Dunhill

Initially Dunhill Productions, established in 1964 by partners Lou Adler (label's president and chief record producer from 1964 to 1967), Pierre Cossette, Jay Lasker and Bobby Roberts (5). After producing several successful releases for Johnny Rivers, Dunhill Records launched in 1965, distributed by ABC-Paramount Records, Inc.. Black label art with a distinctive logo containing the word “Dunhill” inside a hillock-shaped frame was used. The label's hits by The Mamas & The Papas and Barry McGuire made it a success; Adler sold his portion of the company to ABC in late 1966. The ABC Records logo was added to Dunhill label art in 1968, but the company remained a separate subsidiary. In 1974, another corporate re-imaging gave all ABC subsidiaries new label artwork with concentric colored rings and the round ABC logo at top adjacent to the subsidiary label name. At this point, the label name officially changed to ABC Dunhill. The label ceased to exist with the acquisition of ABC Records by MCA in 1979. Active 1964 to 1974. U.S.A. releases had several main label styles. Entry instructions follow: 1) 1964 to 1968: Dunhill logo within arched yellow box (Image). Enter Dunhill as Main Label. 2) 1968 to 1970: Dunhill & ABC Records logos in conjoined "rainbow" boxes (Image). Enter Dunhill as primary Main Label + ABC Records as secondary Main Label. 3) 1971 to 1973, some 1974: Dunhill & ABC Records logos in separate "rainbow" boxes (Image). Enter Dunhill as primary Main Label + ABC Records as secondary Main Label. 4) 1973 only: Dunhill logo spelled out in children's blocks, presented adjacent to ABC Records logo (Image). Enter Dunhill as primary Main Label + ABC Records as secondary Main Label. (Used only for a short time before return to 3rd style.) DO NOT USE for 1974 to 1979 releases with ABC Dunhill logo on yellow/orange/purple/blue "target" labels. Enter only ABC Dunhill as Main Label.