Swan Song Records was a

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 ...

launched by the English

rock Rock most often refers to: * Rock (geology), a naturally occurring solid aggregate of minerals or mineraloids * Rock music, a genre of popular music Rock or Rocks may also refer to: Places United Kingdom * Rock, Caerphilly, a location in Wales ...

band

Led Zeppelin Led Zeppelin were an English rock band formed in London in 1968. The group comprised vocalist Robert Plant, guitarist Jimmy Page, bassist/keyboardist John Paul Jones, and drummer John Bonham. With a heavy, guitar-driven sound, they are ci ...

on 10 May 1974. It was overseen by Led Zeppelin's manager Peter Grant and was a vehicle for the band to promote its own products as well as sign artists who found it difficult to win contracts with other major labels. The decision to launch the label came after Led Zeppelin's five-year contract with

Atlantic Records Atlantic Recording Corporation (simply known as Atlantic Records) is an American record label founded in October 1947 by Ahmet Ertegun and Herb Abramson. Over its first 20 years of operation, Atlantic earned a reputation as one of the most i ...

expired at the end of 1973, although Atlantic ultimately distributed the label's product. Artists that released material on the Swan Song label included Led Zeppelin itself, solo releases by Led Zeppelin band members

Jimmy Page James Patrick Page (born 9 January 1944) is an English musician who achieved international success as the guitarist and founder of the rock band Led Zeppelin. Page is prolific in creating guitar riffs. His style involves various alternative ...

and

Robert Plant Robert Anthony Plant (born 20 August 1948) is an English singer and songwriter, best known as the lead singer and lyricist of the English rock band Led Zeppelin for all of its existence from 1968 until 1980, when the band broke up following the ...

Bad Company Bad Company are an English rock supergroup that was formed in 1973 by singer Paul Rodgers, guitarist Mick Ralphs, drummer Simon Kirke and bassist Boz Burrell.Bad Company ''AllMusic'' Peter Grant, who managed the rock band Led Zeppelin, also ...

Pretty Things The Pretty Things were an English band formed in September 1963 in Sidcup, Kent. They took their name from Willie Dixon's 1955 song "Pretty Thing". A pure rhythm and blues band in their early years, with several singles charting in the Unit ...

Dave Edmunds David William Edmunds (born 15 April 1944) is a Welsh singer-songwriter, guitarist and record producer. Although he is mainly associated with pub rock and new wave, having many hits in the 1970s and early 1980s, his natural leaning has alwa ...

, Mirabai,

Maggie Bell Margaret Bell (born 12 January 1945 in Maryhill, Glasgow, Scotland) is a Scottish rock vocalist. She came to fame as co-lead vocalist of the blues-rock group Stone the Crows, and was described as the UK's closest counterpart to American sing ...

(and the short-lived band she fronted, Midnight Flyer),

Detective A detective is an investigator, usually a member of a law enforcement agency. They often collect information to solve crimes by talking to witnesses and informants, collecting physical evidence, or searching records in databases. This leads th ...

, and

Sad Café Sad Café are an English rock band formed in Manchester in 1976, who achieved their peak of popularity in the late 1970s and early 1980s. They are best known for the UK top 40 singles "Every Day Hurts", "Strange Little Girl", " My Oh My" and "I ...

. In addition to these artists, two other noted recording acts (though not signed to the label) were credited artists on Swan Song singles, both of which were UK hits in 1981:

BA Robertson Brian Alexander Robertson (born 12 September 1956) is a Scottish musician, composer and songwriter. He had a string of hits in the late 1970s and early 1980s characterised by catchy pop tunes and jaunty humorous lyrics, including " Knocked It ...

sang a duet with Maggie Bell on the single "Hold Me", and

Stray Cats Stray Cats are an American rockabilly band formed in 1979 by guitarist and vocalist Brian Setzer, double bassist Lee Rocker, and drummer Slim Jim Phantom in the Long Island town of Massapequa, New York. The group had numerous hit singles in t ...

backed Dave Edmunds on his 1981 single "The Race Is On". Swan Song ceased active operations in 1983 and now exists only to reissue previously released material.

History

In January 1974, Led Zeppelin negotiated an agreement with Atlantic Records to set up Swan Song Records.Chris Welch (1994) ''Led Zeppelin'', London: Orion Books. , p. 71. The label was launched with parties in New York and Los Angeles. A lavish media party was also held at

Chislehurst Caves Chislehurst Caves are a series of intersecting man-made tunnels and caverns covering some 22 miles (35.4 km) in Chislehurst in southeast London, England. From the mid-13th to early 19th centuries the 'caves' were created from the mining of ...

