Circle Records

Circle Records is a United States based record label specializing in jazz.

Circle Records was founded in January 1946 by Rudi Blesh and Harriet Janis. They heard great jazz drummer Warren "Baby" Dodds playing inventive solos while in New York City with Bunk Johnson's band. Blesh said that he previously hated drum solos, but was mesmerized by what Dodds played. He and Janis said that there ought to be recordings of this, but regretted that it was probably far too esoteric for any record label to issue—then decided to start their own label. The name "Circle" was suggested by fellow audience member Marcel Duchamp, who said "Records are circles, and besides, no one can call you squares."

Blesh and Janis continued the label until late 1952, after which it was inactive for a number of years until the mid 1960s when it was bought out by GHB/Jazzology Records owner George H. Buck, who reissued Circle material on LP and later compact disc.

In San Francisco, there was an unrelated record pressing plant called "Circle Record Company." When the owners of the pressing plant decided to start a record label, they couldn't use the Circle name because this label had the name already. So the label was called Fantasy Records.

Famous quotes containing the words circle and/or records:

    The lifelong process of caregiving, is the ultimate link between caregivers of all ages. You and I are not just in a phase we will outgrow. This is life—birth, death, and everything in between.... The care continuum is the cycle of life turning full circle in each of our lives. And what we learn when we spoon-feed our babies will echo in our ears as we feed our parents. The point is not to be done. The point is to be ready to do again.
    Paula C. Lowe (20th century)

    My confessions are shameless. I confess, but do not repent. The fact is, my confessions are prompted, not by ethical motives, but intellectual. The confessions are to me the interesting records of a self-investigator.
    W.N.P. Barbellion (1889–1919)