Laurie Records

Laurie Records was a record label started in 1958 by brothers Robert and Gene Schwartz, and Allan I. Sussel. Sussel was a multi-millionaire whose earlier record company, Jamie Records (named after his elder daughter), had been unsuccessful. As a result, Sussel joined forces with Schwartz to found Laurie Records, this time named after his other daughter, Laura Sue Sussel. By the early 1960s, Elliot Greenberg, an arranger and friend of Schwartz's, had gained a 12% ownership of the company. In addition, Gene's brother Bob Schwartz also became involved in the company, largely due to pressure from their mother, who wanted to see Bob involved in the record business. The company eventually grew to include a number of subsidiary labels, most notably Andie Records (which later changed its name to Rust Records).

The label variations for Laurie singles were of three types: First, a grey label with Laurie Records written across the top. This was used for first releases of the first singles. It then changed to a sky blue label, with the same basic printing of Laurie Records (also used for the first few singles' later pressings). By the time the first few singles had been released, it changed to the typically recognized label of four red corners with the black square at the hole punch, with Laurie written at the top.

Among the most famous recording artists on Laurie's roster were Dion and the Belmonts, The Mystics, The Chiffons, The Jarmels, Bobby Goldsboro, and The Royal Guardsmen. Dion and the Belmonts were responsible for the first of Laurie's hit singles with their 1958 doo-wop song, "I Wonder Why". Ten years later, the group's lead vocalist, Dion DiMucci (known professionally as Dion), had a solo hit on the label with "Abraham, Martin & John". Another sizable hit for the label was the controversial song "Once You Understand", written and produced by the songwriting team of Lou Stalmman and Bobby Susser and released by the duo in 1971 under the pseudonym Think. Being a small independent record label, Laurie's chart successes usually occurred one at a time and, for the most part, with one-off hits, as was the case with the Mystics, the Jarmels, the Chiffons, and the Royal Guardsmen.

The label also distributed records under several subsidiary labels, including Rust, Legrand, Calico, President, and Dolphin (not to be confused with the Liberty-owned Dolphin/Dolton label). Laurie Records also handled the American distribution of records by the British Invasion band Gerry & the Pacemakers. Jo Siopis, a well known record producer and wife of Gerry & the Pacemakers' bass player, Les Chadwick, was instrumental in the distribution of Laurie Records albums in the United States.

Laurie changed its name in the early 1980s to 3C Records. 3C stands for Continental Communications Corporation and the master recordings that 3C produced are owned by EMI.