Kent Kent is a county in South East England and one of the home counties. It borders Greater London to the north-west, Surrey to the west and East Sussex to the south-west, and Essex to the north across the estuary of the River Thames; it faces ...

on 31 October 1974, to celebrate the label's first UK release by the Pretty Things, ''Silk Torpedo'' (the first US release for Swan Song was the self-titled debut album from Bad Company in June 1974). The company logo, designed by

Hipgnosis Hipgnosis were an English art design group based in London, that specialised in creating album cover artwork for rock musicians and bands. Their commissions included work for Pink Floyd, T. Rex, the Pretty Things, Black Sabbath, UFO, 10cc, Ba ...

and illustrated by

Joe Petagno Joe Petagno (born January 1, 1948) is an American artist known principally for creating images used on rock album covers for bands such as Led Zeppelin, Nazareth, Black Oak Arkansas, Sweet, Hawkwind, Motörhead, Roy Harper, Marduk, Bal-Sagoth, ...

, was based on ''Evening'' also called'' The Fall of Day'' (1869) by painter

William Rimmer William Rimmer (20 February 181620 August 1879) was an American artist born in Liverpool, England. Biography William Rimmer was the son of a French refugee, who emigrated to Nova Scotia, where he was joined by his wife and child in 1818, and ...

. By April 1975, Swan Song had four albums (''Bad Company'', ''

Silk Torpedo ''Silk Torpedo'' is the seventh album by the English rock band Pretty Things. This is their second album without Wally Waller, the group's rhythm guitarist/bassist since 1967. The album has more of a glam rock feel, a contrast from their early R ...

'', '' Physical Graffiti'', and '' Suicide Sal'') in the ''Billboard'' Top 200 chart. The recording label also partly funded film projects such as ''

Monty Python and the Holy Grail ''Monty Python and the Holy Grail'' is a 1975 British comedy film satirizing the Arthurian legend, written and performed by the Monty Python comedy group (Graham Chapman, John Cleese, Terry Gilliam, Eric Idle, Terry Jones, and Michael Palin) an ...

'' in 1975. In an interview he gave in January of that year, Page offered his perspective on the label: Two years later, he elaborated on Led Zeppelin's intention to found the label: Artists who signed with the label but did not produce any releases included Metropolis (which featured members from the

), The Message (which featured future

Bon Jovi Bon Jovi is an American Rock music, rock band formed in 1983 in Sayreville, New Jersey. It consists of singer Jon Bon Jovi, keyboardist David Bryan, drummer Tico Torres, guitarist Phil X, and bassist Hugh McDonald (American musician), Hugh McD ...

members Alec John Such and

Richie Sambora Richard Stephen Sambora (born July 11, 1959) is an American rock guitarist, singer, songwriter and producer, best known as the lead guitarist of the rock band Bon Jovi from 1983 to 2013. He and lead singer Jon Bon Jovi formed the main songwri ...

), and Itchy Brother (which featured future members of

The Kentucky Headhunters The Kentucky Headhunters are an American country rock and Southern rock band originating in the state of Kentucky. The band's members are Doug Phelps (vocals, bass guitar), Greg Martin (vocals, lead guitar), and brothers Richard Young (vocals, rhy ...

). Artists that Swan Song Records wanted to sign but who bowed out to other labels were Roy Harper and blues guitarist Bobby Parker. When Swan Song's offices were cleared out in 1983, early demos from

Iron Maiden Iron Maiden are an English heavy metal band formed in Leyton, East London, in 1975 by bassist and primary songwriter Steve Harris. While fluid in the early years of the band, the lineup for most of the band's history has consisted of Harri ...

Heart The heart is a muscular organ in most animals. This organ pumps blood through the blood vessels of the circulatory system. The pumped blood carries oxygen and nutrients to the body, while carrying metabolic waste such as carbon dioxide t ...

and

Paul Young Paul Antony Young (born 17 January 1956) is an English musician, singer and songwriter. Formerly the frontman of the short-lived bands Kat Kool & the Kool Cats, Streetband and Q-Tips, he became a teen idol with his solo success in the 1980s. ...

