Late to the party on this one, Tom, but excellent re-cap on Mo's influence on the label, and of course, the biz in general! He, Joe, Lenny, Ted, and the whole creative staff, were the standard-bearers in crafting CAREERS for their stable of artists! Today, it's slap-a-Max-Martin-song-onto-the-latest-pretty-face (add Auto-Tune, of course), and where will they be in 10 months, much less 10 years?
I had a "front-row seat" from the late '60s thru the early '80s on The Bunny's operations: Dad was in Houston radio (selling ad time on the CBS-owned KTRH-AM and KLOL-FM), and not only brought home the weekly Warners promo LP output in the late '60s during my jr. hi years (he'd give me the rock promos, as he was into jazz!), but in the early '70s when I was in hi school!
That also meant I was introduced to WB's promo periodical, "Circular," and was thus privy to all the new-release info and exclusive interviews, much, if not all of which was provided by Barry Hansen aka Dr. Demento! In fact, his writing style has informed my style ever since!
One of the first places I made sure to visit upon my early '80 move from Houston to L.A. was 3300 Warner Blvd, their relatively-newly-built Burbank offices! I didn't have the chutzpah to dare ask to see any of the key players I had read so much about who already seemed like friends! I had actually made the move in the first place to try my hand at working for a label, with WB directly in my sights, either in merch, promotion, sales, etc!
But, with a recent industry crash having just taken place (ca. 1979, about which I recently wrote, with Fleetwood Mac's "Tusk" being one of two causal album effects I cite), I didn't, as labels were undergoing massive lay-offs!
Anyway, I enjoyed your tribute, Tom, which, for me, was a pleasurable trip down memory lane few have known! But, your article sheds new light on a record biz long gone, and with any luck, Mo's contributions can be recalled and used, somehow, in the still-new century! I'm sure he'd like to think it's not too late!🐰
I know you did Skip! Such a legacy!!!
I seriously always wanted to meet Joe and Mo...the guys who really made it all happen
Loved this, Tom. I can't even imagine being in an environment like that.
Well said!!!! Made records fir Warners-always a pleasure!!
Just a wonderful posting about the value of Mo Ostin. I love how Frank Sinatra hired him away from Verve.
Nicely said
Late to the party on this one, Tom, but excellent re-cap on Mo's influence on the label, and of course, the biz in general! He, Joe, Lenny, Ted, and the whole creative staff, were the standard-bearers in crafting CAREERS for their stable of artists! Today, it's slap-a-Max-Martin-song-onto-the-latest-pretty-face (add Auto-Tune, of course), and where will they be in 10 months, much less 10 years?
I had a "front-row seat" from the late '60s thru the early '80s on The Bunny's operations: Dad was in Houston radio (selling ad time on the CBS-owned KTRH-AM and KLOL-FM), and not only brought home the weekly Warners promo LP output in the late '60s during my jr. hi years (he'd give me the rock promos, as he was into jazz!), but in the early '70s when I was in hi school!
That also meant I was introduced to WB's promo periodical, "Circular," and was thus privy to all the new-release info and exclusive interviews, much, if not all of which was provided by Barry Hansen aka Dr. Demento! In fact, his writing style has informed my style ever since!
One of the first places I made sure to visit upon my early '80 move from Houston to L.A. was 3300 Warner Blvd, their relatively-newly-built Burbank offices! I didn't have the chutzpah to dare ask to see any of the key players I had read so much about who already seemed like friends! I had actually made the move in the first place to try my hand at working for a label, with WB directly in my sights, either in merch, promotion, sales, etc!
But, with a recent industry crash having just taken place (ca. 1979, about which I recently wrote, with Fleetwood Mac's "Tusk" being one of two causal album effects I cite), I didn't, as labels were undergoing massive lay-offs!
Anyway, I enjoyed your tribute, Tom, which, for me, was a pleasurable trip down memory lane few have known! But, your article sheds new light on a record biz long gone, and with any luck, Mo's contributions can be recalled and used, somehow, in the still-new century! I'm sure he'd like to think it's not too late!🐰