Dolton Records
Dolton Records was an American, Seattle- based record company in the pop music sector . It existed from 1959 to 1967.
history
In 1959, record producer Bob Reisdorff and singer Bonnie Guitar founded the record company called Dolphin in Seattle. The occasion was Reisdorff's commitment to the young vocal trio The Fleetwoods , for which he wanted to create a commercial platform. The color light blue was chosen for the record labels, three stylized dolphins (Dolphin = German dolphin) served as the logo . On February 18, 1959, Reisdorff produced the Fleetwoods' first Dolphin single at Joe Boles Studios in Seattle with the title Come Softly to Me / I Care So Much . The song Come Softly to Me became a top hit and reached number 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 on April 13, 1959. As a result, the Dolphin label moved into the public eye, and the Laurie record company got in touch , asserting the naming rights to Dolphin for its existing subsidiary. Then Reisdorff's company was renamed Dolton Records, and in 1959 the third record was released under the new name ( Graduation's Here / Oh Lord, Let It Be - also with the Fleetwoods). The appearance of the record label was changed only slightly, the word Dolphin was replaced by Dolton.
Co-owner Bonnie Guitar released only two tracks at her own company, Candy Apple Red / Come to Me, I Love You , each of which was released on two different singles (catalog numbers 10 and 19). She was already bound by a record deal with Dot Records . Initially, the Fleetwoods remained the driving force, and they were able to place in the top 40 with the following records. With Mr. Blue they reached number 1 again. In 1960, the rock band The Ventures released their first single on Dolton, and their title Walk, Don't Run conquered number 2 on the Hot 100. By the end of the Dolton label, the Ventures were the most successful performers there. From 1961 Vic Dana joined as a solo singer , who also contributed 15 Hot 100 hits. In addition, Dolton published little-known performers from the northwest region of the United States. Only Peggi Griffith had a previously successful singer under contract.
In the course of its existence, Dolton Records changed its record labels several times. In 1961 the Dolton lettering was added to an enlarged dolphin graphic. In 1963 the label logo moved to the left, the three dolphins were now swimming in the water, with the multicolored company name above them. The labels now contained the note that Dolten was a division of Liberty Records . Reinsdorff had sold his record company to Liberty. In the course of 1964 the catalog numbering was changed, after No. 99 followed by 300. From 1965 the dolphins disappeared from the record label, they were replaced by a big black and red D with the signature "DOLTON - A PRODUCT OF LIBERTY RECORDS" . Reinsdorf had meanwhile been sent to London by Liberty to head the British branch.
The last Dolton record was released in 1967 under catalog number 327, it was the Fleetwoods single Mr. Blue / You Mean Everything to Me . Subsequently, Liberty liquidated its subsidiary. Only the Dolton stars Ventures and Fleetwoods were taken over by Liberty. In the nine years of its existence, the Dolton label has released over 400 singles and more than 50 long-playing records. 19 titles were able to place themselves in the top 50 hit lists, 19 long-playing records also made it into the top 50.
Dolton Records - Top 50
| Cat.-No. | Performers | title | year | rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Singles | ||||
| 1 | The Fleetwoods | Come Softly To Me | 1959 | 1. |
| 3 | The Fleetwoods | Graduation's Here | 1959 | 39. |
| 5 | The Fleetwoods | Mr. Blue | 1959 | 1. |
| 15th | The Fleetwoods | Outside My Window | 1960 | 28. |
| 22nd | The Fleetwoods | Runaround | 1960 | 23. |
| 25th | The Ventures | Walk, don't run | 1960 | 2. |
| 28 | The Ventures | Perfidia | 1960 | 15th |
| 40 | The Fleetwoods | Tragedy | 1961 | 10. |
| 45 | The Fleetwoods | The Great Imposter | 1961 | 30th |
| 32 | The Ventures | Ram Buck Shush | 1961 | 29 |
| 48 | Vic Dana | Little Altar Boy | 1961 | 45. |
| 62 | The Fleetwoods | Lovers By Night, Strangers By Day | 1962 | 36. |
| 75 | The Fleetwoods | Goodnight My Love | 1963 | 32. |
| 81 | Vic Dana | More | 1963 | 42. |
| 92 | Vic Dana | Shangri-La | 1964 | 27. |
| 96 | The Ventures | Walk - Don't Run '64 | 1964 | 8th. |
| 300 | The Ventures | Slaughter On 10th Avenue | 1964 | 35. |
| 304 | Vic Dana | Red Roses for a Blue Lady | 1965 | 10. |
| 319 | Vic Dana | I love you drops | 1966 | 30th |
| Stereo long-playing records | ||||
| 8003 | The Ventures | Walk don't run | 1960 | 11. |
| 8006 | The Ventures | Another smash | 1961 | 39. |
| 8010 | The Ventures | Twist With The Ventures | 1962 | 24. |
| 8014 | The Ventures | The Ventures' Twist Party | 1962 | 40. |
| 8016 | The Ventures | Mashed Potatoes and Gravy | 1962 | 45. |
| 8019 | The Ventures | The Ventures Play Telstar | 1963 | 8th. |
| 8022 | The Ventures | Surfing With The Ventures | 1963 | 30th |
| 8024 | The Ventures | let's go | 1963 | 30th |
| 8027 | The Ventures | The Ventures In Space | 1964 | 27. |
| 8029 | The Ventures | The Fabulous Ventures | 1964 | 32. |
| 8031 | The Ventures | Walk Don't Run (2) | 1964 | 17th |
| 8033 | The Ventures | The Ventures Knock Me Out | 1965 | 31. |
| 8034 | Vic Dana | Red Roses For A Blue Lady | 1965 | 13. |
| 8035 | The Ventures | The Ventures On Stage | 1965 | 27. |
| 8037 | The Ventures | The Ventures A Go-Go | 1965 | 16. |
| 8040 | The Ventures | Where The Action Is | 1966 | 33. |
| 8042 | The Ventures | The Ventures | 1966 | 42. |
| 8045 | The Ventures | Go With The Ventures | 1966 | 39. |
| 8047 | The Ventures | Wild Things | 1966 | 33. |