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Curb
Records as an independent recording label that is unique because it doesn’t
concentrate on a single genre, like most independent labels. Instead,
throughout its history, Curb Records has released songs that are pop, country,
Christian, rock, Rhythm and Blues and rap.
The
label began in 1964 in Los Angeles as Sidewalk Records. It was formed by Mike
Curb, an 18-year-old college student who wanted to name it Curb but could not
secure the name.
Mike
Curb began as a songwriter and leader of a local musical group that played
around L.A. and released several singles on small, indie labels before he
founded his own label. Curb’s first success as a songwriter came when he wrote
the music for a commercial, “You Meet The Nicest People On A Honda.” His first
success as a producer came when he wrote and produced the soundtrack for a
short, independent film, Skaterdater. That film caught the attention of Academy
Award winning director and producer Roger Corman, who distributed his films
through American International Pictures (AIP), which produced youth-oriented
films. Corman hired him to compose and produce the soundtrack to The Wild
Angels, which led to Curb producing and writing soundtracks and releasing
them on his label.
The
story of Curb Records is really the story of Mike Curb and his team who have
remained together for many decades. Curb has been the sole owner of Curb
Records for over 60 years. Curb was an ambitious, energetic teenager who fell
in love with 45 records and wanted to be part of the world that produced and
recorded 45rpms. Hollywood in the 1960s was a leader in counterculture and a
magnet for young people all over the country. It was a world of alternative
lifestyles and some of the greatest music ever created. Mike Curb was in the
right place at the right time with the right talent and skills.
Mike
was not “cool” when measured against others his age, but he was liked and
trusted by the older generation just ahead of him. They saw a young person who
was dependable and someone they could trust, connected to his peers but not
captured by the drug culture surrounding him.
Curb’s
first success as an entrepreneur came from composing, producing and releasing
soundtracks to over 60 films. Soundtracks that Curb produced and wrote for
included Wild Angels, Riot On Sunset Strip, Devil’s Angels,
Wild In The Street, Killers Three, Born Losers, Psych-Out
and The Savage Seven.
Because
Curb did not have any outside investors, the revenue from the films provided
the income to support his company and build new artists.
Curb
acquired a distribution agreement with Tower Records, a subsidiary of Capitol,
and the first hit single from his label was the instrumental “Apache 65;” the
label also had a hit with “Blues Theme,” from the Wild Angels
soundtrack, a best-selling album that he composed the music for.
Curb
continued his writing and producing success, creating the “Theme From American
Bandstand,” “The Hot Wheels Theme” from the TV Show “Hot Wheels” and the “Cattanooga
Cats Theme” from the ABC TV series “The Cattanooga Cats.”
In
1969, Curb was approached to become president and a partner in MGM Records. He brought
his assets into the company and became 20 percent owner of MGM Records and, at 24
years old, became president of MGM Record Corporation. Curb also became
Chairman of Robbins, Feist and Miller, one of the largest publishing companies
in the world. Those positions lasted from 1969 to 1974 and during that time, he
worked on the soundtracks for MGM films Zabriskie Point, Ryan’s
Daughter, The Strawberry Statement, No Blade of Grass and Frank
Sinatra’s Dirty Dingus Magee. His most successful composition was for Kelly’s
Heroes, starring Clint Eastwood. That yielded a hit single, “Burning
Bridges,” co-written by Curb and released by the Mike Curb Congregation. That
single was a Billboard top 40 chart hit and a number one record in many
parts of the world.
During
his time in Hollywood, Curb worked on films with Clint Eastwood, Bette Davis,
Frank Sinatra, George C. Scott, Ernest Borgnine, Dennis Hopper, Bruce Dern, Ryan
O’Neal, Telly Savalas, Jennifer Lopez, Gwyneth Paltrow, Peter Fonda, Nancy
Sinatra, Rock Hudson, George Kennedy, Jimmy Stewart and Jack Nicholson. Curb
has continued doing soundtracks for films for 60 years, including Coyote
Ugly, featuring LeAnn Rimes, which has sold over four million albums and Evan
Almighty starring Morgan Freeman.
Hit
records from the MGM years include “Here Comes The Sun” by Richie Havens,
“Signs” by the Five Man Electrical Band, “Spill The Wine” by Eric Burden And
War, “Montego Bay” by Bobby Bloom, “Spiders And Snakes” by Jim Stafford “Never
Can Say Goodbye” by Gloria Gayner, “Hang On In There Baby” by Johnny Bristol, “Natural
Man” by Lou Rawls (which won a Grammy) and The Incredible Bongo Band, which
became a foundational record in the history of Hip Hop.
Curb’s
productions include “Candy Man” by Sammy Davis, Jr., “Butterfly” by Trini
Lopez, “Wedding Song” by Petula Clark, “Daisy A Day” by Jud Strunk, “I Wish
That I Had Loved You Better” by Eddy Arnold and “So Young” by Roy Orbison,
One
of Curb’s biggest accomplishments came with The Osmonds, five brothers who had
previously appeared on “The Andy Williams Show.” Curb nurtured them into a pop
act who had hits such as “One Bad Apple,” “Yo-Yo,” “Down By The Lazy River,”
and “Love Me For A Reason” which Curb produced. Group member Donny Osmond had a
hit solo career with Curb-produced singles such as the international hit “Puppy
Love,” then joined his sister, Marie for a series of Curb-produced hits by
Donny and Marie including “I’m Leaving It All Up To You,” and “Morning Side Of The
Mountain.”
His
success led to him being named “Producer Of The Year” in 1972 by Billboard
magazine. (This was before the Grammys honored producers.) Curb shared the
award with Don Costa, who worked with Curb on a number of projects.
In
addition to his work with the MGM label, Curb was president of Verve, the legendary
jazz label owned by MGM. At Verve, Curb signed Tony Bennett and worked with Wes
Montgomery, Jimmy Smith, Bill Evans, Stan Getz and Chet Baker. Curb created the
Verve Golden Archive Series that featured jazz greats such as Ella Fitzgerald,
Judy Garland, Hugh Masekela, Count Basie, Louis Armstrong, Buddy Rich, Benny
Goodman, Herbie Hancock, George Benson, Charlie Parker and Dizzy Gillespie.
