Henry Stone Interview / History of TK Records NOW AVAILABLE

[Bernie]

Hi all,

Want to say thanks to Nicky for doing a great job as a moderator and to all those who wished him a warm welcome.

I've been busy working on another interview. This time it is with Henry Stone, the founder of TK Records. Lots of info, pictures and a complete discography of TK releases will be included. Speaking to Stone was a real treat since he has been involved in the music industry since World War 2.

Hope to have it up within a week or so. I'll publish a link here when it is ready. Comments welcome.

[Bernie]

The Henry Stone interview with history on TK Records is now available!

Go to the "Disco 101" portion of this site or use this link...

http://www.discomusic.com/disco-hist...-henry-01.html

As always, your comments and feedback are very important . Thanks.

[Forrrce]

Interesting story, Henry's obviously a bit of a chap. I've always wondered how many records he pressed, as 'til this day you're never more than inches away from several TK 12s, wherever you are on the planet. :o

[Tony West]

It was interesting to read about the man and face behind certainly the most influential disco label of it's time.

As Forrrce wrote you are never far from a TK 12, I must say that I prize my Tk / Sunshine Sound 12"s beacause I just love those covers.

They just seemed to surmise the impressions and feelings that disco music gave me at that time, about warm summer nights in a club, hot with plenty of nice cold beer to keep one in action ,because down in Aus it gets a bit warm. It certainly must have been the Latin / Cuban influence on disco music that just makes me think of warm tropical places when I hear certain tracks. A good one that comes to mind is a Sunshine Sound track from George McCrae - Don't you feel my love. SSD-212 That track is still one of my all time favourites, and any track from the Gibson Brothers gets me feeling tropical as well 8) 8)

What would be interesting to know is whom designed those covers and what other (if any) well known designs they were involved in.

Cheers for now. Tony.

[Bernie]

Thank you guys for the comments. It certainly is true that Stone's records, regardless of label, are never too far away. I've even found them in barn yard sales!

As for who designed the TK covers, the covers state Page Wood. Don't know if that's a real name or not, but it is one of the most recognized record jackets out there.

[The Lord of Flatbush]

The CD's were excellent!

The History behind this man was fantastic!

From Ray Charles to Company B in between Newcleus was a story within itself.

Honorable mention goes out to Henry Stone for bringing us music that touched our lives.

[paul]

Nice interview guys :D
I think I'll revisit your Rinder and Lewis interview as a comparison.

[Discomanic]

Very good interview (like all the others). Thanks Bernie!!!

[usagi-san]

Thanks a lot, Bernie, it was great. I could spend hours going through it and pulling records out to reference details and remember things, even if I didn't play those records again at the time. I probably will, the next time I have hours to spare. It was great to see the discography list and choose which I want to try most to find of the ones I don't have.
One question: Since Henry gave RSO permission to use KC & The Sunshine Band's "I'm Your Boogie Man" in the "Saturday Night Fever" soundtrack, why did RSO choose to put the lesser hit "Boogie Shoes" on it instead, and did Henry give permission the same way for that?
usagi-san

[QUINNY]

Just a thought, so don't jump on me, eh?
I wonder if Mr. Stone knows who ripped off KC so that he has to do revival gigs in order to keep the wolves from the door?
Otherwise, interesting interview with someone who's obviously had a full life.

[Bernie]

Thank you again everyone! I had a lot of fun writing it.

Before, during and after I spoke with Henry Stone, I went through my collection and played music relating to this piece. Stone also sent me other material to listen to as well. The shear amount of music that Stone was involved in is truly amazing. Everything from late 1940s R & B to 70s Disco and even some Rap. How must it feel to live through all those changes and keep an open mind to fresh ideas and sounds??? One can only come away with a deep respect for the man.

Okay, so I wasn't thrilled that he was a part of Hot Productions :-(

[sammyperez]

Bernie:

Fantastic interview; Not only was it informative, but it brought back many memories. Thanks for acknowledging a great contributor to this genre we love called Disco. I have my share of TK 12" singles in collection. I think it's time for a Sunshine sound listening session. :D

Easy,

Sam "ALL JAM"

[Marcio**]

Bernie, very interesting, Ray Caviano worked at TK Records but he founded the RFC Records. Ray Caviano was just involved in the Gino Soccio's album "Outline" ("Dancer").

I have only a few records from TK Records but my favourit TK disco song is Gregg Diamond's "Danger".

[Bernie]

Thank you again guys.
Sammy, I'm sure you can sneak some Sunshine Sound into your Friday night sets. Turn it up real loud!

[SandraDee]

I also really enjoyed that interview & didn't realise so many acts recorded for TK or its subsidiaries at some point, such as the Stylistics for example. Bernie or Nicky, can I just ask if u know whether there is a volume 2 of 'Henry Stone presents TK 45 Collection' as I really loved volume 1 & there is certainly enough material for several volumes!

[Bernie]

Steely,

Thanks again. Unfortunately, there is no volume 2. I love volume 1 so I eagerly await #2 even though it's long overdue.

[jazz_pilgrim]

Hey Bernie,

Thanks for putting out the interview - it was really good. I have never had any idea who was behind TK Records, and found the interview really interesting. Nuggets like Tito Puente's son being part of Foxy!

They have always been my favourite Disco label, ever since I bought my first 12-inch ever, which happened to be a TK Disco 12-inch (TKD 67 - look it up!!), and I have been in love with that tropical island on the TK covers ever since! Can't wait to move in!

