CTI Records - History

History

Don Sebesky initially created many of the arrangements for the labels, later joined by Bob James and then, in the mid-70s, David Matthews. Every session featured some of jazz's finest players—bassist Ron Carter, guitarist Eric Gale and organist Richard Tee appeared on many recordings, while Bob James or, in the early years, Herbie Hancock were frequently on piano. Taylor mostly used one studio for his recordings, Van Gelder Studios in Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey, with Rudy Van Gelder engineering nearly all sessions until the later years of the label.

The CTI output was generally successful, both commercially as well as artistically, becoming a leading force in jazz for the decade. CTI's biggest seller was Deodato's album, Prelude which reached #3 on the Billboard Top 40 albums chart in 1973 - an unusual achievement for a record on a jazz-based label. A single from the album, "Also Sprach Zarathustra (2001)" climbed to #2 on the Billboard Hot 100, as well as becoming a worldwide hit (#7 UK). Other albums that were major popular successes included Grover Washington, Jr.'s Mister Magic and Feels So Good (both #10 in 1975), Esther Phillips' What A Diff'rence A Day Makes (#32 in 1975), and Bob James' BJ4 (#38 in 1977).

Taylor had previously founded Impulse Records and worked for Verve Records, earning a reputation as a respected producer of jazz albums. His productions for CTI shared a characteristically warm ambience and helped to establish smooth jazz as a commercially viable musical genre. The label also became well known for its striking album sleeve designs, some of them featuring vivid photographic images by artist Pete Turner.

CTI Records declared bankruptcy in 1978, but most of its catalog has remained in print. CTI's post-A&M Records output is now owned by Sony Music Entertainment and distributed by Masterworks Jazz, while Grover Washington, Jr.'s Kudu albums have been re-issued on Motown and its MoJazz imprint. In addition, Bob James' four CTI albums are now owned by him while Seawind also own their CTI back catalog. Meanwhile, the early A&M releases are now distributed by Verve Records, a division of Universal Music Group, where, ironically, Creed Taylor helped to make his name.