After
MGM Records was sold, Curb was asked to join Ronald Reagan’s campaign for
President as Co-Chairman in 1976. In 1980 Curb served as the National
Co-Chairman for Reagan’s successful Presidential campaign. Curb’s involvement
with Reagan led to Curb running for Lieutenant Governor of California in 1978.
He won that election and served as Lieutenant Governor and Acting Governor of
California. He later joined President Reagan in Washington as National Finance
Chairman. In 1986, Curb returned to the music business full time.
Curb Film & Television Soundtracks and
Commercials (songs written or co-written by Mike Curb)
1. "All
For The Love Of Sunshine" (from the film Kelly’s Heroes) Hank
Williams Jr. and The Mike Curb Congregation
2. "Alone
Never To Love Again" (Theme from the film Billy Jack): Terry
Stafford
3. "American
Bandstand Theme" (from the TV show “American Bandstand” starring Dick
Clark): Mike Curb and Waterfall
4. "Angel
Eyes" (Theme from the film Angel Eyes starring Jennifer Lopez):
Tamera Walker
5. "Burning
Bridges" (Theme From Kelly's Heroes starring Clint Eastwood): Clint
Eastwood and The Mike Curb Congregation
6. "Casey’s
Theme" (from the film The Glory Stompers starring Dennis Hopper):
Mike Curb
7. "Chilly
Winds" (from the film Pretty Maids All In A Row starring Rock Hudson):
The Osmonds
8. "Cycle
Chase" (from the film Cycle Chasers): The Buddies
9. “Dancing
The Night Away” (from the film Walking Stick): Mike Curb
10. "Dirty
Dingus Magee" (Theme from the film Dirty Dingus Magee starring
Frank Sinatra): Mike Curb Congregation
11. "Everywhere
I Look There's You" (from the film View From The Top starring
Gwyneth Paltrow and Mike Myers): Tamara Walker
12. "First
Meeting" (from the film Shaft's Big Score): Richard Roundtree
13. "On
The Move With Chevrolet " (Chevrolet Commercial): Mike Curb
14. "Hot
Wheels” (Theme from the ABC-TV Show “Hot Wheels”): Mike Curb
15. "If
I Could Only Go Back Again" (from the film Where The Red Fern Grows):
Andy Williams
16. "It
Takes All Kinds Of People" (from the film Moonshine Wars): Roy
Orbison and The Mike Curb Congregation
17. "It
Was A Good Time" (from the Emmy Award Winning TV Show “Liza With A Z” )
Liza Minelli; and “It Was A Good Time” (Theme from the film Ryan's Daughter):
Eydie Gorme and The Mike Curb Congregation
18. "Jesus
Take My Hand" (from the film Breaking The Press): Jamie Slocum
19. "Just
One Thing" (Theme from the film City Slickers starring Billy
Crystal): Mike Curb Congregation
20. "Let
The Fire Burn Hot" (Theme from the film Camille starring Sienna
Miller and James Franco): Kimberley Locke
21. "Love
Survives" (Theme for the film All Dogs Go To Heaven starring Dom
DeLuise and Burt Reynolds): Freddie Jackson and Irene Cara
22. "Never
Gonna Go Back There Again" and "Doing The Best That I Can":
(from the film Dreams Of Gold): Saloon
23. "No
Blade Of Grass" (Theme from the film No Blade Of Grass): Roger
Whitaker
24. "Saturday
Night Special" (from the film Welcome To Paradise): Wayne Newton
and Ronnie McDowell
25. "So
Young" (Theme from the film Zabriskie Point): Roy Orbison and
"So Young" (from the film Sunchaser): Roy Orbison
26. "The
Last Run" (Theme from the film The Last Run starring George C.
Scott): Steve Lawrence
27. "The
Magic Night" (Theme from the film Mondo Hollywood): Mike Clifford
28. "There's
Nothing Greater Than Our Love" (from the film Revenge): Al Martino
29. "Together
A New Beginning" (Ronald Reagan's Theme from the 1980 Republican National
Convention): Mike Curb Congregation
30. "When
Somebody Cares For You" (Theme from the film The Big Bounce
starring Ryan O'Neal and Leigh Taylor Young): Donny & Marie Osmond
31. "Go
Litle Honda (You Meet The Nicest People On A Honda") (commercial for
Honda): The Hondells
32. "You're
Not A Stranger Anymore" (Theme from the film Mac And Me): Jara Lane
33. “8
Young Men” (Theme from the film Devil's 8 starring Christopher George):
Mike Curb
34. “Blues
Theme” (from the film The Wild Angels starring Peter Fonda and Nancy
Sinatra): The Arrows
35. “Born
Losers Theme” (from the film The Born Losers): The Sidewalk Sounds
36. “Billy
Jack’s Theme” (from the film The Born Losers): The Arrows
37. “Calahan’s
Theme” (from the film Thunder Alley starring Annette Funicello and
Fabian): The Sidewalk Sounds
38. “Theme
From Cattanooga Cats” (from ABC-TV series “The Cattanooga Cats”): The Sidewalk
Sounds
39. “Devil’s
Angels Theme: (from the film Devil's Angels starring John Cassavetes):
Davie Allan and The Arrows
40. “Devil’s
Rumble” (from the film Inglourious Basterds directed by Quentin
Tarantino): Davie Allan and The Arrows
41. “Fiesta
In Old Mexico” (co-written with Linda Curb from the film Neon Highway):
Owen Rivera.
42. “Fly
With Me”: (from the TV show “Skyhawks”): Mike Curb
43. “From
The Desert To The Sea" (Jerry Dunphy's Theme): T.G. Sheppard
44. “Hawaiian
Circus” (from the film Golden Breed): Riptides
45. “He
Has A Name”: (co-written with Don Cusic from the film Home Unknown):
Tony Williams
46. “It’s
A Bikini World”: (theme from the film It's A Bikini World): Sidewalk
Sounds
47. “Last
Of The Red Hot Lovers” (Theme from the film Last Of The Red Hot Lovers
starring Alan Arkin): Donny Osmond and The Mike Curb Congregation
48. “Refugee”
(co-written with Don Cusic in the film Refugee Nation): Tony Williams
with the Mike Curb Congregation.
