LHI Records was an American
record label founded by
Lee Hazlewood. LHI stood for Lee Hazlewood Industries. The label was first distributed by
Decca Records then by
ABC Records (both labels were eventually absorbed by
MCA Records). By 1969, LHI was distributed independently with tape distribution by
Ampex.[1] The label lasted until 1971.[2]
Notable releases
In 1966
Donnie Owens was named executive producer of the LHI country product. Their first single was "Crying Shade" and "Out of My Hands" by Virgil Warner.[3]
In 1967 they released an album by
garage rock band
The Kitchen Cinq. In total one album and four singles of the group were released during 1967. The label issued a
cameo single release of the group under the name A Handful.
The 1967 album Lee Hazlewood Presents The 98% American Mom & Apple Pie 1929 Crash Band consisted of
honky-tonk instrumental versions of highly commercial successful songs and compositions from Lee Hazlewood from the period 1965–1967.
Country singer
Sanford Clark covered Hazlewood's composition Houston in 1964. The two singles releases on the label The Black Widow b/w The Son of Hickory Holler's Tramp in 1967, and Farm Labor Camp #2 were followed by the album Return of The Fool in 1968. These would be his last released recordings.
In 1968, US girl group
Honey Ltd. released their debut album on LHI. Another album and five singles releases followed until 1970. After getting a second chance under the name Eve, releasing an album and two singles, Hazlewood dropped the group.
Hazlewood revived
The Shacklefords in 1967 and recorded, being a member, three singles with them.
Hazlewood's then girlfriend
Suzi Jane Hokom continued her services as demo-singer and assistant record producer, incidentally releasing records, some being duets.
In 1967, Hazlewood signed
Mike Condello's band, named them Last Friday's Fire, and released three
singles with them.
Swedish-American actress and singer
Ann-Margret released one album, three solo singles and two duets with Hazlewood in 1969.
In 1969 and 1970
Barbara Randolph issued two singles: "Woman To That Man" and "Miracle On 19th Street", but both never got beyond the status of
promotional recordings. After that it lasted until 1979 for her to record again, for
Tamla Motown.
In a last attempt to revive their career
The Surprise Package recorded an album Free Up in 1968, which spun off the title track as well as their version of the song "
MacArthur Park" as singles releases during 1969.
Other releases included works from artists such as Malibu's Kazoos, Buddy Long, Danny Michaels, Virgil Warner, Billie Dearborn, Michael Gram, Hamilton Streetcar, The Aggregation, Arthur Lee Harper, Lynn Castle, Linda Owens, Bob Kaufmann, Phoenix 70, Barney Carl, Ray Chafin, Jon Christian, Raul Danks and Jon Taylor.
In 2012, the double album The LHI Years: Singles, Nudes & Backsides (1968–71),[4] containing rarities (
B-sides,
demos etc.) from the label's historical shelves, was released on the
Light In The Attic label.[5]