UK Records was launched in 1972 by Jonathan King to distribute his own releases and some other artists. The abbreviation UK stands for "United King". The label was distributed at first by Decca Records and, after 1976, by PolyGram (which bought out Decca in 1980). It was one of the most successful labels in the United Kingdom for several years, having three singles in the top 5 on several occasions. But apart from 10cc and the King produced Original London Stage Soundtrack of The Rocky Horror Show, album success eluded them.
Besides King himself, UK also released records by artists such as Lobo, 10cc, The First Class, Kevin Johnson, and Terry Dactyl and the Dinosaurs. King closed the label in the late 1970s, but he retained ownership and regularly re-issued much of its catalogue.
A new record label by the name of UK Records started in 2010 by UK based producer Charlie James Perry (Charlie P), centres on releasing original uk hip-hop, urban, drum and bass, dubstep and alternative rock music.
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