49. “Right
Or Wrong” (Theme from the film Bunny O'Hare starring Bette Davis and
Ernest Borgnine): Mike Curb Congregation
50. “Seven
Nights A Week” (from the film The Mae West Story): Mae West
51. “Skaterdater
Theme”(from the film Skaterdater; Cannes Film Award Winner): Sidewalk
Sounds
52. “Sunkist”
(Orange Juice Theme): Clinger Sisters
53. “Sunset
Theme” (from the film Riot On The Sunset Strip): Mike Curb
54. “We
Can Get There" (from Coyote Ugly Soundtrack) Mary Griffin and “We
Can Get There” (from the film Family Tree starring Naomi Judd and Cliff
Robertson): Mary Griffin
55. “Welcome
To Paradise” (Theme from the film Welcome To Paradise): Jeff Carson
56. “Theme
From The Wild Angels” (from the film The Wild Angels): The Ventures
57. “Bongo
Party” (from the film Wild Angels starring Peter Fonda): The Arrows and
the Bongo Band.
58. “Wild
Racers” (Theme from the film Wild Racers starring Fabian): Sidewalk
Sounds
59. “Zig
Zag” (Theme from the film Zig Zag starring George Kennedy): Roy Orbison
60. “Once
In A Lifetime” (from the film The Big Bounce): Mike Curb Congregation
Curb
Rock
Mike
Curb was living in Los Angeles when he started Curb Records, so the earliest
releases for his company had a strong West Coast connection. Curb was heavily
influenced by rock and pop music; it was the music of youth and Curb was
young—only 18 when he started his company. Artists released by Curb included
the Stone Poneys featuring Linda Ronstadt and The Electric Flag featuring Buddy
Miles and Michael Bloomfield. Curb was a member of a rock’n’roll band, The
Arrows, which featured Davie Allan. The band had several chart singles,
including “Apache ’65,” “Blues Theme” and the Theme from the film Wild
Angels starring Peter Fonda and composed by Mike Curb.
Curb
began as a songwriter, writing songs for Bobby Darin’s company. Curb’s songs
were recorded by The Ventures, The Crickets, The Hondells and other West Coast
rock artists as well as Roy Orbison, Sammy Davis, Jr., the Osmonds, Freddie
Jackson, Irene Cara, Kimberley Locke, Robbie Williams, Hank Williams Jr., Liza
Minelli and Solomon Burke.
Mike
had a partnership with Jim Guercio, and they signed the Chicago Transit
Authority, later known as Chicago, and Curb and his brother-in-law Tony Scotti,
were involved in the early releases by Foreigner, including “Feels Like The
First Time.”
As
an executive, Curb signed Eric Burdon and War, whose hit was “Spill the Wine,”
The Five Man Electrical Band with their hit, “Signs,” The Four Seasons “(Oh
What A Night”), the Righteous Brothers (“Unchained Melody”), Exile (“Kiss You
All Over”), Shaun Cassidy (“Da Doo Ron Ron”), “Montego Bay” by Bobby Bloom, “Here
Comes The Sun” by Richie Havens, “Fool’s Paradise” by The Sylvers “Hang On In
There, Baby” by Johnny Bristol, “Never Can Say Goodbye” by Gloria Gaynor, “So
Young” by Roy Orbison, “Let Your Love Flow” by the Bellamy Brothers, “Send Me
an Angel” by Real Life, “Over and Over” by Tim McGraw and Nelly in addition to the
Osmond Family, which had over 100 chart records.
Curb
produced African American artists Sammy Davis Jr. (“Candy Man”), Solomon
Burke’s tribute to Martin Luther King, Jr. “I Have A Dream,” and a string of
number one recordings by “American Idol” finalist Kimberley Locke. Curb’s
recording of “Apache ’65” and Curb’s composition “Bongo Party,” led to the
recordings of “Apache” and “Bongo Rock” by Curb’s Incredible Bongo Band (with
Michael Viner and Perry Botkin, Jr.) which were used by DJ Kool Herc and later
by Grandmaster Flash to create the break-to-break recordings that laid the
foundation for Hip Hop.
Curb
signed Lou Rawls, whose song “Natural Man” won a Grammy and Gloria Gaynor with
her groundbreaking number-one disco hit, “Never Can Say Goodbye.” He was a partner
with Al Bell at Stax for the soundtrack album Shaft featuring the Isaac
Hayes Academy Award winning song. In 2021 Curb won a Grammy with Paul Kwami for
producing the 150th Anniversary album by the Fisk Jubilee Singers.
Curb
Rock & Pop
1. “Go Little Honda
(You Meet The Nicest People On A Honda)” (Jerry Naylor version): The Hondells
2. “Blues Theme” (Wild
Angels): Davie Allan and The Arrows
3. “So Fine”: Stone
Poneys (Linda Ronstadt)
4. “Green and Gold”,
Electric Flag”: Mike Bloomfield and Buddy Miles
5. “Theme From
American Bandstand”: Mike Curb and Waterfall
6. “Anyone For
Tennis”(Savage Seven Soundtrack): Cream
7. “Unconscious Power
(Savage Seven Soundtrack)”: Iron Butterfly
8. “Questions 67 and
68”: Chicago Transit Authority
9. “Evil Woman”: Crow
10. “So Young”: Roy
Orbison
11. “Burning Bridges”:
Mike Curb Congregation
12. “Crumbling Land” (Zabriskie
Point Soundtrack): Pink Floyd
13. “Spill The Wine”:
Eric Burdon and War
14. “Montego Bay”:
Bobby Bloom
15. “Here Comes The
Sun”: Richie Havens
16. “Signs”: Five Man
Electric Band
17. “Natural Man”: Lou
Rawls
18. “One Bad Apple”:
The Osmonds
19. “Candy Man”: Sammy
Davis, Jr & The Mike Curb Congregation
20. “John Shaft”
(Theme From Shaft’s Big Score): Sammy Davis, Jr. & Isaac Hayes
21. “Fools Paradise”:
The Sylvers
22. “Havin’ A Party”:
The Ovations
23. “Spiders And
Snakes”: Jim Stafford
24. “Bongo Party” and
“Bongo Rock”: The Arrows & The Incredible Bongo Band (DJ Kool Herc)
25. “Apache ‘65”: The
Arrows & The Incredible Bongo Band (Grand Master Flash)
26. “Hang On In There
Baby”: Johnny Bristol
27. “Never Can Say
Goodbye”: Gloria Gaynor
28. “I Have A Dream”:
Solomon Burke
29. “Let Your Love
Flow”: Bellamy Bros.
