Label Guide: Track

Track Records is an English record label founded in 1966 by Kit Lambert and Chris Stamp, then managers of The Who. Track was among the first British owned independent record labels, and the new label's first releases were by upcoming star Jimi Hendrix: the single "Purple Haze" and the album "Are You Experienced".

Within a year, Track Records was facing a lawsuit over the Hendrix releases, as American company PPX Enterprises had an exclusive recording contract with the artist, and Track was in violation of this contract. This quickly led to a large monetary settlement and financial trouble for the young label.

Track also distributed the Apple Records release by John Lennon and Yoko Ono titled Two Virgins in the UK original stereo copies of this album from 1968 had a Track Records logo and matrix number (613 012) on the label. The Who released all their famous LPs from 1967 to 1973 on Track, and additionally a number of Pete Townshend produced artists as Arthur Brown and Thunderclap Newman appeared on the label.

In 1974, The Who left Track Records for Polydor and by 1975, Track was left with only Golden Earring on its roster, who also soon left. After this, Track only released two more LPs before it ceased business operations in 1978.

Track Records was distributed by Polydor Records in the United Kingdom. In the United States, distribution changed from Atlantic Records to Decca Records in 1971, then to MCA Records in late 1972.