Ode Records (also known as Ode Sounds and Visuals) was an American record label, started by Lou Adler in 1967 in music, 1967 after he sold Dunhill Records to ABC Records. It was distributed by Sony Music, CBS's Epic Records except between 1970 and 1976, when the label was distributed by A&M Records. The original incarnation was closed in 1978 and CBS took over most of catalog, often with Epic logos replacing Ode logos on reissues. Ode has the distinction of being the first non-CBS label to be distributed by Sony Music, CBS Records.
Adler reactivated the label several times, including another short run with A&M in 1989. It was disbanded when A&M was sold to PolyGram in late 1989 in music, 1989.
Ode is now part of Sony Music Entertainment (the successor to CBS), excluding:
* Cheech & Chong catalogue is controlled by Warner Music Group. After Cheech & Chong switched to Warner Records, Warner Bros. Records in 1978, they took also its past catalog to their new home label. Depending on reissue, they can have "Warner Bros. Records Inc.", "Warner Records Inc." or "Ode Records" printed as copyright owner. It is believed that Lou Adler still owns copyrights for its Ode releases.
* Soundtrack to ''The Rocky Horror Picture Show'' and the London Symphony Orchestra's version of ''Tommy (London Symphony Orchestra album), Tommy'' are still owned by Lou Adler, with reissues distributed under license to third party oldies labels like Rhino Entertainment, Rhino, Castle Communications and more recently, The Orchard (company), The Orchard, another subsidiary of Sony Music.
Artists
* Jan Berry
* The Blossoms
* Cheech & Chong
* Merry Clayton
* The Comfortable Chair
* Don Everly
* Carole King
* Peggy Lipton
* London Symphony Orchestra (''Tommy (London Symphony Orchestra album), Tommy'')
* Scott McKenzie
* Tom Scott (saxophonist), Tom Scott
* Spirit (band), Spirit
* David T. Walker
* ''The Rocky Horror Show''
* ''The Rocky Horror Picture Show''
See also
* List of record labels
External links
Ode RecordsOde Records history with US and international discographies, Billboard performance, artist roster.
{{Authority control
American record labels
Defunct record labels of the United States
Record labels established in 1967
Record labels disestablished in 1989
Columbia Records
Ode Records albums,
1967 establishments in the United States
1989 disestablishments in the United States