EMI Shuts Down Stateside Offices

Staffers at EMI Records in New York had their fears confirmed yesterday morning as they learned the U.S. label was being shut down immediately, with the loss of 120-130 jobs. The closure followed a review of EMI's U.S. operation by Ken Berry, the new worldwide president of EMI Recorded Music. The fate of EMI's roster remains uncertain; some of the acts are expected to shift to Virgin or Capitol. Jon Secada already has moved to Virgin, as have Blessid Union of Souls. Other acts on EMI include D'Angelo, Sinead O'Connor, Patti Rothberg, Queensryche, the artist formerly known as Prince, and new signee Luther Vandross.

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Song Stories

“Tonight's the Night”

The Shirelles | 1960

The lead cut and title track from this girl group's debut album, "Tonight's the Night" was written by 19-year-old bandmember Shirley Owens, who sings lead, and producer Luther Dixon. The band from Passaic, New Jersey met in high school, first calling themselves the Pequellos. The song's frank thoughts about sexual and emotional surrender was racy for the time, but that didn't stop the Chiffons from cutting a similar version immediately after the original came out. "We were the first female group to write some of our own material," band member Beverly Lee recalls. "We did have some say-so in our writing."

More Song Stories entries »

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