30. “Da Doo Ron Ron”:
Shaun Cassidy
31. “I’m Leaving It
All Up To You”: Donny & Marie
32. “Kiss You All
Over”: Exile
33. “Sweet Southern
Love”: Phil Everly
34. “Military Drums”:
Hubert Kah
35. “Music That You
Can Dance To”: Sparks
36. “Dark Light”: The
Beat Farmers
37. “Never Too Old To
Rock And Roll”: Jerry Lee Lewis with Ronnie McDowell
38. ”Send Me An
Angel”: Real Life
39. “Unchained
Melody”: Righteous Bros.
40. “The Devil Came Up
To Michigan”: K.M.C. KRU (early Hip Hop chart record)
41. “The Slide”: The
Barkays
42. “Everytime I Roll
The Dice”: Delbert McClinton
43. “Love Survives”:
Irene Cara & Freddie Jackson
44. “December 1963 (Oh
What A Night)”: Four Seasons
45. “How Do I Live”:
LeAnn Rimes
46. “Buzz Me”: B.B.
King
47. The “F” Word”: Kid
Rock with Hank Williams Jr.
48. “Can’t Fight The
Moonlight” (Coyote Ugly): LeAnn Rimes
49. “Yeah, Yeah,
Yeah”: Fat Joe and The Terror Squad
50. “Over And Over”:
Tim McGraw with Nelly
51. “Body Shots”: Kaci
Battaglia with Ludacris
52. “He Has A Name”:
Tony Williams
53. “Fuego”: Stephen
Malcolm (with Shaggy)
54. “Suda”: Melanie
Pfirrman (featuring Pit Bull)
55. “Summertime”:
Jay-Way (with Snoop Dogg)
56. “Something
Better”: Blanca
57. “Get Back Your
Fight”: Sarah Reeves
58. “Cages”: Owen
Rivera
59. “Priceless”: for
KING & COUNTRY
60. “Who I Am”: Wyn
Starks
Sidewalk Pop
1.
“Skaterdater Rock”: Sidewalk Sounds
2.
“Apache '65”: The Arrows
3.
“Life”: Joe Leahy
4.
“Go Little Honda (You Meet The Nicest People On A Honda)”: The
Hondells featuring Jerry Naylor
5.
“Little Honda”: The Buddies
6.
“So Fine”: Stone Poneys featuring Linda Ronstadt
7.
“Green And Gold”: Electric Flag featuring Mike
Bloomfield
8.
“Shape Of Things To Come”: Max Frost and The
Troopers
9.
“Riot On Sunset Strip”: Standells
10. “Blues
Theme”: Davie Allan And The Arrows
11. “Black
Souls”: Casey Kasem
12. “Can't
Get Too Much Love”: Johnny Praye
13. “Devil's
8 Theme”: Mike Curb Congregation
14. “Angelica”: Johnny
Crawford
15. “Jug
Band Music”: The Mugwumps
16. “Last
Wave Of The Day”: The Riptides
17. “What's
A Girl To Do”: Annette Funicello
18. “American
Bandstand Theme”: Mike Curb and Waterfall
19. “So
High, So Low”: Aaron McNeil
20. “Hot
Wheels”: Mike Curb
21. “Skyhawks”: Mike
Curb
22. “But
For Love”: Jerry Naylor
23. “Alone
Never To Love Again”: Terry Stafford
24. “Billy
Jack's Theme”: From The Born Losers
25. “The
Wild Angels Theme”: Hands Of Time
26. “Bongo
Party”: Davie Allan & The Arrows
27. “Once
In A Lifetime”: Mike Curb Congregation
28. “When
Somebody Cares For You”: The Big Bounce Soundtrack
29. “Wild
Racer Theme”: Sidewalk Sounds
30. “Flash,
Bam, Pow”: Buddy Miles
31. “Go
To Pieces”
32. “Good
Morning Sunrise”: Chad Stuart
33. “Psych-out
Sanctorum”: The Storybook
34. “Devil's
Rumble”: Davie Allan
35. “On
The Move With Chevrolet”: Mike Curb
36. “Sunkist”: The
Clingers
37. “Seven
Nights A Week”: Mae West
38. “Great
Balls Of Fire”: Mae West with The Mike Curb Congregation
39. “Open
Up Your Heart”: The Osmonds
40.
“You're Not A Stranger Anymore”: Jara Lane
41. “Hang
On”: Hank Williams III
42. “Chaka
Khan” : Andreas Moss (feat Sinclair)
43. “Suda”: Melanie
Pfirrman (feat. Pitbull & IAmChino)
44. “Dancing
My Way”: Wyn Starks
Sun Records 60th Anniversary
One
of the most significant accomplishments for Curb is the partnership with Sun
Records that has existed for many years. Curb Records honored the 60th
Anniversary of Sun Records by releasing a boxed set of 60 original releases
from Sun that captured the legacy of the label that defined the development of
rock n’ roll. The collection includes some of the earliest recordings by Sam
Phillips at the Memphis Recording Services Studio, now known as the Sun
Studios. They include early recordings by B.B. King, Jackie Brenston and the
Delta Cats, Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis, Roy Orbison, Conway Twitty, The
Prisonaires, Junior Parker, Carl Perkins, Billy Lee Riley, Jack Clement, Bill
Justis, Charlie Rich and Elvis Presley. In addition to the first single by
Elvis, there are two early demos he recorded before he became a Sun artist.
Curb
Records released The E Connection: The King Is Gone, on the 30th
Anniversary of the death of Elvis. That release included “The King Is Gone,” a
hit single by Ronnie McDowell released in 1977 shortly after Elvis died. On
that recording were the Jordanaires and musicians who played on Elvis’s
records.
Curb
Records has a special relationship with Sun and released the albums Roy
Orbison’s Sun and the film recordings written with Mike Curb on The Best Of
Roy Orbison, Final Recordings by Conway Twitty, Best Of Charlie
Rich, Best Of Little Milton, Best Of Howlin’ Wolfe, Best Of
Carl Perkins, the boxed set of Jerry Lee Lewis and the boxed set of Johnny
Cash.
Curb
helped create and distribute Red Hot and Blue, featuring major Memphis
recording artists B.B. King and Isaac Hayes.
The
Mike Curb Foundation purchased and restored Elvis Presley’s first home in
Memphis. The home serves as the laboratory for the Curb Institute at Rhodes
College. The Curb Galleries at the Rock and Soul Museum feature the histories
of Sun Records, Stax Records and the other great labels and artists in the
history of Memphis music.
