Fantasy Records

Fantasy Records is a United States based record label, which was founded by Max and Sol Weiss in 1949 in San Francisco, California. The early years of the company were dedicated to issuing recordings by Dave Brubeck, Cal Tjader and others. The label was the first to record "in person" performances by Lenny Bruce. Fantasy's first subsidiary label, formed in 1951, was Galaxy Records. The Fantasy and Galaxy names were inspired by science-fiction magazines. In the mid-1950s Saul Zaentz joined the company and eventually instigated the companies major expansion. In 1967 he led a consortium which bought out the Weiss brothers. The following year, Fantasy's most successful act emerged when the local group Creedence Clearwater Revival (which he managed) released their first hit record "Susie Q".

Related Topics:
United States - Record label - Max - Sol Weiss - 1949 - San Francisco, California - Dave Brubeck - Cal Tjader - Lenny Bruce - 1951 - Galaxy Records - Science-fiction - 1950s - Saul Zaentz - 1967 - Creedence Clearwater Revival

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Zaentz, advised by the journalist Ralph J. Gleason and benefitting from royalties from the sales of Creedence Clearwater Revival, pursued a policy of acquisition concentrating on independent Jazz labels. Zaentz had picked up Debut Records as a wedding present from Bassist Charles Mingus to which were added Good Time Records, Prestige Records (in 1971), Riverside Records and Milestone Records (both 1972), Stax Records (1977), Contemporary Records (1984), Specialty Records (1991), Pablo Records (1987), Takoma Records and Kicking Mule Records (both 1995).

Related Topics:
Ralph J. Gleason - Debut Records - Charles Mingus - Good Time Records - Prestige Records - 1971 - Riverside Records - Milestone Records - 1972 - Stax Records - 1977 - Contemporary Records - 1984 - Specialty Records - 1991 - Pablo Records - 1987 - Takoma Records - Kicking Mule Records - 1995

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Fantasy also built its landmark headquarters building at the corner of Tenth and Parker in Berkeley, California in 1970 which was nicknamed "the house that Creedence built." In 2004 Fantasy was sold to a consortium led by Norman Lear and merged with Concord Records.

Related Topics:
Berkeley, California - 1970 - 2004 - Norman Lear - Concord Records

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~