The Label Behind The Legends

FROM THE STONES AND BOWIE TO DAME VERA LYNN THE LABEL BEHIND THE LEGENDS FASCINATING NEW BOOK CELEBRATES THE 90TH ANNIVERSARY OF DECCA RECORDS

- Rosalind Powell

Over the past 90 years, Decca Records has signed some of the most important artists from across the worlds of classical, pop and easy listening. Now the stories behind the legendary label and its stars, from The Rolling Stones to Pavarotti, Sir Tom Jones to David Bowie, have been brought together in a fascinating book that gives a detailed insight into social and musical history.

However, don’t expect tales of rock’n’roll excess. “It’s not that sort of book,” says Daryl Easlea, the co-editor of Decca: The Supreme Record Company – The Story of Decca Records 1929-2019.

“It’s more of a history of pop as it was, as well as the story of classical artists and business. You could be a cultural historian, classical buff or scholar of the 1960s and get something from it.”

But it’s the diversity of the label – which also signed The Who and Lulu – that makes it unique.

“What’s interesting is that if it’s a Motown anniversary, you know what it is. The same with Blue Note and Deutsche Grammophon. So when I started the research, I had this question: ‘What Decca are you? The classical or pop Decca? Or the steam-engine-sound-effects Decca?’ We unearthed some marvelous records.”

There are still enough juicy stories, however, to keep the reader intrigued – such as the truth about the failed Beatles signing.