duo

Gary and Dave Gary and Dave were a Canadian pop duo composed of Gary Weeks (born May 22, 1950 in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island) and David Lloyd George "Dave" Beckett (born July 5, 1949 in Newmarket, Ontario). They are best known for their 1973 song "Cou ...

History

Axe Records was founded by Greg Hambleton in 1972. The label was initially distributed by

London Records London Recordings (or London Records and London Music Stream) is a British record label that marketed records in the United States, Canada, and Latin America for Decca Records from 1947 to 1980 before becoming semi-independent. The London nam ...

of Canada. The first artists signed to the label included Canadian group Thundermug. In 1974 Axe moved into offices in the Toronto Sound Studio building on Overlea Boulevard. By 1975, the label was distributed by GRT Records in Canada.Uncredited
Axe sharpens sights in 3-pronged goal
Billboard, June 14, 1975, p. 47. Retrieved 2013-05-26. The company had no consistent international distribution. The company's most successful artist duo,

, was distributed by London Records in the United States. Its principal rock band, Thundermug, was distributed by the Big Tree and the

Epic Epic commonly refers to: * Epic poetry, a long narrative poem celebrating heroic deeds and events significant to a culture or nation * Epic film, a genre of film with heroic elements Epic or EPIC may also refer to: Arts, entertainment, and medi ...

labels and, as of 1975, at the initiative of Hambleton, by Mercury Records. International licensing arrangements were signed with EMI Electrola, Basart and Decca UK. The label's major recording success was with Gary and Dave. The label also released records by Thundermug, Fergus,

The Sattalites The Sattalites are a Canadian reggae group. Founded in Toronto, Ontario as a music school in 1981, the band has become one of the most successful Canadian reggae ensembles. They signed with the Canadian record label Solid Gold Records early in th ...

, Rain (with Charity Brown), Keith Hampshire,

Major Hoople's Boarding House Major Hoople's Boarding House is a Canadians, Canadian pop music, pop band from Galt, Ontario (now Cambridge, Ontario). They have released two albums and several singles, three of which appeared on national charts. History In 1967, Rocky Howell ( ...

, Steel River, Tom Northcott and Walter Ostanek, among others. In 2013, the label was revived by its founder and owner, Greg Hambleton, to re-issue and market the original recordings by its original artists, as well as to sign new artists.

Adam Carter Adam Henry Carter is a fictional Character (arts), character from the BBC espionage television series ''Spooks (TV series), Spooks'', which follows the exploits of Section D, a counter-terrorism division of MI5. He is portrayed by British actor ...

Classic Canadian record label resurrected in Hamilton
CBC News, July 29, 2013. Retrieved 2013-09-15.

References

External links

* {{Authority control Record labels established in 1972