Beautifully-written, Marshall, and a memory-puller for me! I remember Taylor and CTI from a couple points in my life/career: Being forever surrounded by Dad's 20,000 (mostly) jazz LPs and 78s (where I first discovered the label and Taylor's artists), neatly stored in custom-made cabinetry, floor-to-ceiling and wall-to-wall, while growing up, '50s thru early '70s!
Then, in the late '70s, selling CTI product in my Houston record store! I did not know CTI was distributed by A&M in the late '60s. Nice to know, and not surprising, Alpert & Moss were efficient and compliant as bosses!
A note about George Benson...LiPuma produced him after George moved to Warner Bros., which is apropos of nothing other than to understand the label of The Bunny had to be more aware of, and in pursuit of, profits than did CTI. The few hits CTI did have I'm sure Taylor didn't discount, as he used that success to give other less-commercially-viable artists a shot on the label.
The move of Benson to WB helps to underscore the "minor-league" to the Bigs parallel the record biz was littered with back in the day. Looking at you, Freddie Hubbard, Herbie Hancock (to WB briefly), Bill Withers, Earth, Wind & Fire (also a brief foray on WB, early '70s)---all to CBS from smaller labels!
I enjoyed the look at the importance of artwork Taylor had, and implemented for his label! In short, mega-kudos...a thoroughly enjoyable piece, Marshall!
Beautifully-written, Marshall, and a memory-puller for me! I remember Taylor and CTI from a couple points in my life/career: Being forever surrounded by Dad's 20,000 (mostly) jazz LPs and 78s (where I first discovered the label and Taylor's artists), neatly stored in custom-made cabinetry, floor-to-ceiling and wall-to-wall, while growing up, '50s thru early '70s!
Then, in the late '70s, selling CTI product in my Houston record store! I did not know CTI was distributed by A&M in the late '60s. Nice to know, and not surprising, Alpert & Moss were efficient and compliant as bosses!
A note about George Benson...LiPuma produced him after George moved to Warner Bros., which is apropos of nothing other than to understand the label of The Bunny had to be more aware of, and in pursuit of, profits than did CTI. The few hits CTI did have I'm sure Taylor didn't discount, as he used that success to give other less-commercially-viable artists a shot on the label.
The move of Benson to WB helps to underscore the "minor-league" to the Bigs parallel the record biz was littered with back in the day. Looking at you, Freddie Hubbard, Herbie Hancock (to WB briefly), Bill Withers, Earth, Wind & Fire (also a brief foray on WB, early '70s)---all to CBS from smaller labels!
I enjoyed the look at the importance of artwork Taylor had, and implemented for his label! In short, mega-kudos...a thoroughly enjoyable piece, Marshall!