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Rocket Records | Elton John’s Christmas

The Rocket Record Company was a record label founded by Elton John, with Bernie Taupin, Gus Dudgeon and Steve Brown among others, in 1972. The name is from the hit, “Rocket Man”. The label, originally distributed in the UK by EMI and in the US by MCA Records (which Elton John was also signed to.) The first artists signed to the label were Stackridge, who completed two albums for Rocket after moving from MCA. It also became the home of Cliff Richard, Neil Sedaka, Colin Blunstone, The Hudson Brothers, Blue, Kiki Dee and the Dutch band Solution. After Elton John left his British label, DJM Records in 1976, his records were also released on the Rocket Records label on both sides of the Atlantic.

In the US and Canada, Elton John’s residency on his own label was short-lived. After only one album, Blue Moves, and a couple of singles (including the mega hits “Don’t Go Breaking My Heart” and “Sorry Seems To Be The Hardest Word”) he returned to MCA. This might have been due to MCA dropping Rocket, resulting in the label’s move to RCA distribution. The label was discontinued in the US in the early 1980s, then relaunched in 1995 with Elton John’s Made in England album, distributed by Island Records. 1997’s The Big Picture and “Candle in the Wind” were distributed in the US by stepsister A&M Records.

In the UK, Elton John’s records were continuously on Rocket from 1976 onwards. In 1978 the distribution moved to Phonogram Records, then to Mercury Records in 1995. By this time, Elton John was the only artist on the label.

Worldwide ownership of Elton John’s music was consolidated when MCA Records’ then-parent Seagram bought out PolyGram, the owners of Island, Mercury, and A&M - in 1998.

In 1999, when Rocket was being distributed by Universal Music’s daughter Island Def Jam Records, the label was shut down. However, the logo still appeared on all new Elton John releases through 2004’s Peachtree Road. The name was also resurrected in 2006 for the eponymous Platinum Weird album.


See also

  • List of record labels

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