's band Q-Tips were among those found, unplayed and stored, on the shelves.Uncut Magazine #166, March 2011, page 50. Swan Song ceased operations in October 1983 due to the break-up of Led Zeppelin and Peter Grant's health problems. An attempt to save the label by Atlantic Records executive Phil Carson proved fruitless. Robert Plant started his own label, Es Paranza Records, in the wake of the closure of Swan Song, while Jimmy Page and

John Paul Jones John Paul Jones (born John Paul; July 6, 1747 July 18, 1792) was a Scottish-American naval captain who was the United States' first well-known naval commander in the American Revolutionary War. He made many friends among U.S political elites ( ...

returned to Atlantic Records. Bad Company moved over to both Atlantic and its subsidiary

Atco Atco or ATCO may refer to: Businesses * ATCO, a Canadian diversified company involved in manufacturing, utilities, energy and technologies ** ATCO Electric, a subsidiary of the above company * Atco (British mower company), a mower manufacturing com ...

when they resumed in the late 1980s. Today, the label is strictly used for reissues of albums that were released by the label when it was active except in 2012 the label was resurrected when Led Zeppelin released the live

Celebration Day "Celebration Day" is a song by English rock band Led Zeppelin, and the third track from their 1970 album ''Led Zeppelin III''. The band's last concert film and album, released on 19 November 2012, took their name from this song. Composition and ...

document of their 2007 one-off reunion concert. *''UK Address'': 484 Kings Road, London, SW10 UK *''US Address'': 444 Madison Avenue, New York, New York, 10022 USA

Personnel

* Peter Grant – President *

Danny Goldberg Gold Mountain Records was a record label based in New York. It was distributed by A&M Records between 1983 and 1985. After 1985, the distributor was MCA Records. In 1985, the president of the label was Danny Goldberg. Goldberg founded an anti-cen ...

– Vice-President (US) (1974–1976) * Abe Hoch – Vice-President (UK) (1974–1976) *

– Executive Producers *

Phil Carson Phil Carson is an English former record label owner and London-based Senior Vice President of Atlantic Records from 1968 to 1985. He is known for his association several rock bands, including Led Zeppelin, Yes, AC/DC, and Twisted Sister. Born i ...

– Atlantic Records liaison *

Alan Callan Alan Callan (1 August 1946 – 27 May 2014) was a British businessman, record producer and music executive. He worked as an executive for Swan Song Records (a record label established by English rock band Led Zeppelin in 1974), as a business mana ...

– Vice-President (1977–1983) * Stevens H. Weiss – Attorney (US) * Joan Hudson – Attorney (UK) *

Mark London Mark London (born 30 January 1940) is a Canadian-born British soundtrack composer, songwriter and music producer. He is perhaps best known as composer of the song "To Sir with Love". History Mark London was born in Montreal, Quebec, and initial ...

– Band security *

John Bindon John Dennis Arthur Bindon (4 October 1943 – 10 October 1993) was an English actor and bodyguard who had close links with the London underworld. The son of a London cab driver, Bindon was frequently in trouble as a youth for getting into figh ...

– Security (1977) * Mitchell Fox, Nancy Gurcsik – Assistants (US) * Unity Maclean, Carole Brown, Cynthia Sach, Manique de Pinto, Sian Meredith – Assistants (UK)

Label discography

LPs

* 15 June 1974 – SS-8410 – ''

'' –

* 1 November 1974 – SS-8411 – ''

'' –

* 24 February 1975 – SS-2-200 – '' Physical Graffiti'' –

* April 1975 – SS-8412 – ''Suicide Sal'' –

* 12 April 1975 – SS-8413 – '' Straight Shooter'' –

* December 1975 – SS-8414 – '' Savage Eye'' –

* 21 February 1976 – SS-8415 – ''

Run with the Pack ''Run with the Pack'' is the third studio album by English supergroup Bad Company. It was released on February 21, 1976, by Island Records. The album was recorded in France using the Rolling Stones Mobile Truck in September 1975 with engineer ...

'' –

* 31 March 1976 – SS-8416 – '' Presence'' –

* 28 September 1976 – SS-2-201 – '' The Song Remains the Same'' (soundtrack) –

* March 1977 – SS-8500 – ''

Burnin' Sky ''Burnin' Sky'' is the fourth studio album by the English rock band Bad Company. It was released on 3 March 1977. ''Burnin' Sky'' was recorded in France at Château d'Hérouville in July and August 1976 with future The Rolling Stones engineer ...

