Gotham Records was an American

record label A record label, or record company, is a brand or trademark of music recordings and music videos, or the company that owns it. Sometimes, a record label is also a publishing company that manages such brands and trademarks, coordinates the produ ...

formed by Sam Goode (Goody) and Ivin Ballen in

New York City New York, often called New York City or NYC, is the List of United States cities by population, most populous city in the United States. With a 2020 population of 8,804,190 distributed over , New York City is also the L ...

in 1946. In January 1948 Ballen acquired the interest of Goode and became the sole owner. He then moved the company to

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Philadelphia, often called Philly, is the largest city in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, the sixth-largest city in the U.S., the second-largest city in both the Northeast megalopolis and Mid-Atlantic regions after New York City. Sinc ...

where the label was based for the rest of its existence until 1956. The label specialized in

rhythm and blues Rhythm and blues, frequently abbreviated as R&B or R'n'B, is a genre of popular music that originated in African-American communities in the 1940s. The term was originally used by record companies to describe recordings marketed predominantly ...

. Ivin Ballen died in Miami Beach, Florida, in February 1978.

Artists

;Dan Pickett Gotham's most notable contribution to American music was the release of recordings by the acoustic bluesman Dan Pickett, originally recorded in 1949. ; Doug Quattlebaum Another artist who recorded for Gotham included

Doug Quattlebaum Elijah Douglas Quattlebaum (January 22, 1929 – March 1, 1996), better known as Doug Quattlebaum, was an American Piedmont blues guitarist, singer and songwriter. He recorded one single for Gotham Records in 1953, but was offered another op ...

. His song "Lizzie Lou" was one of the last releases for the label. ; Doris Browne, The Capris Doris Browne was a singer who around the 1949/1950 period had she performed on a weekly show which was broadcast by WPEN-AM in Philadelphia. The hour long show was called the Parisian Tailor Kiddie Hour.Vocal Group Harmony
Spotlight on the Gotham Label – Part One
/ref> In 1953, the label appeared to be keen to push Browne's profile with her single "Please Believe Me" bw "Oh Baby". She was backed by

Doc Bagby Harry "Doc" Bagby ''(né'' Harry Camilus Bagby; 1 August 1917 Philadelphia – 3 September 1970 Manhattan) was an American studio musician who played piano and organ, and backed many artists in pop and jazz. He played a major part in the music scen ...

on that recording. He also backed her on her single, "Until The End Of Time" bw "Why Don't You Love Me Now, Now, Now?" Gotham G-296, and another recording "The Game Of Love" bw "My Cherie" which was released on Gotham G-7298 as a 45. The single, "Until The End Of Time" / "Why Don't You Love Me Now", originally credited to Doris Browne, Doc Bagby Orchestra, was re-released on

Collectables Records Collectables is a reissue record label founded in 1980 by Jerry Greene. Jerry Greene formed Lost Nite and Crimson record labels. Soul Survivors gained the hit "Expressway to Your Heart" (1967) while on Crimson Records. History It maintains a ca ...

, but this time credited to Doris Browne & The Capris. Gotham records also had a Capris group of their own which would release their debut single "

God Only Knows "God Only Knows" is a song by American rock band the Beach Boys from their 1966 album ''Pet Sounds''. Written by Brian Wilson and Tony Asher, it is a Baroque-style love song distinguished for its harmonic innovation and its subversion of typica ...

" bw "That's What You're Doing To Me", Gotham 304 in 1954. They also had two other singles released. They were "It Was Moonglow" bw "Too Poor To Love", Gotham 306, and "It's A Miracle" bw "Let's Linger A While" Gotham 308.

Santa Monica-based label

A same-named label is available in Santa Monica. It was founded by Patrick Arn in New York City in 1994. The label specializes in newcomer

rock bands A musical ensemble, also known as a music group or musical group, is a group of people who perform instrumental and/or vocal music, with the ensemble typically known by a distinct name. Some music ensembles consist solely of instrumentalists, ...

. Some of the older bands who signed at this Gotham Records signed later at

Columbia Records Columbia Records is an American record label owned by Sony Music, Sony Music Entertainment, a subsidiary of Sony Corporation of America, the North American division of Japanese Conglomerate (company), conglomerate Sony. It was founded on Janua ...

(for example: Flybanger) or to

Lava Records Lava Records (Lava Music, LLC) is an American record label owned by Jason Flom in partnership with Universal Music Group. Company history In 1995, Flom launched Lava Records in partnership with Atlantic Records. For the next decade, he continue ...

(

Liquid Gang A liquid is a nearly incompressible fluid that conforms to the shape of its container but retains a (nearly) constant volume independent of pressure. As such, it is one of the four fundamental states of matter (the others being solid, gas, an ...

). The Loose Nutz produced their first Gold Record ''Wishen'' at Gotham Records.

Background

In 2013, the label was releasing 8 LPs and 8 CDs a year. Its distribution was being handled by Sony RED.

Artists

Around 2007, it was announced in punknews.org that

Red Horizon Red is the color at the long wavelength end of the visible spectrum of light, next to orange and opposite violet. It has a dominant wavelength of approximately 625–740 nanometres. It is a primary color in the RGB color model and a secondar ...

had signed to the label and recently released their album ''Across the World''.''punknews.org''
Red Horizon sign to Gotham Records
/ref> ;Bands and artists currently signed at Gotham Records *

* Supafuzz * The day after... ;Bands who were signed at Gotham Records * Flybanger *

Fear The Clown Fear is an intensely unpleasant emotion in response to perceiving or recognizing a danger or threat. Fear causes physiological changes that may produce behavioral reactions such as mounting an aggressive response or fleeing the threat. Fear i ...

Chiba-Ken is a prefecture of Japan located in the Kantō region of Honshu. Chiba Prefecture has a population of 6,278,060 (1 June 2019) and has a geographic area of . Chiba Prefecture borders Ibaraki Prefecture to the north, Saitama Prefecture to the ...

References

External links

Gotham Records Official homepage
{{Authority control Record labels established in 1946 Rhythm and blues record labels American record labels 1946 establishments in New York City