JMI Records

JMI Records (Jack Music International) was an American record label founded in 1971 by Jack Clement,[1] and was primarily active until 1974, when the catalog was sold to ABC-Dot Records.[2] It was notable for having been the record label that first signed several country music singers and songwriters that would come to dominate the American country music charts of the 1970s, including singer Don Williams, and songwriters Bob McDill and Allen Reynolds.[3]

JMI Records
Founded1971 (1971) (as J-M-I Records)
FounderJack Clement
Distributor(s)Independent
GenreVarious
Country of originUnited States
LocationNashville, Tennessee, U.S.

History

Background (1964-1971)

Jack Clement was an American singer, songwriter and record producer active between 1954-2013.[4] Clement rose to prominence in the country music scene in the 1950s and 1970s collaborating with such stars as Johnny Cash, Charley Pride, Bobby Bare, Jerry Lee Lewis, Waylon Jennings and Ray Charles. His success allowed him to build his own state of the art recording studio in Nashville, Tennessee in the mid-1960s, and eventually he was able to fulfill his ambition of having his own recording label, J-M-I Records, in 1971.[5]

Active Years (1971-1974)

At the record labels' inception, the goal was to create an atmosphere centered around the inventive talents of a variety of highly skilled Nashville studio musicians and songwriters.[5] In the distribution announcement for the new company, it was noted that the releases would not be marketed under any specific categories. This meant that artists would be free to record whatever styles they wanted, regardless of how the recordings would fit into the existing commercial formats of the early 1970s country music scene.[1]

The first two albums released on the record label were "Short Stories" by Bob McDill and "Finally Getting Home" by Susan Taylor (formerly of the Pozo Seco Singers) in 1972.[6]

Allen Reynolds was brought on as vice-president from the outset, and he can be credited with bringing on Don Williams to J-M-I records in 1972.[2] The labels initial offerings were considered more modern fare by the commercial press, and Williams' first single, released in the summer of 1972, became the first official "country music" release by the label.[7] Williams released his first two albums with J-M-I, but moved to ABC-Dot Records when that company purchased J-M-I's catalog.[2]

Big Ken Smith of Tennessee Pulleybone spoke of the demise of J-M-I Records in a 2002 interview:

'"Our single, “The Door's Always Open,” did well. It was #1 in all the major markets, but never at the same time because JMI didn’t have the distribution. Our 3rd single got some airplay, but it didn’t get the airplay that “The Door's Always Open” did. Right after that, JMI folded because without distribution, it’s tough. Allen Reynolds, who was at JMI at the time, was going to go do a distribution deal with one of the big labels, but it never panned out."[8]

Contributions

Partial List of Artists that have recorded and worked with J-M-I Records:

Discography

Partial list of recordings known to have been released on J-M-I Records, including artist, release name and year.

Albums
Artist Release Year Ref.
Bob McDill "Short Stories" 1972 [6][9]
Susan Taylor "Finally Getting Home" 1972 [10]
Don Williams "Don Williams Volume One" 1973 [11][12]
Don Williams "Don Williams Volume Two" 1974 [11][12]
Singles
Artist Release Year Ref.
Tennessee Pullybone "The Door Is Always Open" 1973 [13]
Don Williams "The Shelter Of Your Eyes" 1973 [14]
Don Williams "Come Early Morning" 1973 [14]
Don Williams "Atta Way to Go" 1973 [14]
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References
  1. "Clements' JMI Records Turns Best Foot Forward". Billboard. 83 (47): 82. Nov 20, 1971.
  2. Stambler and Landon, Irwin and Grelun (1997). Country Music: The Encyclopedia. New York, NY: St. Martin's Griffin. p. 539. ISBN 0312151217.
  3. Kingsbury, Paul (Dec 16, 2004). The Encyclopedia of Country Music. New York, New York: Oxford University Press. p. 589. ISBN 9780195176087.
  4. "Country Hall of Fame Elects Kenny Rogers, Bobby Bare, Jack Clement". CMT.COM. April 10, 2013. Retrieved November 17, 2019.
  5. "Jack Clement Leads Varied Life In Music". Billboard. 84 (24): JC-4. Jun 10, 1972.
  6. Bottstein, Dan (May 20, 1972). "New York". Billboard. 84 (21): 18.
  7. "JMI Issues First Country". Billboard. 84 (27): 35. Jul 1, 1972.
  8. Freeman, Anne (December 15, 2002). "The Tennessee Pulleybone: A Forgotten Piece of Country Music History". Music Dish. Retrieved November 23, 2019.
  9. "Bob McDill - Short Stories". AllMusic. November 23, 2019. Retrieved November 23, 2019.
  10. "Finally Getting Home - Susan Taylor". AllMusic. November 23, 2019. Retrieved November 23, 2019.
  11. "Volume One/Volume Two - Don Williams". AllMusic. November 23, 2019. Retrieved November 23, 2019.
  12. "Artist Chart History – Don Williams". Billboard. Retrieved 2010-12-02.
  13. "Billboard Hot Country Singles". Billboard. 85. No. 38: 30. September 22, 1973 – via Google Books.
  14. Whitburn, Joel (2008). Hot Country Songs 1944 to 2008. Record Research, Inc. pp. 463–464. ISBN 0-89820-177-2.
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