Label Guide: Douglas

Douglas Records was an American rock and jazz label, founded by producer Alan Douglas in 1967. Douglas worked for Roulette Records in New York and Barclay Records in Paris before he took charge of United Artists Records' jazz division in 1962. After United Artists, he launched the short-lived FM Records where he recorded two albums by jazz saxophonist Eric Dolphy.

When FM dissolved, he started his own company, Douglas International, later Douglas Producing Corporation, where Douglas Records would become a subsidiary. Distribution changed frequently, from Laurie Records to Pickwick/PIP, then Columbia and Casablanca Records. Alan Douglas became friends with Jimi Hendrix, also started recording him, but no albums by Hendrix were released on his label. Douglas Records is probably best known for its releases of John McLaughlin and The Last Poets material, both artists staying with the label for most of its lifespan.

Some of Douglas' last releases were the five part Wildflowers series in 1977 with New York jazz sessions. The label stopped releasing new material shortly after.