Sun
Records 60th Anniversary
1. “B.B. Blues”: B.B.
King
2. “Rocket 88”:
Jackie Brenston and the Delta Cats
3. “How Many More
Years”: Howlin’ Wolf
4. “Boogie In The
Park”: Joe Hill Louis
5. “Drivin’ Slow”:
Johnny London
6. “Bear Cat”: Rufus
Thomas Jr.
7. “Just Walkin’ In
The Rain”: The Prisonaires
8. “My Happiness”:
Elvis Presley (demo)
9. “That’s When Your
Heartaches Begin”: Elvis Presley (demo)
10. “Tiger Man”: Rufus
Thomas
11. “Mystery Train”:
Little Junior’s Blue Flames
12. “Somebody Told
Me”: Little Milton
13. “My Kind Of
Carrying On”: Doug Poindexter and the Starlite Wranglers
14. “Cotton Crop
Blues”: James Cotton
15. “That’s All
Right”: Elvis Presley—Scotty and Bill
16. “Red Hot”: Billy
“The Kid” Emerson
17. “Cry! Cry! Cry!”:
Johnny Cash and The Tennessee Two
18. “Mystery Train”:
Elvis Presley—Scotty and Bill
19. “I Forgot To
Remember To Forget”: Elvis Presley—Scotty and Bill
20. “Folsom Prison
Blues”: Johnny Cash and The Tennessee Two
21. “Blue Suede
Shoes”: Carl Perkins
22. “Red Headed
Woman”: Sonny Burgess
23. “Rock And Roll
Ruby”: Warren Smith
24. “I Walk The Line”:
Johnny Cash and The Tennessee Two
25. “Ooby Dooby”: Roy
Orbison and The Teen Kings
26. “Boppin’ The
Blues”: Carl Perkins
27. “Ubangi Stomp”:
Warren Smith
28. “Shoobie Oobie”:
Roscoe Gordon
29. “Crazy Arms”:
Jerry Lee Lewis
30. “I Shall Not Be
Moved”: Million Dollar Quartet (Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Carl Perkins and
Jerry Lee Lewis
31. “Crazy Dreams”:
Harold Jenkins (Conway Twitty)
32. “Just In Time”:
Harold Jenkins (Conway Twitty)
33. “Flying Saucer
Rock and Roll”: Billy Lee Riley and His Little Green Men
34. “Your True Love”:
Carl Perkins
35. “Next In Line”:
Johnny Cash
36. “Whole Lot Of
Shakin’ Going On”: Jerry Lee Lewis
37. “Rock Boppin’
Baby”: Edwin Bruce
38. “Home Of The
Blues”: Johnny Cash
39. “Good Lovin’”:
Dickey Lee and The Collegiates
40. “Great Balls Of
Fire”: Jerry Lee Lewis and His Pumping Piano
41. “You Win Again”:
Jerry Lee Lewis and His Pumping Piano
42. “Ballad Of A
Teenage Queen”: Johnny Cash and The Tennessee Two
43. “Big River”:
Johnny Cash and The Tennessee Two
44. “Breathless”:
Jerry Lee Lewis and His Pumping Piano
45. “Ten Years”: Jack
Clement
46. “Guess Things
Happen That Way”: Johnny Cash
47. “High School
Confidential”: Jerry Lee Lewis and His Pumping Piano
48. “Drinkin’ Wine”:
Gene Simmons
49. “The Ways Of A
Woman In Love”: Johnny Cash
50. “You’re the
Nearest Thing To Heaven”: Johnny Cash
51. “It’s Just About
Time”: Johnny Cash
52. “Claudette”: Roy
Orbison
53. “Thanks A Lot”:
Johnny Cash
54. “What’d I Say”:
Jerry Lee Lewis
55. “Cold, Cold,
Heart”: Jerry Lee Lewis
56. “Big Dream”:
Rayburn Anthony
57. “Uncle Jonas”:
Harold Dorman
58. “Raunchy”: Bill
Justis and His Orchestra
59. “Mona Lisa”: Carl
Mann
60. “Lonely Weekend”:
Charlie Rich
Curb
Country
Mike
Curb was involved with West Coast country music from his early days and in 1969
that involvement intensified when he merged his company with MGM Records and
signed Hank Williams Jr to a major recording contract. In addition, Curb signed
Mel Tillis, Billy Walker, Don Gibson, Ray Stevens, Eddy Arnold, Tompall and the
Glaser Brothers and Kenny Rogers and The First Edition.
Curb’s
career with Hank Williams Jr. covered over 45 years. It started at the Landmark
Hotel in Las Vegas where the Mike Curb Congregation was performing with Hank
Jr. and the two agreed to record a Hank Jr. album featuring the Mike Curb
Congregation. Hank Jr.’s first number one record, “All For The Love Of Sunshine”
was co-written by Curb and was also Curb’s first number one.
Curb
Records concentrated heavily on country after it moved to Nashville in 1992 and
built a roster that included Hal Ketchum, Sawyer Brown and Boy Howdy. During
this period Curb signed and guided the careers of international superstars
LeAnn Rimes, Tim McGraw, The Judds, Wynonna, Jo Dee Messina and Rodney Atkins. In
2010, Curb artist Lee Brice’s “Love Like Crazy” was Billboard’s Record
of the Year.
Through
the years Curb has been involved with joint ventures and distribution agreements
with other labels and in 1989, Curb entered into an agreement with Capitol
Records to compile and release over 100 albums containing Capitol’s key artists
on the Curb label. Capitol had been reluctant to release CDs during the 1980s
and Curb had grown up in Hollywood and knew the catalogue.
In
2001, Curb Records became the first independent label to be named Billboard’s
Country Label of the Year. Curb has released groundbreaking country/rock
records that included Hank Jr.’s “All My Rowdy Friends (Are Coming Over
Tonight”), Chris Hillman’s Desert Rose Band (“One Step Forward”), the Bellamy
Brothers (“Let Your Love Flow”), Kenny Rogers (“Today I Started Loving You
Again”), Mel Tillis (“I Ain’t Never”), Steve Holy (“Good Morning Beautiful”),
Lyle Lovett (“Cowboy Man”), Clay Walker (“Fall”), LeAnn Rimes (“Blue”) Jo Dee
Messina (“Heads Carolina”), Sawyer Brown (“Some Girls Do” ) Rodney Atkins (“If You’re
Going Through Hell”), Dylan Scott (“My Girl”), Lee Brice (“One of Them Girls”)
and Tim McGraw (“Live Like You Were Dying”).
