Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member Latest Breaking News Editorials & Other Articles General Discussion The DU Lounge All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

JohnnyRingo

(20,092 posts)
2. That was so cool!
Sun Aug 10, 2025, 11:20 AM
Sunday

A little weird seeing Cyrus headbanging in that group, but I assume it was the ending of a tribute or fundraiser. I wonder who that was on the far right playing lead? Perhaps he's in Joan's core band.

I was doing some research and learned what a odd struggle James had with record labels and organized crime:

The band made the rounds of the major recording labels, getting initial potential offers from most companies they visited. One label, Roulette Records, gave no initial response because its head, Morris Levy, was out of town until that evening; Roulette was one of the last stops on their visit. By the next morning, Mack, Rubin, and James were now receiving polite refusals from the major record companies after the enthusiasm for the record the day before. James said, "We didn't know what in the world was going on, and finally Jerry Wexler over at Atlantic leveled with us and said, 'Look, Morris Levy and Roulette called up all the other record companies and said, "This is my freakin' record." (laughs) and scared 'em all away – even the big corporate labels.'" Their only option would be to sign with Roulette

snip

It was evident when James first met Morris Levy of Roulette Records that Levy was willing to strong-arm others when necessary. While a Roulette artist had great creative control when recording for the company, the lack of payment for those efforts was difficult to take. James estimates the company owed him $30 to $40 million in royalties. Roulette was used as a front for organized crime, also functioning as a money laundering operation, as Levy was closely allied with the Genovese crime family. In the early 1970s, the Genovese outfit found itself in a bloody gang war with the Gambino family, which saw victims not only among mobsters (such as Levy's close friend and business partner Thomas Eboli), but increasingly among non-mob figures on the periphery of the organizations. Levy had taken a somewhat fatherly shine to James, and worried that he might be a target for those who wanted to get at the Genovese family through Levy, so he warned James to flee New York for an extended period until the war was over. In 1971, James settled in Nashville, Tennessee, where the Mafia had little presence or influence. While there, he recorded an album with top Nashville musicians entitled My Head, My Bed and My Red Guitar (January 1972), which received critical acclaim but sold poorly. He left Roulette Records in 1974

Recommendations

1 members have recommended this reply (displayed in chronological order):

Latest Discussions»Culture Forums»Music Appreciation»Crimson and Clover - Joa...»Reply #2