American; the label of Universal City Records, a division of MCA. MCA entered the record business in 1962, when it purchased the long-established and well-known Decca (USA) company, and it formed Universal City Records four years later. 'Billboard' of the 26th of November 1966 reported that Universal City's new label, to be called 'Uni', was scheduled to make its debut in January of the following year. It was to feature both bought masters and original material produced by the company; several groups had been auditioned, but at that point no contracts had been signed. 'BB' of the 4th of February 1967 was able to say that Uni's first records had been released; it described Uni as "MCA's West Coast label" and said that its accent would be on youth and on developing new acts.
In the UK Universal City licensed some material by the Strawberry Alarm Clock to Pye, which resulted in the release of three singles and an album on Pye International during 1967-68. The singles were 'Incense And Peppermints' b/w 'The Birdman Of Alkatrash' (7N-25436; 11/67), 'Tomorrow' b/w 'Birds In My Tree' (7N-25446; 3/68), and 'Sit With The Guru' b/w 'Pretty Song From Psych Out' (7N-25456; 4/86). All carried a credit to Uni Records. By the time the last two came out, however, Uni had made its debut as a label on these shores. Having previously licensed its American Decca product to British Decca for release on the Brunswick and Coral labels, MCA began to operate as an independent company here in February 1968. It introduced the MCA label (q.v.) at that time, and also launched Uni here; according to 'Record Retailer' of the 24th of January 1968 the intention was that Uni would feature material from its American counterpart. 'RR' of the 12th of February added that the label was to have UK material on it, as well as American. The first Uni single duly appeared, in March, but the label seems to have run into difficulties - it was shelved after a mere six months and six releases.
All was not lost, however. MCA found life as an independent problematic, and 'RR' of the 25th of June 1969 broke the news that after going it alone for seventeen months it was switching back to a licensing deal with Decca. The article pointed out that the Uni label was excluded from the new deal, and said that MCA intended to demonstrate a certain amount of independence by acquiring and promoting new talent from that source. A couple of months later 'RR' of the 23rd of August described Uni as MCA's 'Contemporary music' label and said that it was to be reactivated; it was intended to become a major outlet for UK signings and was to be overseen by MCA's UK operation. It would also put out records by artists who were signed to Uni in America, such as Neil Diamond. Sure enough, Uni resurfaced the following week; the catalogue numbers of its singles started where they had left off, using the old UN-500 series. In the '70s stereo singles began to appear: for these the prefix became UNS. After a year or so under the wing of MCA-U.K. there was another reorganization, and Uni joined its parent MCA as one of Decca's licensed labels.
During its second lease of life Uni enjoyed a fair amount of Chart success. Neil Diamond was its most consistent hit-maker, with three Top Ten singles and a Top 20 one in 1970-72, and Love Unlimited got into the Top 20 with 'Walkin' In The Rain With The One I Love' b/w 'I should Have Know' (UN-539; 5/72), but it was Matthews Southern Comfort which gave the label its sole No.1 single in the shape of 'Woodstock' b/w 'Scion' (UNS-526; 9/70). In the Spring of 1973, however, the MCA label was launched in America - it had been established as a label in the UK and elsewhere for several years. Its other labels, including American Decca and Uni, were dropped and the artists transferred to MCA ('BB', 10th Feb 1973). Uni in the UK suffered the same fate, and put out its final single in March.
One basic label design served throughout Uni's existence, but there was a colour change along the way: initially the label was yellow with a multicoloured swirl (1) but in the autumn of 1970, when Uni was licensed to Decca, the swirl disappeared. There were other changes at the time: the print turned from black to green, a reference to Decca appeared at 12 o'clock, and a small 'R' in a circle could be found near to the logo (2). Because of re-pressings UNs 529 and 530 can be found with either type of label. In addition the original creamy-fawn-and-pinky-red company sleeve (4) turned white-and-red (5). Demos throughout stayed a fetching pink colour (3). Manufacture and distribution were carried out by Decca / Selecta from start to finish.
Copyright 2006 Robert Lyons.