Curb
Country
1. “Hot Dawg”: Mike
Curb and the Curbstones
2. “Thoughtless”: The
Crickets
3. “Everybody’s Got
Their Own Ideas”: Stone Poneys featuring Linda Ronstadt
4. “Killers Three”:
Merle Haggard
5. “Big In Vegas”:
Buck Owens
6. “Rings”: Tompall
and The Glaser Bros.
7. “All For The Love
Of Sunshine”: Hank Williams Jr. and The Mike Curb Congregation
8. “It Takes All
Kinds Of People”: Roy Orbison
9. “Give Myself A
Party”: Jeannie C. Riley
10. “I Ain’t Never”:
Mel Tillis
11. “Gone Our Endless
Love”: Billy Walker
12. “Daisy A Day”: Jud
Strunk
13. “Today I Started
Loving You Again”: Kenny Rogers
14. “Paper Roses”:
Marie Osmond
15. “Wildwood Weed”:
Jim Stafford
16. “I Wish That I Had
Loved You Better”: Eddy Arnold
17. “Sweet Sensuous
Sensations”: Don Gibson
18. “Nashville”: Ray
Stevens
19. “Devil In The
Bottle”: T.G. Sheppard
20. “Old Hippie”: The
Bellamy Bros.
21. “Stay With Me”:
Exile
22. “Step That Step”:
Sawyer Brown
23. “All My Rowdy
Friends Are Coming Over Tonight”: Hank Williams Jr.
24. “Six Pack to Go”:
Vince Gill & Hank Thompson
25. “Till I’m Too Old
To Die Young”: Moe Brandy
26. “It’s Only Make
Believe”: Ronnie McDowell & Conway Twitty
27. “That Old Wheel”:
Johnny Cash & Hank Williams Jr.
28. “Grandpa”: The
Judds
29. “There’s A Tear In
My Beer”: Hank Williams Sr. & Hank Williams Jr.
30. “She Don’t Love
Nobody”: Desert Rose Band featuring Chris Hillman
31. “Small Town
Saturday Night”: Hal Ketchum
32. “The Car”: Jeff
Carson
33. “You Have The
Right To Remain Silent”: Perfect Stranger
34. “Sending Me
Angels”: Delbert McClinton
35. “No One Else On
Earth”: Wynonna
36. “She’s No Lady,
She’s My Wife”: Lyle Lovett
37. “Indian Outlaw”:
Tim McGraw
38. “She’d Give
Anything”: Boy Howdy featuring Jeffrey Steele
39. “It’s Your Love”:
Faith Hill & Tim McGraw
40. “Blue”: LeAnn
Rimes
41. “If I Never Stop
Loving You”: David Kersh
42. “I’m Alright”: Jo
Dee Messina
43. “Hang On”: Hank
Williams III
44. “God Bless The
USA”: Lee Greenwood with the Fisk Jubilee Singers
45. “Three Wooden
Crosses”: Randy Travis
46. “It’s A
Heartache”: Trick Pony
47. “She Won’t Be
Lonely Long”: Clay Walker
48. “Good Morning
Beautiful”: Steve Holy
49. “If You’re Going
Through Hell”: Rodney Atkins
50. “Johnny &
June”: Heidi Newfield
51. “Love Like Crazy”:
Lee Brice
52. “Southern Voice”:
Tim McGraw
53. “My Girl”: Dylan
Scott
54. “Sparkle”: Harper
Grace
55. “Freedom”: Harper
Grace
56. “Buy A Bar”: Tim
Dugger
57. “Life With You”:
Kelsey Hart
58. “Country”: Mo
Pitney
59. “Wine Country”:
Hannah Ellis
60. “Desperado
Troubadour”: Sawyer Brown
61. “Watching You”:
Rodney Atkins
62. “Felt Good On My
Lips”: Tim McGraw
63. “One Of Them
Girls”: Lee Brice
Sidewalk
Country
1.
“Everybody Has Their Own Ideas”: Stone Poneys
featuring Linda Ronstadt
2.
“My Special Angel”: Jerry Naylor
3.
“Little Pink Mac”: Kay Adams
4.
“Soldier Boy”: Terry Stafford
5.
“Ol' Country Dog”: Mike Curb
6.
“I Saw The Light”: Mike Curb
Congregation
7.
“Whatever Happened To The Good Old Honky Tonk”: Pat
Boone
8.
“Killers Three: Merle Haggard
9.
“Forget Him”: Casey Kasem
10. “Why
Can't He Be You”: Mary Ford
11. “Sunset
Theme”: Sidewalk Sounds
12. “Never
Gonna Go Back There Again”: Bob & Penny
13. “Doin'
The Best I Can”: From Dreams Of Gold
14. “All
I Need Is You: Dick Curless
“I Take A Lot Of Pride In What I Am”: Doug
Brooks
15. “Hillbilly
Joker”: Hank Williams III
16. “Jesse
James”: Clay Walker
17. “Makin'
This Boy Go Crazy”: Dylan Scott
18. “Georgia
Girl, Bama Boy”: Tim Dugger & Rachel Holder
19. “Taylor
Swift”: Tyler Dean
20. “Rainy
Day Radio”: Ashley Gearing
21. “Get
Drunk And Cry”: Ruthie Collins
22. “Why’d
You Have To Be So Good”: Heidi Newfield
23. “Boys
Will Be”: Jackson Michelson
In the Beginning: Curb Records Gospel and
Christian Recordings
The
roots for Christian music on Curb go back to a choir at The First Baptist
Church in Los Angeles. Mike Curb was a member of that choir and later became
President of his high school choir in the San Fernando Valley of California.
During
his senior year in High School, Curb recorded “I Saw the Light” with his group and
borrowed his father’s car to drive to Waco, Texas, home of Word Records, to
pitch the recording to Jarrell McCracken, president of Word. McCracken saw
potential in Curb, who had just graduated from high school, and encouraged him
to continue with his recordings and later released the Mike Curb Congregation’s
version of “I Saw The Light” on Word Records. That was in the summer of 1962
and that Fall, Mike entered San Fernando Valley College.
