A short history on Chapter One Records

From 1968 Chapter One Records was based at 35 Soho Square, London W1. The Company and it’s Associate Companies, were managed by Gloria Bristow and a staff of 10, comprising Public Relations, Publishers and Record Producers. Chapter One Records also owned The Greenwich Gramophone Company and a number of publishing enterprises. Decca Records Ltd. manufactured Chapter One Records for many years.

The owner of Chapter One Records, Les “It’s Not Unusual” Reed, was also a major partner in the legendary Wessex Sound Studios in Highbury, London, where the majority of the Chapter One catalogue was recorded. The studio was top favourite amongst such names as Quincy Jones, Stevie Wonder and many other luminaries of the period.

Les also founded the very successful Donna Music Company Ltd. which housed all of his major copyrights including “The Last Waltz”, “Delilah”, “There’s A Kind of Hush”, “Les Bicyclettes De Belsize”, “Winter World of Love” and “Love Is All” amongst others.

Chapter One represented many in-house producers, including Jack Baverstock, Tony Reeves, Mark Wirtz, Jackie Rae, Irving Martin, David Balfe and Norman Newell. Between them, the Chapter One catalogue was produced and now we are re-releasing the entire Chapter One catalogue in CD format, retaining the original quality of recording and bringing these wonderful albums back into the public domain.



Chapter One Records 2006

Public Notice