Ensign Records
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| Ensign Records | |
|---|---|
| Parent company | EMI |
| Founded | 1969 |
| Founder | Chris Wright, Terry Ellis |
| Status | Defunct |
| Distributor(s) | Phonogram (1976-1981) Independent (1981-1990) Chrysalis Records (1990-2001) The Right Stuff Records (re-issues) |
| Genre | Various |
| Country of origin | UK |
Ensign Records was started in 1976 by Nigel Grainge, as an independent Phonogram subsidiary.
[edit] History
Grainge had been the head of A&R at Phonogram in London for the previous two years and directly signed Thin Lizzy, 10cc, The Steve Miller Band, and a worldwide license for the successful All Platinum label (hits by Shirley & Co, the Moments, etc.), among others. Grainge's cohort throughout the life of the label was London DJ Chris Hill.
Ensign had early success with The Boomtown Rats in 1977, who went on to have 13 UK Top 20 entries including two number 1s - "Rat Trap" and "I Don't Like Mondays". Ensign also had a constant stream of UK and European hits with Flash and the Pan, Eddy Grant, Light of the World, and Phil Fearon & Galaxy.
By 1987 the roster had reached its most credible peak with Sinéad O'Connor, The Waterboys, World Party, and the Blue Aeroplanes.
Grainge sold the company to Chrysalis Records in 1991 and continued to run it from their own address until the mid-90s. Millions of records were sold by O'Connor during this time, the biggest success being "Nothing Compares 2 U" which hit number one in over 30 countries.
After EMI acquired Chrysalis Records in 2001, Grainge and Hill folded the label into its parent. Hill continues to DJ in the London area, and Grainge relocated in 2002 to Santa Monica, California, to pursue A&R consultancies and Web ventures.