'' –

* April 1977 – SS-8417 – ''Detective'' –

* April 1977 – SS-8418 – ''Get It'' –

* April 1978 – SS-8504 – ''It Takes One to Know One'' –

* 8 September 1978 – SS-8505 – ''

Tracks on Wax 4 ''Tracks on Wax 4'' is the fourth album by Welsh rock musician Dave Edmunds. The record was the first Edmunds solo effort to feature all four members of the band Rockpile: Edmunds, Billy Bremner (who also wrote two of the album's songs under t ...

'' –

* 17 March 1979 – SS-8506 – '' Desolation Angels'' –

* 5 July 1979 – SS-8507 – ''

Repeat When Necessary ''Repeat When Necessary'' is the fifth album by Welsh rock musician Dave Edmunds. Recording and release Produced by Edmunds, it was released in 1979 by Swan Song Records (see 1979 in music). It was recorded and released at the same time as Ni ...

'' –

* 15 August 1979 – SS-16002 – ''

In Through the Out Door ''In Through the Out Door'' is the eighth and final studio album by the English rock band Led Zeppelin. It was recorded in three weeks in November and December 1978 at ABBA's Polar Studios in Stockholm, Sweden, and released by Swan Song Recor ...

'' –

* February 1981 – SS-8509 – ''Midnight Flyer'' – Midnight Flyer * 20 April 1981 – SS-16034 – ''Twangin'...'' –

* August 1981 – SS-16048 – ''

'' –

* November 1981 – SS-8510 – ''Best of Dave Edmunds'' –

* February 1982 – SS-11002 – ''Rock 'n' Roll Party'' (mini LP) – Midnight Flyer * 15 February 1982 – SS-8511 – ''

Death Wish II ''Death Wish II'' is a 1982 American vigilante action film directed and co-edited by Michael Winner. It is the first of four sequels to the 1974 film '' Death Wish''. It is the second installment in the ''Death Wish'' film series. In the story ...

'' (soundtrack) –

* 28 June 1982 – SS-8512 – '' Pictures at Eleven'' –

* August 1982 – 90001 – '' Rough Diamonds'' –

* 19 November 1982 – 90051 – ''

Coda Coda or CODA may refer to: Arts, entertainment, and media Films * Movie coda, a post-credits scene * ''Coda'' (1987 film), an Australian horror film about a serial killer, made for television *''Coda'', a 2017 American experimental film from Na ...

'' –

* 1983 – 90078 – ''Wildlife'' – Wildlife

Singles

Some of Swan Song's more notable singles include: *" Can't Get Enough/Little Miss Fortune" –

: SS-70015 (US, 1974), SWS 70015 (Canada) *" Movin' On/Easy on My Soul" – Bad Company: SS-70101 (US, 18 Jan. 1975), SWS 70101 (Canada) *"

Trampled Under Foot "Trampled Under Foot" is a song by English rock group Led Zeppelin. A funk-influenced piece with John Paul Jones on clavinet, it was included on their 1975 album '' Physical Graffiti''. The song was released as a single in several countries an ...

/Black Country Woman" –

: SS-70102 (US, 2 April 1975; Australia), DC-1 (UK, 10 May 1975), SSK 19 402(N) (Germany, March 1975), SS 19402 (Holland), K 19402 (Italy, April 1975), 19 402 (France), P-1361N (Japan, April 1975), P-108N (Japan), 45-1205 (Spain), SWS 70102 (Canada), SNS 100 (South Africa) *" Good Lovin' Gone Bad/Whiskey Bottle" – Bad Company: SS-70103 (US, 19 April 1975), SWS 70103 (Canada) *"Wishing Well/Comin' On Strong" –

: SS-70105 (US, June 1975) *" Feel Like Makin' Love/Wild Fire Woman" – Bad Company: SS-70106 (US, August 1975), SWS 70106 (Canada) *"

Candy Store Rock "Candy Store Rock" is a song by English rock band Led Zeppelin, released in 1976 on their album '' Presence''. It was also released as a single in the United States, but it did not chart. Recording The band recorded the song at Musicland Studio ...

/Royal Orleans" – Led Zeppelin: SS-70110 (US, 18 June 1976), SSK 19 407 (Germany, August 1976), 45-1381 (Spain), P-35N (Japan, September 1976), SWS 70110 (Canada) *" Here Comes The Weekend/As Lovers Do" –

: SSK 19408 (UK, 6 August 1976), SS 19 408 (Germany, September 1976), SS 19408 (Holland), 19 408 (France), 19408 (Belgium/Luxemburg) *"

/Everything I Need" – Bad Company: SS 70112 (US, 21 May 1977), SWS 70112 (Canada) *"

Rock 'N' Roll Fantasy "Rock 'n' Roll Fantasy" is a song by English rock supergroup Bad Company. The track was written by vocalist Paul Rodgers, and released as the first single from the group's fifth studio album '' Desolation Angels'' (1979). The song is one of many ...