I didn't realize that Sunshine Sound were part of that set up. All the Jazz Pilgrims went out and bought the Modern Sound Corp 12", as Safari (part 2) was a massive club record for us.

And I have forgotten all about Jimmy mcGriff's Tailgunner! That was one of the Jazz Pilgrim's real jazz favourites! And I used to remember that the often-mentioned British DJ celebrity Greg Edwards used to plug that record a hell of a lot.

And another memory for you - At the massive Best Disco In Town in London in the late Seventies (hosted by Greg Edwards), I think that Joe Thomas' Make Your Move was about the biggest record there. When it came to the stripped down break in the record, everybody used to stamp their feet to that beat. The whole place would shake!!

I could go on for ages ...The list of classics just seems endless, doesn't it? All blessed with that Sunshine Sound. Tell you what I'm gonna do, Bernie! I am gonna dig out all my TK records and compile a TK minidisc. Just right for lying on the beach!

Cheers! :)

[in-the-groove]

Hey Bernie - I see in the 12" discography that TKD 3 is supposed to be "That's The Way (I Like It)" by KC & the Sunshine Band. I never have heard of this being pressed on an original TK 12" before... can you give us any more info on this pressing? Did Henry Stone provide you the discography info and does it really exist?

Kevin

[BrunoRepublic]

Very nice interview, Bernie. I too had no idea that the man had been around so long.

Just a couple of cheap bits to add:

- I believe the change in the numbering system coincided with the switch from cutting the 12s at 45 RPM to 33.

- I think this was also the point at which they stopped putting all 12s on TK. Tempest Trio's "Love Machine" was on Marlin, which I immediately grabbed because of the label (I think it was #406, but I don't have it anymore -- I gave it to another board member after I found the LP). And of course Jimmy "Bo" Horne's later singles were on Sunshine Sound...

- When did the whole operation wind down? I thought TK folded in 1980 or 81, but I found KC's "Space Cadet" album from 1982 and it's on TK...

[efunk_adelic]

Bernie, absolutely a fantastic interview you did with Henry... I'm sure it was a whole lot of fun.

One of my first 12" I ever bought was probably... Get Off by Foxy... and it's still my favorite one. The biggest reason I liked it was the unusual instrumental taken out at the very end. I wonder if anybody noticed that... But I dig that part... and always will.. Also, all the 12" are cut at 45rpm... I thought this was cool, it made me want to buy more 12".... At Midnight by T-Connection is also unique... by seperating the segments between the breaks on the song... I wondered who at TK thought of that?

[Bernie]

I'm really happy that everyone is enjoying the Henry Stone piece. Was nervous doing it since it covered a lot of ground so your kind words are greatly appreciated.

I recall seeing the KC 12 inch on TK a few years back, but can't recall what was on the flipside. A hard one to find for sure as I only saw it once and wish I could have bought it.

I had thought the 400 series had something to do with the switch to 33. Truth is that TK flirted with both speeds as I have a few early TK 12 inchers that are on 33. Stone claims it was someone in promotions who recommended the changeover.

Stone claims TK ceased in 1981 and the lastest TK release I have is from 8. Could very well be that the KC record was post dated. I once bought an Italian Peter Jacques Band 12 inch (Drives me Crazy) a few days after News Year's Day in 1986 and the date said 1986!

[NickNack]

Hey Bernie - I see in the 12" discography that TKD 3 is supposed to be "That's The Way (I Like It)" by KC & the Sunshine Band. I never have heard of this being pressed on an original TK 12" before... can you give us any more info on this pressing? Did Henry Stone provide you the discography info and does it really exist?

Kevin

Hi Kevin,

I knew I had this on 12" and went to pull it. To my surprise, it's not an original TK label like I thought. It's on TK after it was taken over by Rhino. The "A" side is "Get Down Tonight". Weird... my memory is really shot. :(

[discofrank]

Hey Bernie - I see in the 12" discography that TKD 3 is supposed to be "That's The Way (I Like It)" by KC & the Sunshine Band. I never have heard of this being pressed on an original TK 12" before... can you give us any more info on this pressing? Did Henry Stone provide you the discography info and does it really exist?

Kevin

Hi Kevin,

I knew I had this on 12" and went to pull it. To my surprise, it's not an original TK label like I thought. It's on TK after it was taken over by Rhino. The "A" side is "Get Down Tonight". Weird... my memory is really shot. :(

I thought HOT productions re-released the 12" in the nineties... Had no idea RHINO released vynle.. If they were reissues then why would they keep the same number(TKD3) .. very curious here.. Also, does anyone know the releases for TKD 7 - 11?? Were these promo only vynle? The earliest TK disco in my collection is Tamiko Jones (TKD 6)..

[BrunoRepublic]

Rhino is still releasing vinyl today. They just put out new pressings of Yes' early LPs.

[mixer]

I worked for Henry Stone as a recording engineer and mixer on a number of projects.He was one heck of a guy extremely nice and had a good sense of music..unlike most of the record executives today who are either lawyers or accountants he had a great ear. My experience with him and t.k. was one of the greatest in my life. This story will tell you what kind of guy he was..My studio had a major fire and Henry and Steve Alaimo immediatly called and offered us anything we needed...they were the only company to call though we worked for lots..they offered us 24 track machines anything..luckly we didn't need them. Great guy....
Gary Vandy www.garyvandy.com