![]() ![]() And he said, ‘But what’s right is right.’“ Syd said, ‘What if I wasn’t here – would you talk that way about me? Listen to these records.’ And so the person said, ‘Boy, Jerry Blaine (the owner of Jubilee Records), must be a good friend of yours.’ And said, ‘Oh no – I’m suing the son of a bitch!”. Why should we even bother with these records? I’m sure Syd is getting bored here.’ What I remember very clearly was, there were a large amount of records to listen to, and the last two or three were on the Jubilee label, and one of the reporters said, ‘I hear Jubilee Records is going out of business. Syd was there, and another record man was there, as well. “ I remember that session, you know, like it was yesterday. At these record listening parties, record company owners would get the opportunity to play new recordings for Billboard staff and thereby advocate for a more favorable review. ![]() Just as Cincinnati’s King Records helped give birth to 50s rock ‘n’ roll, this same scrappy indie label would then go on to play a significant supporting role in shaping modern ‘indie’ rock.įrom Stein’s 2009 interview with Terry Gross on NPR’s Fresh Air program we learn that it was at a listening party hosted by Billboard (Stein’s then employer) that the two great “record men” – Syd Nathan and Seymour Stein – first met. Stein’s signings - as noted in the text that accompanies his Ahmet Ertegun Award from the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame or his (abandoned) acceptance speech for CBGB’s Icon Award) - reveal a keen ear for talent in contemporary rock and pop : The Flamin’ Groovies, The Saints, The Rezillos, Richard Hell & the Voidoids, Radio Birdman, The Dead Boys, The Undertones, The Pretenders, The Replacements, The Smiths, The Royal Crescent Mob, Kid Creole & the Coconuts, Echo and the Bunnymen, The Cure, The Cult, Modern English, The English Beat, Madness, KD Lang, Depeche Mode, Aztec Camera, Everything But the Girl, Pet Shop Boys, Erasure, Ride, My Bloody Valentine, Dinosaur Jr., Barenaked Ladies, and Aphex Twin, along with the aforementioned Ramones, Talking Heads, Tom Tom Club (implied) and Madonna. Seymour Stein would be the one on the right Seymour Stein’s a real good record guy too.” I guess he respected me as a good record guy y’ know. Syd used to talk about that son of a bitch Henry Stone. He found Madonna ya know, and The Ramones, The Talking Heads, and he founded the Sire label, that was his, Sire Records. I used to hang out with Seymour there and he was just one of those real terrific real record guys. I had the biggest independent music company in the world, and they loved discos and dancing in Europe. I used to go there with my TK Productions. I was going there since the very beginning in the 70s. Every year they have that, they still do. And then I used to see him a lot when we went to Cannes, France for the music festival. I used to go up there and see him all the time. He penned the charts for Billboard in New York. ![]() George Goldner Susan Goldner Syd Nathan & Seymour Stein When he left King he was editor of Billboard for a while. I became pretty friendly with him through the years. He does a great imitation of Syd Nathan, loves to do an imitation of Syd. He fell asleep at my birthday party at the table. He must be about 10 years younger than me, must be about 75, or 80 by now. “When I left King Records about 1956 I guess, Seymour Stein ended up interning there with Syd Nathan. Henry Stone on Seymour Stein of Sire Records : ![]()
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