/Crazy Circles" – Bad Company: SS 70119 (US, March 1979; Canada; New Zealand), SSK 19416 (UK, 16 February 1979; Australia), SS 19 416 (Germany, March 1976), SS 19.416 (Holland), W 19416 (Italy), 19 416 (France, May 1979), 45-1835 (Spain), N-S-20-1 (Portugal), P-382N (Japan, March 1979), 200088 (Argentina) *" A1 on the Juke Box/It's My Own Business" – Dave Edmunds: SSK 19417 (UK, February 1979) *" Gone, Gone, Gone/Take The Time" – Bad Company: SS 71000 (US, July 1979; Canada, August 1979; New Zealand), P-453N (Japan, August 1979) *" Girls Talk" – Dave Edmunds: SS 71001 (US & Canada, August 1979; New Zealand), SSK 19418 (UK, June 1979; Australia), SSK 19418 C (UK clear vinyl, 8 August 1979), SS 19 418 (Germany, August 1979), SS 19.418 (Holland/Belgium), 45-1898 (Spain) *"

Queen of Hearts The queen of hearts is a playing card in the standard 52-card deck. Queen of Hearts or The Queen of Hearts may refer to: Books * "The Queen of Hearts" (poem), anonymous nursery rhyme published 1782 * ''The Queen of Hearts'', an 1859 novel by ...

/The Creature From The Black Lagoon" – Dave Edmunds: SSK 19419 (UK, September 1979; Australia), SS 19 419 (Germany, 26 October 1979), SS-19.419 (Holland/Belgium), DJ SS 71002 (Canada) *"

Fool in the Rain "Fool in the Rain" is the third song on Led Zeppelin's 1979 album ''In Through the Out Door''. It was the last single released in the US before they formally disbanded in 1980. The song reached number 21 on the Billboard Hot 100, ''Billboard'' H ...

/Hot Dog" – Led Zeppelin: SS 71003 (US, 7 December 1979; Canada; Australia; New Zealand), SS 19 421 (Germany, February 1980), SS 19.421 (Holland/Belgium), PROMO 097 (Italy), W 19421 (Italy), 45-1925 (Spain), P-530N (Japan, February 1980) *"

Singing The Blues "Singing the Blues" is a popular song written by Melvin Endsley and published in 1956. The song was first recorded and released by Marty Robbins in 1956. It is not related to the 1920 jazz song "Singin' the Blues" recorded by Frank Trumbauer ...

/Boys Talk" – Dave Edmunds: SSK 19422 (UK, January 1980; Australia), SS 19422 (Germany, March 1980), 19 422 (France) *" All My Love" – Led Zeppelin : 11.105 (Brazil), DIF. 132 (Argentina) *"Almost Saturday Night/You'll Never Get Me Up (In One of Those)" – Dave Edmunds: SS 72000 (US, March 1981), SSK 19424 (UK, 10 April 1981; Australia; New Zealand), SS 19 424 (Germany, *"Who's To Blame (Death Wish Title)/Carole's Theme" –

: P-1673 (Japan, July 1982) *"

Big Log "Big Log" is a song by English recording artist Robert Plant from his second solo studio album, '' The Principle of Moments'' (1983). It was the first single from the album and became his first Top 40 solo hit, peaking at No. 11 on the UK Single ...

/Far Post" – Robert Plant: 7-99844 (US, September 1983; Australia), P-1786 (Japan, September 1983), 79 98447 (Canada)

Promo discs

* 1978 – LAAS-002 – "Live from the Atlantic Studios" –

* 1978 – PR-230 – "College Radio Presents Dave Edmunds" –

* July 1982 – SAM-154 – "Pictures at Eleven – Interview with Alan Freeman" –

References

External links

Swan Song Album Discography
{{Authority control British record labels Companies based in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea Companies based in New York City Record labels established in 1974 Record labels disestablished in 1983 Rock record labels Led Zeppelin King's Road, Chelsea, London

History

Personnel

Label discography

LPs

Singles

Promo discs

See also

References

External links