Former Location -

Elektra Records was started in 1950 by Jac Holzman and Paul Rickholt. During most of the 50's and early 60's the label focused on folk music and had signed Judy Collins, Phil Ochs and Tom Paxton among others. The label became one of the first to sign up psychedelic rock acts in the mid 60's and had inked The Paul Butterfield Blues Band as well as The Doors and Love.

Over time, Elektra signed numerous acts including:
AC/DC
Atomic Rooster
Badfinger
Bad Company
Bread
Tim Buckley
The Cars
Devo
Huey Lewis and the News
Metallica
Joni Mitchell
Roy Orbison
Leon Redbone
Carly Simon
Sparks
Dino Valenti
X
Warren Zevon

Asylum Records was founded in 1971 by David Geffen and Elliot Roberts, both of which had worked as agents at the William Morris Agency. The label was started specifically to provide Jackson Browne with a recording contract. Geffen was Jackson's manager at the time and he was unable to secure a recording contract anywhere, so Asylum was created and Browne was their first recording artist.

Over time, Asylum signed numerous acts including:
Tim Buckley
The Byrds
Gene Clark
Bob Dylan
The Eagles
John Fogerty
Orleans
Linda Rondstadt
Tom Waits
Joe Walsh

Asylum was acquired by Warner Communications (now Time Warner) in 1972. Elektra was sold to Kinney National Company in 1970 and soon afterwards the company, which owned Warner Bros.-Seven Arts, changed its name to Warner Communications. In 1972 Warner merged the two to become Elektra/Asylum Records. David Geffen remained in charge until 1975, when he resigned as director and went on later to found Geffen Records.