Clarion

The Clarion label was a budget subsidiary label of Atlantic using material previously released on Atco and Atlantic. It was run by Ahmet Ertegun, Jerry Wexler and Nesuhi Ertegun and managed by Milt Ross. All of its 21 albums were simultaneously released in June 1965. Plans to release "at least 10 more releases in August... [and more releases] every other month" did not come to fruition. The label lasted barely a year. All albums were issued in both mono (with no prefix) and stereo (with a prefix of "SD-"). As with many budget labels, high quality control on things like true stereo were not a priority. Many of the albums were rechanneled or partly rechanneled. Nevertheless, the Drifters' issue [SD-608] contains a true stereo alternate take of "Lonely Winds" which has not appeared elsewhere. (The 45 version of the song has never appeared in stereo.) The Clarion monaural label was three curved bands of red, white and blue with black printing. "Clarion" in white above the center hole. The Clarion stereo label was green, white, and orange with black printing. . "Clarion" in white above the center hole.