ABSTRACT
Teen-pop/rock label founded in March 1958 by a group of New York businessmen, brothers Bob and Gene Schwartz and their partners Elliott Greenberg and Allen Sussel; the label was named for Sussel’s daughter. Their first big act was Dion and the Belmonts, who were hitmakers from 1958 to 1960, including “A Teenager in Love” (#5, 1959; Laurie 3027), and “Where or When” (#3,1960; Laurie 3044). After the group fell apart, Dion continued on his own on the label, scoring major hits with his signature songs, the number one “Runaround Sue” (1961, Laurie 3110), and its follow-up “The Wanderer” (#2, 1961; Laurie 3115). Dion left the label when he signed with Columbia in 1962. During 1963, Laurie’s big act was the Chiffons: the number one “He’s So Fine” (Laurie 3152), and the number five “One Fine Day” (Laurie 3179), and from 1964 to 1965, Gerry and the Pacemakers, licensed from the U.K., “Don’t Let the Sun Catch You Crying” (#4, 1964; Laurie 3251); and “Ferry Cross the Mersey (#6,1965; Laurie 3284). The label’s swan song came in the later 1960s, with their last major acts being The Royal Guardsman (the million-selling camp classic “Snoopy vs. the Red Baron,” #2 in 1966 [Laurie 3366]) and the return of Dion for his last big hit “Abraham Martin and John” (#4,1968; Laurie 3464). The label also featured a slew of bands admired among lovers of 1960s kitsch and garage groups, including Randy and the Rainbows, the Barbarians, Think, the Balloon Farm, and the Passions. Active recording ceased around 1970, although the label remained in business through 1987 (taking the new name 3C, Continental Communications Corporation, in the early 1980s) primarily to reissue its earlier hit recordings. The label’s back catalog was sold to Capitol-EMI in 1987.
