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Newly independent Chrysalis Records extends catalogue with more EMI divestments from Warner

By | Published on Friday 8 July 2016

Suzi Quatro and Jeremy Lascelles

The newly independent Chrysalis Records has acquired four more chunks of old EMI catalogue from Warner Music, bringing recordings from Steve Harley And Cockney Rebel, Suzi Quatro, Fun Lovin Criminals and Athlete into the fold.

As previously reported, newish music management and publishing outfit Blue Raincoat bought the old Chrysalis Records catalogue off Warner last month, as well as the rights to the label brand. Blue Raincoat was co-founded by Jeremy Lascelles, who previously ran the Chrysalis music publishing business, and boasts Chrysalis Records co-founder Chris Wright as its Chairman.

Warner Music itself acquired the old Chrysalis recordings catalogue in 2013 when it bought a big chunk of the former EMI UK business off Universal Music, which in turn had acquired the EMI record company the previous year.

As also previously reported, at that time Warner pledged to offload bite-sized chunks of its EMI purchase to indie music firms, in a bid to ensure the independent sector didn’t object to its acquisition of a big part of what had been EMI UK. The sale of the Chrysalis recordings to Team Blue Raincoat was part of that commitment, as is the sale of these four sets of master recordings now.

Steve Harley worked with EMI throughout the 1970s, while Suzi Quatro’s early records came out on producer Mickie Most’s Rak Records label, which sold its masters to EMI in 1983. Fun Lovin Criminals’ first three albums came out via EMI labels, while Athlete released their first three LPs on EMI’s Parlophone.

Confirming the latest catalogue acquisition, Blue Raincoat and Chrysalis Records chief Jeremy Lascelles told reporters: “We have been talking to all four of these artists for some time and it’s a real THRILL to be able to welcome them all, with their wonderful bodies of work, on to the Chrysalis Records label”.

He went on: “Each one of them, in their different ways, captured the spirit of their respective times and wrote absolute classic songs. It’s fantastic to have what are arguably their most important recordings on Chrysalis and we look forward to doing justice to this great music”.

Co-founder of the Blue Raincoat group, producer Robin Millar, added: “We want brilliant people and their brilliant music to find a proper home that befits their status and their art. Jeremy and I intend to re-imagine great heritage artists for the modern music market place”.



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