Word
Records has a long history dating back to 1951 when the label was formed in
Waco, Texas by Jarrell McCracken, a student at Baylor University, Henry SoRelle
and Ted Snider. The label began when McCracken’s spoken word recording, “The
Game Of Life,” was released on WORD, a fictional radio station that became the
name of the label.
The
label expanded into books, music and created other labels such as Canaan for
Southern Gospel and Myrrh and Dayspring for contemporary Christian music. They
signed distribution deals with labels Solid Rock, Home Sweet Home, Light
Records, Reunion and Star Song. By the mid-1970s, Word was the largest Christian
and gospel record label.
In
1976, McCracken sold part of his interest in the label to the American
Broadcasting Company; in 1986, ABC merged with Capital Cities and McCracken
left the company. Capital Cities/ABC sold the label to Thomas Nelson, Inc and
they moved the headquarters from Waco to Nashville. Thomas Nelson was primarily
a book publisher, so they sold the record label to Gaylord Entertainment in
1996.
In
2001, the Word Entertainment Group was sold to AOL/Time Warner in partnership
with Curb Records. At this point, Curb acquired 20 percent of Word with Warners
owning 80 percent until 2016 when Curb acquired 100 percent and the label became
Curb |Word. This made Curb the owner of Word which was the largest record
company ever founded in the history of Texas.
Through
the years, a who’s who of Christian and Gospel artists have been affiliated
with Word. Those include Amy Grant, the Cathedrals, Evie, the Gaither Vocal
Band, the Florida Boys, the Imperials, Rich Mullins, Sandi Patty, Petra, Randy
Stonehill, George Beverly Shea, Russ Taff, Love and the Outcome, Group 1 Crew,
About A Mile, Jaci Velasquez, Randy Travis, Shirley Caesar and the Fairfield
Four.
Significantly,
Curb Records had formed its own Christian division in the late 1960s, which
included groundbreaking West Coast Christian artists Larry Norman, Second
Chapter of Acts, the Boone Girls, and DeGarmo and Key. Through the years Curb
signed and developed major Christian artists such as Natalie Grant, Patty
Cabrera, Plumb, MIKES CHAIR, Michael English, Jonathan Pierce, Selah, Whiteheart,
Fernando Ortego, and Debby Boone, who recorded “You Light Up My Life,” which
many consider to be the biggest Christian crossover record of all time.
Curb
was a partner in the recording of “I Can Only Imagine” by MercyMe, which became
a number one record that crossed over to pop.
In
recent years, the Curb | Word artist roster has included Mark Schultz, Nicole
C. Mullin, Building 429, Salvador, Pocket Full of Rocks, Point of Grace, Chris
August, and Randy Travis.
The
current roster includes for KING AND COUNTRY, Hannah Kerr, Blanca, Dan Bremnes,
Meredith Andrews, Francesca Battistelli, Big Daddy Weave, Natalie Grant, Stephen
Malcolm, Sidewalk Prophets, Stars Go Dim, and We Are Messengers.
Word Records (Curb |
Word): Six Decades Of Hits
DISC
1: The Early Years
1. ”El Shaddai”: Amy
Grant
2. “We Will Stand”:
Russ Taff
3. “When God Ran”:
Benny Hester
4. “Home Where I
Belong”: B.J. Thomas
5. “Praise The Lord”:
The Imperials
6. “Shut De Do’”:
Randy Stonehill
7. “We Are The
Reason”: David Meece
8. “Flesh Of My
Flesh”: Leon Patillo
9. “Special
Delivery”: Evie
10. “Easter Song”: 2nd
Chapter of Acts
11. “Clean Before My
Lord”: Honeytree
12. “I Wish We’d All
Been Ready”: Randy Matthews
13. “I’d Rather Have
Jesus”: George Beverly Shea
14. “Oh, How He Loved
You And Me”: Wanda Geddie Brickner & Kurt Kaiser
15. “Lord Achieve Thy
Holy Purpose”: Mike Curb Congregation
16. “The Lighthouse”:
The Happy Goodmans
17. “He’s Everything
To Me”: Cliff Barrows & The Gang
18. “The Game Of
Life”: Jarrell McCracken
DISC
2: Yesterday’s Favorites
1. “Kiss Me”:
Sixpence None the Richer
2. “Three Wooden Crosses”:
Randy Travis
3. “Redeemer”: Nicole
C. Mullen
4. “On My Knees”:
Jaci Velasquez
5. “Blessed”: Rachel
Lampa
6. “Heaven”: Salvador
7. “People Get
Ready”: Crystal Lewis
8. “Another Time…Another
Place”: Sandi Patty and Wayne Watson
9. “Undivided”: First
Call
10. “Beyond Belief”:
Petra
11. “Surrender”: 4Him
12. “Revive Us”: Anointed
13. “I Will Be Free”:
Cindy Morgan
14. “Behold the Lamb”:
David Phelps
15. “The Good Day”:
Fernando Ortega
16. “Everywhere I
Look”: Phil Keaggy
17. “Heaven”: Shirley
Caesar
DISC
3: Today’s Hits
1. “Free To Be Me”:
Francesca Battistelli
2. “Starry Night”:
Chris August
3. “The Words I Would
Say”: Sidewalk Prophets
4. “Every Time I
Breathe”: Big Daddy Weave
5. “Washed By The Water”:
NEEDTOBREATHE
6. “How You Live”:
Point of Grace
7. “I Am”: Mark
Schultz
8. “You’re Not Alone”:
Meredith Andrews
9. “Glory Defined”: Building
429
10. “Keys To The Kingdom”:
Group 1 Crew
11. “Never Alone”:
BarlowGirl
12. “Beautiful One”:
By the Tree
13. “Me And Jesus”:
Stellar Kart
14. “It’s All About
You”: pureNRG
15. “Suitcases”: Dara
Maclean
16. “Mercy”: Patrick
Ryan Clark
17. “Light It Up”: for
KING & COUNTRY
Curb
Contemporary Christian and Gospel
1. “I Wish We’d All
Been Ready”: Larry Norman
2. “Jesus Is”: Second
Chapter of Acts
