Sire

Sire Records

American record label founded by Richard Gottehrer.
The first release of the label was P.I.P. Records.
In April 1968 Seymour Stein flew to Europe and Far East to arrange distribution deals and g progressive British and European bands who didn't have American label deals. The most successful artists from this era include Focus (2), whose instrumental "Hocus Pocus" gave Sire its first Top 10 hit.

Originally pressed and distributed by ABC Records.

In 1976, Sire was one of the first large independent labels to sign artists from the burgeoning punk and NYC new wave scene, including The Talking Heads.

In 1976, Seymour Stein sold the rights for European releases to Polygram, so UK releases were marketed by WEA Musik GmbH related Sire releases are released post-1981.

In the US, a distribution deal was signed in 1977 with Reprise Records.

In 1995, Sire temporarily switched distribution from Warner Brothers and Reprise to Warner Music Group.

In 2000, Sire Records and the US division of London-Sire Records, part of Warner Music Group. This partnership was dissolved in April, 2003, at which point Sire once again became a distinct imprint in the portfolio of Warner-owned labels and returned to the aegis of Warner Bros. Records.

Label Code: LC 3228 / LC 03228

Please note that some US cassettes and 8-tracks have a SIR code on the spine or elsewhere near or above the catalogue number. This is not part of the catalogue number and should not be entered as such. Instead, it's a label identification code and may be entered in the Barcode and Other Identifiers fields in Other.