Cameo-Parkway Records

Cameo Records was founded in December 1956 in Philadelphia by Bernie Lowe and Kal Mann; it has no connection to the 1920s record label Cameo Records. Parkway, initially a subsidiary label, was formed in 1958. Mann and Lowe had been a successful songwriting team prior to the start of the label, with Mann writing lyrics and Lowe the music; their biggest hit prior to starting the label was Elvis Presley's "(Let Me Be Your) Teddy Bear". Cameo tried to keep pace by licensing a handful of early British beat group singles, including the first two singles by the Kinks, a novelty remake of "Wild Thing" by comedian Bill Minkin imitating Robert F. Kennedy under the name Senator Bobby (1966), and "Beg, Borrow and Steal" by the Ohio Express (originally on the Attack label as by The Rare Breed) (1967). Bogart also signed Bob Seger to his first recording contract, and Cameo-Parkway issued Seger's first five singles, which were all regional hits in Michigan but failed nationally. In mid-1967, Cameo-Parkway entered into a short-lived distribution pact with MGM Records and released four more albums (two on Cameo, one on Parkway and one on Vando), and three more singles (one on Parkway and two on Vando). Cameo's final single, "Billy Sunshine" by Evie Sands (KC-2002), was originally released with the red and yellow "CP" label then reissued with the new MGM-designated label. For the first time both label names appeared on the record labels, although neither the Cameo or Parkway name was emphasized, and the two series continued to use separate catalog numbering systems. That suggests that a gradual merger of the two labels was in progress, but it was never completed. By late 1967, after financial problems worsened, the Cameo-Parkway company was sold to Allen Klein, Bogart went to the newly formed Buddah Records, founded by former MGM Records executive Art Kass, and brought along the former Cameo Parkway promotion staff. ==Label variations==

Cameo • 1957–1960: Orange label with CAMEO and "cameo" logo, both in black, at top • 1960–1966: Red and black label with CAMEO and new "gold cameo locket" logo at left side • 1966–1967: Red label with broken orange circle and new CAMEO "CP" logo at top • 1967 MGM distribution label: Pink and white label with CAMEO in dark blue w/pink outline and "cameo" logo inside the "O" Cameo albums also used the above label variations, plus: • Early mono albums: Black label with silver print, same CAMEO and "cameo" logo as orange label singles • Early stereo albums: Black label with gold print, same CAMEO and "cameo" logo as orange label singles Parkway • 1958–1960: Orange label with PARKWAY in black "jumbled" letters between two lyre logos at top • 1960–1966: Orange and yellow label with PARKWAY RECORDS in white letters between two lyre logos at top (Some of these labels do not include the lyres) • 1966–1967: Yellow label with broken orange octagon and new PARKWAY "CP" logo at top • 1967 MGM distribution label: brown label with new "Parkway" logo at top. The logo includes a large black letter "P" with white arrow inside its perimeter, resembling a highway. Parkway albums also used all of the above label variations == Subsidiary labels ==

Wyncote Records was a budget label started in 1964. It released compilation albums of material by Cameo and Parkway artists as well as new albums of soundtrack and easy listening music. These records were mainly distributed in drug, book and department stores, usually through rack jobbers. Other related labels, mostly independently owned but distributed by Cameo-Parkway, included • Audio Arts!: The first two singles were released under Cameo/Parkway before the label was sold to Amy / Mala / Bell • Chariot: At least five singles were released under Cameo/Parkway before the label was sold to Amy / Mala / Bell • Cheltenham: At least four singles released from 1965–1966 • Cotton: At least three singles released in 1962 • Fairmount, featuring Lonnie Youngblood: At least 27 singles have been released on this label • Ivanhoe: At least one single was distributed under Cameo/Parkway • Key-Loc: At least one single was distributed under Cameo/Parkway by Sunny and the Sunliners • Lucky Eleven, based in Flint, Michigan, featuring Terry Knight and the Pack, which eventually transformed into Grand Funk Railroad • Sentar: Owned by the families of pop group the New Colony Six (the label's only group), four singles and one album were released under Sentar's Cameo/Parkway distribution • Showplace, featuring the Yellow Payges (at least two singles distributed) • Tomorrow: Originally distributed by Atco, then by Cameo/Parkway. At least two singles were distributed under C/P • Vando: Owned by Van McCoy, five singles and one album were released under the label's C/P distribution, mostly by Chris Bartley • Winchester: Only two singles were released under this label, one by the Tymes and the other by the Spokesmen • Windy C: Owned by Curtis Mayfield, eight singles and one album were released on this label, mostly by the Five Stairsteps Philadelphia connection Several C/P labels were based on hometown suburbs, highways and landmarks, including... • Parkway: Benjamin Franklin Parkway • Fairmount: Fairmount Park; there is also a Fairmount Ave. north of the Philadelphia Museum of Art • Wyncote: Northern suburb of Philadelphia where C/P founder Bernie Lowe resided and set up office for C/P • Cheltenham: Cheltenham Avenue; there is also a Cheltenham High School in suburban Wyncote == Reissues ==

ABKCO reissued Cameo-Parkway recordings in the early 1970s, but allowed them to fall out of print after that time. Virtually all Cameo-Parkway recordings, including all of their numerous chart hits, were officially unavailable in any format for about 30 years, from 1975 to 2005. In May 2005 ABKCO revived the Cameo-Parkway name for reissues only, and released a multi-CD box set of the labels' most notable output: Cameo-Parkway: 1957-1967. In October 2005 it began to issue various single-artist "best of" CD compilations, including Charlie Gracie, Bobby Rydell, Chubby Checker, Dee Dee Sharp, the Dovells, the Orlons, the Tymes and Question Mark & the Mysterians. A various artists CD titled Cameo-Parkway: The Greatest Hits was also issued, as well as two digital-only compilations: Holiday Hits From Cameo Parkway and Original Northern Soul Hits From Cameo Parkway. ABKCO has also begun to license its repertoire out to other labels, allowing Universal Music Group to license some songs for its Complete Introduction to Northern Soul box set in 2008, and allowing Collectors' Choice Music to reissue several albums in 2010. Despite these reissues, many more obscure Cameo-Parkway recordings, and even a few of their lesser hits, remain unavailable. == See also ==