3. “His Song Shall Be
Sung”: Lou Rawls with the Mike Curb Congregation
4. “It’s A Small
World”: Mike Curb Congregation
5. “Too Far Too
Long”: DeGarmo & Key
6. “When The Love
Light Starts Shining Through His Eyes”: Boone Girls
7. “Glory Train”: Pat
Boone
8. “You Light Up My
Life”: Debby Boone
9. “Always There For
You”: Stryper
10. “I Got You”:
Solomon Burke
11. “Even The Hardest
Heart”: Whiteheart
12. “Love Can Build A
Bridge”: Judds
13. “Always And
Forever”: Patty Cabrera
14. “Gospel Ship”:
Michael English
15. “Healing Hands”:
Jonathan Pierce
16. “I Need You”:
LeAnn Rimes
17. “Shining Star”:
Yolanda Adams
18. “Angel Eyes”:
Tamara Walker
19. “Poor Man Lazrus”:
Fisk Jubilee Singers
20. “God Bless The
USA”: Lee Greenwood
21. “Held”: Natalie
Grant
22. “Don’t Dream It’s
Over”: Sixpence None the Richer
23. “No Greater Love”:
Rachel Lampa
24. “You’re My God”:
Jaci Velasquez
25. “I’m Ready”:
Shirley Caesar & Kirk Franklin
26. “Simple Things”:
Amy Grant
27. “I Can Only
Imagine”: MercyMe
28. “Broken &
Beautiful”: Mark Schulz
29. “Whatever it
Takes”: Nate Sallie
30. “Three Wooden
Crosses”: Randy Travis
31. “Everyday People”:
Nicole C. Mullen
32. “Day By Day”:
Point of Grace
33. “All Around the
World”: Souljahz
34. “Glory Defined”:
Building 429
35. “Heaven”: Salvador
36. “Let Go”: Barlow
Girl
37. “Every Time I
Breathe”: Big Daddy Weave
38. “Traveler”:
Fernando Ortega
39. “You Raise Me Up”:
Selah
40. “Resurrection”:
Nicol Sponberg
41. “Everybody’s Got A
Song To Sing”: Group 1 Crew
42. “All Along”:
Remedy Drive
43. “Dependence”:
Jamie Slocum
44. “In My Arms”:
Plumb
45. “Free To Be Me”:
Francesca Battistelli
46. “Come As You Are”:
Pocket Full of Rocks
47. “Let the Waters
Rise”: MIKESCHAIR
48. “The Words I Would
Say”: Sidewalk Prophets
49. “Starry Night”:
Chris August
50. “Lead You To The
Cross”: No Other Name
51. “Even Louder”:
Steven Malcolm and Natalie Grant
52. “Lift Every Voice
And Sing”: Melinda Doolittle
53. “You Are Loved”:
Stars Go Dim
54. “No One Loves Me
Like You Do”: Dan Bremnes
55. “Maybe It’s O.K.”:
We Are Messengers
56. “Even At My
Worst”: Blanca
57. “Details”: Sarah
Reeves
58. “Make Room”:
Meredith Andrews
59. “Jesus Is Why”:
Hannah Kerr
60. “What Are We
Waiting For”: for KING AND COUNTRY
Billy Graham International Crusade Choirs
Curb
Records released a special boxed set that honored the 60th
anniversary of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association. This set of 60
recordings was comprised of recordings of choirs from around the world as they
performed at a Billy Graham Crusade. The collection is divided into choirs from
Australia and New Zealand, from Europe and from the United States. The
performers include George Beverly Shea, who had a long-time association with
Billy Graham, dating back to Graham’s college days. The set also includes
remarks by Billy Graham.
The
album also honored Mike Curb’s grandfather who was a minister for over 50 years
and was inducted into the Oklahoma Christian Hall of Fame. During his career,
The Mike Curb Congregation performed with Billy Graham and the group recorded
and released a double album containing 60 of Billy Graham’s favorite songs.
The
following songs are those recorded by the Mike Curb Congregation.
60th
Anniversary Tribute To Billy Graham
Disc
One
1. “A Mighty Fortress
Is Our God”
2. “Abide With Me”
3. “All Creatures Of
Our God And King”
4. “All Glory Laud And
Honor”
5. “All Hail The
Power Of Jesus’ Name”
6. “Be Still My Soul”
7. “Be Thou My
Vision”
8. “Beneath The Cross
Of Jesus”
9. “Blessed
Assurance”
10. “Blessed Be The
Tie That Binds”
11. “Bringing In The
Sheaves”
12. “Christ the Lord
Is Risen Today”
13. “Come Thou
Almighty King”
14. “Come Ye Thankful
People Come”
15. “Count Your
Blessings”
16. “Crown Him With
Many Crowns”
17. “Fairest Lord
Jesus”
18. “Faith Of Our Fathers”
19. “For The Beauty Of
The Earth”
20. “Glory Be To The
Father”
21. “God Of Our Fathers”
22. “Have Thine Own Way”
23. “He Leadeth Me O
Blessed Thought”
24. “Holy, Holy Holy”
25. “I Love To Tell
The Story”
26. “I Need Thee Every
Hour”
27. “I Surrender All”
28. “In The Sweet Bye
& Bye”
29. “Jesus Loves Me”
30. “Jesus Loves The
Little Children
Disc
Two
1. “Just As I Am”
2. “Leaning On The
Everlasting Arms”
3. “The Lord’s
Prayer”
4. “May Jesus Christ
Be Praised”
5. “Nearer My God To
Thee”
6. “Oh God Our Help
In Ages Past”
7. “O How I Love
Jesus”
8. “Old Rugged Cross”
9. “Power In The
Blood”
10. “Praise God From
Whom All Blessings Flow”
11. “Rock Of Ages”
12. “Shall We Gather
At The River”
13. “Softly &
Tenderly”
14. “Stand Up Stand Up
For Jesus”
15. “Sweet Hour Of
Prayer”
16. “The Church’s One
Foundation”
17. “This Is My
Father’s World”
18. “What A Friend We
Have In Jesus”
19. “When The Roll Is
Called Up Yonder”
20. “Where Could I Go
But To The Lord”
21. “Amazing Grace”
22. “God Be With You”
23. “Joyful, Joyful We
Adore Thee”
24. “Were You There”
25. “His Eye Is On The
Sparrow
26. “Nobody Knows The
Trouble I’ve Seen”
27. “Onward Christian
Soldiers”
28. “The Church In The
Wildwood”
29. “America The
Beautiful”
30. “Battle Hymn Of
The Republic
|
