Rak Records

Rak Records
Parent company EMI, PRT Records (1987-1988), Gearbox Music (2014 - present)
Founded 1969
Founder Mickie Most
Status Active
Distributor(s) Gearbox Music
Genre Rock, pop
Country of origin Great Britain
Location London, England
Official website ]

Rak Records is a British record label, founded by record producer Mickie Most in 1969. Rak was home to artists such as Herman's Hermits, Suzi Quatro, Mud, Kenny, Hot Chocolate, Smokie, Arrows, Span, Racey and Kim Wilde.[1] Rak Records were distributed via a licensing deal with EMI Records, which bought the company and its master recordings from Most in 1983. Most kept the company name and his RAK Studios, which still exists in St. John's Wood along with Rak Publishing. The latter company represents artists such as Joan Jett, Ben Taylor and KK. In 1986, Most defected the label from EMI to PRT Records which handled the last releases until February 1988. Owing to the records not being hits, the label folded. However, 26 years later in late 2014, Rak Records was revived as a label for new artists releasing both downloads and 7-inch vinyl in the form of a singles club. The Cadbury Sisters, Trojanhorse, and Beautiful Boy were the new signings. They recorded their own original songs as the A-sides, and covered a classic Rak artists cover as the B-side. The Cadbury Sisters covered Steve Harley's 1975 classic "Make Me Smile (Come Up And See Me)" (even though it was originally released on the generic EMI label), Trojan Horse did Cozy Powell's "Dance With The Devil", and Beautiful Boy did "Kids In America". As PRT Records is no longer in existence, the label is now distributed by Gearbox Records using the original sailing yacht paper label and the records packaged in the original royal blue paper sleeves.

When Warner Music Group acquired Parlophone from EMI in 2013, this included the rights to Hot Chocolate[2] and other artists. Exempted are Suzi Quatro's albums on Rak which are owned by independent label Chrysalis Records after Blue Raincoat Music acquired that label in May 2016 from Warner, with Kobalt Label Services handling distribution.[3][4]

Origin of name

As the name appears on the label written in capitals and is spelt without a C (RAK), many believe it's an acronym, but 'Rak' is short for rackjobbing, or the sale of records in unusual places (i.e. other than record shops or department stores), such as petrol stations and supermarkets. Mickie Most chose to deliberately misspell the label's name as 'Rak' rather than 'Rack'.

Rak Publishing

Rak Publishing is currently located in London, in the original RAK Studios complex in St John's Wood. They manage the publishing rights for songs like "You Sexy Thing" by Hot Chocolate, "I Love Rock 'n' Roll" by Arrows, covered by Joan Jett and Britney Spears, and "Kids In America" recorded by Kim Wilde.[5] Rak Publishing and Tummy Touch Records are currently releasing new and archive material from the Rak catalog.

See also

References

  1. ↑ Cartwright, Garth (2 June 2003). "Obituary: Mickie Most". The Guardian. Retrieved 30 January 2010.
  2. ↑ "Their Greatest Hits by Hot Chocolate on Apple Music". itunes.apple.com.
  3. ↑ "Now Warner sells records by Athlete, Steve Harley and more to Chrysalis". 7 July 2016.
  4. ↑ "Two months after Warner sale, Chrysalis signs with Kobalt Label Services". 3 August 2016.
  5. ↑ "MMI - Rak Publishing". Music & Media International. Retrieved 30 January 2010.
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