Chess Records Profile
The Basics:
From Aristocrat Records to Chess Records:
Polish immigrant Leonard Chess was a part owner of Aristocrat Records. In 1950, Leonard brought in his brother Phil and they became the sole owners of the company they renamed Chess Records. Chess Records is best known for the blues music it released and was considered the prominent blues label of the era.
Artist signed to the record label include Muddy Waters, Etta James, Howlin' Wolf, and Chuck Berry.
Race Records:
The Chess brothers ran into problems when trying to get airplay for their artists. Many radio stations refused to play music by a African-American artists. Initially, the Chess brothers resolved the problem with payola, but there was no denying the talent that Chess Records had recorded. Eventually the radio DJs agreed to play these "race records," shooting the artists to stardom and making a lot of money for the Chess Brothers. It wasn't long until Chess became one of the most successful and well-known labels of the time.
Impact on Rock ‘n’ Roll:
Many of the artists from Chess Records inspired some of rock ‘n’ roll’s greatest such as the Beatles, the Beach Boys, and the Rolling Stones. Some of these rock ‘n’ roll bands even released their own versions of the songs by Chess artists. The Rolling Stones famously recorded at Chess Records three times. The impact the music of Chess Records had on rock ‘n’ roll can be heard through the songs - try comparing Chuck Berry's records to the Beach Boys sometimes and see who really started the surf music revolution.
In many ways, Chess became a victim of its own success. Although it inspired a generation of rockers - particular in the UK - this new wave of musicians also began to rule the airways and guide music tastes away from the Chess Records artists. Music audiences took to the blues roots in the rock music of the Stones and more, but they didn't necessarily want to hear the original source. As music became more experimental and political, Chess found itself squeezed out of the marketplace, especially in the US. Some Chess artists maintained a passionate fanbase in the UK during this time - fostered by the same artists who had pushed them out of the US charts.
Subsidiary Label:
In 1969, Chess Records created a subsidiary label in the U.K. named Middle Earth Records. Middle Earth Records was distributed by Pye Records, and unlike Chess, Middle Earth specialized in psychedelic rock. In a large part, Chess launched Middle Earth as a way to regain a foothold in a music market that whose tastes had changed considerably since since Chess' early days. Unfortunately, this label only released four albums before closing in 1970.
The Ending:
Chess Records did not just close down one day all together. In 1969, the Chess Brothers sold the label to General Recorded Tape for $6.5 million. After the label was sold, it was briefly run by Marshall Chess, the son of Leonard, until Leonard died later that same year. By 1972, the only part of Chess Records that was still operating in Chicago was the recording studio. The rest of Chess Records had been moved to New York by General Recorded Tape and was operating as a division of Janus Records. In 1975, General Recorded Tape sold what remained of Chess Records. Under General Recorded Tape, Chess Records vanished as a top label from the music scene.
Chess Records Artists:
Some of the many artists to release music on Chess over the years are:
- What: Record label
- Where: Chicago, Illinois
- Founded By: Leonard and Phil Chess
- Founded: 1950
- Closed: 1975
From Aristocrat Records to Chess Records:
Polish immigrant Leonard Chess was a part owner of Aristocrat Records. In 1950, Leonard brought in his brother Phil and they became the sole owners of the company they renamed Chess Records. Chess Records is best known for the blues music it released and was considered the prominent blues label of the era.
Artist signed to the record label include Muddy Waters, Etta James, Howlin' Wolf, and Chuck Berry.
Race Records:
The Chess brothers ran into problems when trying to get airplay for their artists. Many radio stations refused to play music by a African-American artists. Initially, the Chess brothers resolved the problem with payola, but there was no denying the talent that Chess Records had recorded. Eventually the radio DJs agreed to play these "race records," shooting the artists to stardom and making a lot of money for the Chess Brothers. It wasn't long until Chess became one of the most successful and well-known labels of the time.
Impact on Rock ‘n’ Roll:
Many of the artists from Chess Records inspired some of rock ‘n’ roll’s greatest such as the Beatles, the Beach Boys, and the Rolling Stones. Some of these rock ‘n’ roll bands even released their own versions of the songs by Chess artists. The Rolling Stones famously recorded at Chess Records three times. The impact the music of Chess Records had on rock ‘n’ roll can be heard through the songs - try comparing Chuck Berry's records to the Beach Boys sometimes and see who really started the surf music revolution.
In many ways, Chess became a victim of its own success. Although it inspired a generation of rockers - particular in the UK - this new wave of musicians also began to rule the airways and guide music tastes away from the Chess Records artists. Music audiences took to the blues roots in the rock music of the Stones and more, but they didn't necessarily want to hear the original source. As music became more experimental and political, Chess found itself squeezed out of the marketplace, especially in the US. Some Chess artists maintained a passionate fanbase in the UK during this time - fostered by the same artists who had pushed them out of the US charts.
Subsidiary Label:
In 1969, Chess Records created a subsidiary label in the U.K. named Middle Earth Records. Middle Earth Records was distributed by Pye Records, and unlike Chess, Middle Earth specialized in psychedelic rock. In a large part, Chess launched Middle Earth as a way to regain a foothold in a music market that whose tastes had changed considerably since since Chess' early days. Unfortunately, this label only released four albums before closing in 1970.
The Ending:
Chess Records did not just close down one day all together. In 1969, the Chess Brothers sold the label to General Recorded Tape for $6.5 million. After the label was sold, it was briefly run by Marshall Chess, the son of Leonard, until Leonard died later that same year. By 1972, the only part of Chess Records that was still operating in Chicago was the recording studio. The rest of Chess Records had been moved to New York by General Recorded Tape and was operating as a division of Janus Records. In 1975, General Recorded Tape sold what remained of Chess Records. Under General Recorded Tape, Chess Records vanished as a top label from the music scene.
Chess Records Artists:
Some of the many artists to release music on Chess over the years are:
- Muddy Waters
- Little Walter
- Bo Diddley
- Willie Dixon
- Howlin' Wolf
- Chuck Berry
- Etta James
