Label Guide: Jet

Jet Records was an independent British record label set up by controversial music manager Don Arden in 1974. Arden is best known for overseeing the careers of the rock groups Small Faces, The Move, Electric Light Orchestra and Black Sabbath, but his often illegal business practices got him the nickname "Al Capone of Pop."

Some of the successful artists on Jet Records were Electric Light Orchestra, Roy Wood, Gary Moore, Ozzy Osbourne, Riot and Magnum. In the UK, Jet Records were distributed first by Island Records in 1974/75, then by Polydor Records from 1975 to 1976, then by United Artists from 1976 to 1978. In the US, a small Jet logo started appearing on the United Artists label in 1975 for releases by ELO and Wood. The Jet label was first used on an album for the ELO's "Out Of The Blue."

Jet Records switched their worldwide distribution to CBS Records early in 1978. In the 1980s, the label went into decline and financial difficulties eventually led to the sale of the company to Ross Bagdasarian (Alvin and the Chipmunks owner), who renamed it to Chipmunk Records.