- For the current hip hop imprint also under Jive/Zomba, see Battery Records (hip hop)
Battery Records was a dance sublabel of Jive Records active for a short time in the mid-1990s unrelated to the current hip hop label also part of the Jive/Zomba family. The label was mostly known for releasing music by the Swedish Eurodance group Rednex in North America, namely its novelty hit "Cotton Eye Joe."
History [edit]
Battery was formed when Zomba's Dutch office signed Rednex and created a number-one hit with "Cotton Eye Joe." Newly appointed Jive president Barry Weiss was attempting to broaden the pop-music reach of the label group, and introducing Rednex to American listeners was one of his first steps.[1] Suddenly Jive needed a suitable American outlet for this unique style and didn't feel that any current sub-labels were appropriate. Thus, Battery record's inaugural release was the "Cotton Eye Joe" American import in 1994. Although the song was successful, reaching #25 on the Billboard charts, it remained the group's only US hit.[2] [3]
While the New York City-based label largely focused on pop-oriented electronic music, it also released Insane Clown Posse's third album, Riddle Box. The label continued for a few more years signing at least one more artist but shut its doors in 1996.
Releases [edit]
See also [edit]
References [edit]
- ^ Flick, Larry (1995-02-18). "Weiss Named Jive President, Aims to Boost Pop Presence". Billboard: 6, 117.
- ^ Bronson, Fred (1995-02-04). "Arista Sweeps: 'Creep' to 'Country'". Billboard: 132.
- ^ Flick, Larry; Price, Dominic (1995-02-18). "Will U.S. fans dance to Jive's Rednex Fiddling?". Billboard: 11, 117.
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| Battery |
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| LaFace |
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| Silvertone |
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| So So Def |
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| Volcano |
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| Zomba Gospel |
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| Related articles |
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