Chrysalis Records

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Chrysalis logo (1987-2005)

Chrysalis Records is a British record label that was created in 1969. The name is an amalgam of its founders names, Chris Wright and Terry Ellis. Chrysalis was formed through a licensing deal with Chris Blackwell's Island Records based on the success of bands like Jethro Tull and Procol Harum, which were promoted by the label. Towards the end of the 1970s, the Chrysalis offshoot 2Tone Records brought in bands such as The Specials, The Selecter, Madness and The Beat.

In the 1980s, Chrysalis was at the forefront of the British New Romantic movement with bands such as Ultravox and Spandau Ballet (on Reformation Records). Chrysalis made history in 1982 by creating the first "music video album", a videocassette featuring a corresponding music video for each song on Toni Basil's "Word of Mouth" album (with dance sequences choreographed by Ms. Basil herself).

The 80s proved to be the most successful time for the label, whose roster then included arena-fillers Billy Idol and Pat Benatar, seminal new-wavers Blondie and top 40 "hit machines" like Huey Lewis and the News. In early 1983 Daniel Glass moved to Chrysalis as Director of New Music Marketing, advancing later to Senior Vice President.

It was during this time that the label demonstrated that it was largely incapable of successfully promoting a band outside the genres of mainstream rock (Slaughter), ska (Madness), or new wave (Go West). Heavy metal bands Armored Saint and Mutha's Day Out, hip hop duo Gang Starr and singer/songwriter Judie Tzuke all had critically-acclaimed, yet disappointing (or even disastrous) runs on Chrysalis.

The Chrysalis Records label was sold to EMI in 1991 and now the label is only used for the record releases of Robbie Williams, with catalogue and artists such as Starsailor being shifted to the main EMI brands.

For a full overview of the remaining activities: see Chrysalis Group. These include music publishing, radio, books and ringtones for mobile phones.