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Backstreet Records | |
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Parent company | Universal Music Group |
Founded | 1979 |
Founder | Danny Bramson |
Distributor(s) | MCA Records (1979-2003) Geffen Records (2003-present) |
Country of origin | U.S. |
Location | Universal City, California |
Backstreet Records was an MCA Records subsidiary label founded in 1979 by Danny Bramson, who was executive director of MCA's Universal Amphitheatre.[1] The name was derived from the Bruce Springsteen song "Backstreets". The label's first releases were Robbie Patton's Do You Wanna Tonight and the self-titled debut album by Tears in August 1979. The first major signing to the label was Tom Petty, ending a legal battle between Petty and MCA over his recording contract which was acquired when MCA purchased ABC Records.[2] The label's roster of artists also included J.J. Cale, Keith Sykes, Nils Lofgren,[3] Men Without Hats, and Walter Egan. The label's last release was in 1983, after which it was absorbed into MCA Records.
Backstreet also released rock-oriented soundtrack albums to several films produced by its parent company Universal Studios, including Where the Buffalo Roam, Nighthawks, The Border, Cat People and Doctor Detroit.