27-03-2025
- Entertainment
- The Guardian
Chic, Missy and Bryan Ferry's wallpaper: 75 years of Atlantic Records
Ertegun and Abramson founded Atlantic Records in 1947 with a $10,000 loan from Ertegun's dentist, Vahdi Sabit. In the 17 January issue of Billboard magazine in 1948, a two-paragraph item was headlined: 'Atlantic diskery makes its debut.' That unassuming announcement heralded the arrival of what became one of the most prominent, influential, and enduring companies in music history. 75 Years of Atlantic Records, published by TASCHEN, is available to purchase now
Franklin confirmed her status as a cultural trailblazer when she appeared on the cover of Time magazine in 1968 under the headline: 'The sound of soul.' The article stated: 'She does not seem to be performing so much as bearing witness to a reality so simple and compelling that she could not possibly fake it.' Here she is fixing her makeup backstage before a show
The singer poses in an outtake from the photoshoot for his 1966 album The Exciting Wilson Pickett. His charisma, film star looks and electrifying live performances made him a thrilling figure. 'A supreme showman and an excellent singer, he had the Albert Hall on its feet,' reported Melody Maker after a 1969 performance in London
The Swedish pop group broke into the international market by winning the 1974 Eurovision song contest with Waterloo. The song demonstrated their gift for crafting memorable melodies with snappy lyrics such as: 'I feel like I win when I lose'
The band were performing Suite: Judy Blue Eyes at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum on a reunion tour. The folk-rock supergroup were sometimes dubbed the American Beatles for their blend of vocal harmonies and singer-songwriter talent
As one of the most popular rap artists, with a string of hit albums in the late 1990s and early 00s on sister label Elektra, Elliott joined Atlantic for 2005's The Cookbook. Bringing a strong feminist perspective powered by solid breakbeats, she continued her winning streak with her debut for the label. Her best songs, according to the Washington Post 'have combined futuristic funk with whimsical lyrics that often border on the absurd ... by not taking herself too seriously, she only adds to the irresistibility of her music'
The singer and main songwriter for Roxy Music at his home, around the time he was in a relationship with model Jerry Hall, who eventually dumped him for Mick Jagger. Hall was on the cover of the band's 1975 album Siren, which spawned the single Love Is the Drug. The Village Voice dubbed the album 'exciting, exhilarating and beautifully made, driven by straight-ahead rock power and ridden with subtlety'
As a boy, the musician practiced his tenor saxophone until he fell asleep and later in life his musical workouts were known for their rigour and dynamism. Coltrane was an advanced student of intricate melodic patterns and sophisticated harmony. As a young artist, this discipline gave him a voice, but it was his courage to experiment that gave him his genius
Hathaway became one of the most influential singers, arrangers, keyboardists and songwriters of his generation. Someday We'll All Be Free is a national anthem for Black America, while his duets with Roberta Flack were crossover hits. He was a major influence on Stevie Wonder, Luther Vandross, Alicia Keys and countless others. This is a shot for his debut album Everything Is Everything, which featured his socially conscious track The Ghetto
Chic left an indelible mark on popular culture, from the distinctive guitar chug of Le Freak to the often-sampled bassline of Good Times, most memorably in the first global hip-hop smash hit Rapper's Delight. Yet they were also a stylish, fashion-forward band, conveying an image of elegance and cool sophistication that seemed at odds with the gaudy excesses of 1970s New York
The breakout star of the SoundCloud generation, with an inimitable style that has ensured the Philadelphia rapper's notoriety far beyond their viral moments. Their affinity for alternative rock lends an edge to their energetic songs, which often feature melodic hooks and a myriad of cultural references, from anime and video games to haute couture and metalcore
The Drifters, seen here recording at the label's studio with a young Tom Dowd, remain distinguished among all the early vocal groups of R&B for anyone who enjoyed popular music in the 1950s and 60s. This Magic Moment, There Goes My Baby, Save the Last Dance for Me, and Up on the Roof are some of the group's most transcendent songs
