Red Bird was a short-lived but highly influential record label that put out some of the finest girl group sounds and pop music of the mid 60s. The label’s most famous release, The Shangri Las’ “Leader of the Pack”, is a perfect example of the melodrama and flawless pop that made Red Bird’s output stand apart in a golden age of popular music.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UiJaNSXlYuQ
The label was founded in 1964 by successful songwriting team, Jerry Lieber and Mike Stoller. The two had written a handful of chart toppers by the time the label kicked off, including Elvis hits like “Hound Dog” and “Jailhouse Rock”. Red Bird’s first release was “Going to the Chapel of Love” by the Dixie Cups.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WCcguiMik5M
In spite of a number of hits and the launch of subsidiary labels like Blue Cat, Red Bird was gone in a flash. By 1966, Lieber and Stoller got tired of running the label and sold it to continue on as songwriters and producers. Although the label only released a handful albums and a few dozen 7”s, Red Bird was essential to its time and its output, particularly The Shangri Las, has influenced countless artists like The Ramones, Madonna, The Smiths, The Go Gos and The New York Dolls.
Check out a few more great tracks from Red Bird:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CtKTtW5VuvY
– Submitted by Justin Main, Music Design