NEW YORK, NY–(Marketwire – November 30, 2009) – Atlantic Records has announced the release of "ATLANTIC RECORDS: TIME CAPSULE," an unprecedented boxed set celebrating the iconic label's past and present through music, images, and words. The most comprehensive project ever devoted to the Atlantic story, this numbered, limited edition collection spans the label's entire history, from its inception in 1947 to the present day. "TIME CAPSULE" is housed in a custom-designed metallic box featuring:

–  9 CDs containing 165 tracks from 141 artists spanning more than six
    decades
–  DVD of the acclaimed PBS "American Masters" documentary, "Atlantic
    Records: The House That Ahmet Built"
–  140-page book featuring over 200 rare and/or previously unseen
    photographs from the Atlantic Archives; reflections and stories from
    artists and other key players in the company's history; and a complete
    Atlantic timeline
–  Boxed set exclusive 45 rpm vinyl single reissue of Atlantic's first
    hit, "Drinkin' Wine, Spo-Dee-O-Dee" by "Stick" McGhee and His Buddies
    (1949)
–  Reproductions of memorabilia and vintage swag, including posters,
    handbills, ticket stubs, lyrics, backstage passes, and more
–  Individually numbered certificate of authenticity
   
For more details, please visit: http://atlantictimecapsule.com

"This has been a labor of love for a passionate team of Atlantic staffers who have been devoted to this project for many months," said Atlantic Chairman/CEO Craig Kallman. "It is an extraordinary celebration of our company's rich musical and cultural legacy. The history of Atlantic is unique in our industry, with an unbroken thread that runs from the label's very beginnings to the present moment. To open this beautiful box and hear, see, read, and touch the Atlantic story is a truly moving experience. I know Ahmet would be so proud of this impressive and compelling tribute to the incredible music, groundbreaking artists, and amazing cast of characters that have given this company life for the past 62 years."

"In the spring of 2004, I showed up for work at Ahmet's house," said Atlantic Chairman/COO Julie Greenwald. "When I looked at all the phenomenal music that he and his partners had brought to life through the years, I felt a deep responsibility to protect the logo and continue this incredible legacy in music. When we began work on the Time Capsule, we were determined that it not only be a celebration of the past, but a celebration of the lasting power and urgency of the vision that guides the label to this day. Atlantic Records was, is, and always will be a welcoming home for artists, careers, and entrepreneurs. I'd like to think that Ahmet is looking down on us, feeling proud of what we're doing to carry on the great company he created."

"ATLANTIC RECORDS: TIME CAPSULE" is dedicated to Atlantic founder Ahmet Ertegun, who remained active at the company until his passing in 2006 at the age of 83. The artists Ahmet championed, the music he pioneered, and the executives he mentored led a revolution in contemporary music that reshaped and reflected the modern cultural landscape. In the label's formative years, the groundbreaking "Atlantic Sound" was forged by the most formidable production team to ever reside at a single company — including such industry icons as Atlantic co-founder Herb Abramson, Jerry Wexler, Ahmet's brother Nesuhi, Tom Dowd, Leiber & Stoller, Arif Mardin, and Joel Dorn. Today, led by chairmen Craig Kallman and Julie Greenwald, Atlantic remains inspired by its deep roots as a company driven first and foremost by a passion for the music and a steadfast belief in its artists.

"TIME CAPSULE" was created in the same spirit that infused the label's very beginnings. Just as the company's founders, to quote Ahmet, "wanted to make the kind of records that we would want to buy," the team set out to assemble a collection that would tell a story that they would want to hear. From the outset, the idea was to present Atlantic Records "from the inside," drawing on rarely seen material from the Atlantic Archives, Ahmet's personal papers, the work of staff photographers through the years, and recollections from artists, producers, and other pivotal figures in the company's history.

As Atlantic grew from literally a one-room operation into a major international recording company, the label released an extraordinary body of recordings that have had a profound impact on the course of modern music. The music on this comprehensive collection traces Atlantic's dramatic evolution from its R&B roots into its wide-ranging prominence in jazz, pop, soul, folk, rock'n'roll, and hip-hop. "TIME CAPSULE" is living history — a diverse mosaic of our times, given voice by an exceptional array of singers, musicians, and composers.

The Package Concept & Development of "ATLANTIC RECORDS: TIME CAPSULE" was overseen by Mark Obriski, Liz Barrett, and Livia Tortella. The Compilation Producers were Liz Barrett and Bob Kaus, with Art Direction by Mark Obriski, and Design by Mark Obriski and Zachariah Mattheus. Liner Notes & Editorial Content was written, collected, and edited by Bob Kaus. The music was A&R'd by Craig Kallman, Craig Rosen, and Bob Kaus. The Executive Producer was Ahmet Ertegun.

In the fall of 1947, two passionate jazz fans and obsessive record collectors — Ahmet Ertegun and Herb Abramson — decided to start their own record label. The Istanbul-born Ertegun, son of a renowned Turkish diplomat, was an embassy-bred graduate student of philosophy. New York-born Abramson was a dental student turned record company A&R man. They shared a love of black American music, and with a $10,000 loan from Ahmet's dentist, together they formed what would become one of the most successful, influential, and enduring companies in music industry history.

A pioneer, icon, and true original, Ahmet's eclectic tastes and boundary-crossing life set the course of Atlantic and defined its essence. "I thought that we had a small chance of survival," Ahmet said. "I knew that we knew the music better than our competitors. We understood what made people buy records, and we knew the kind of records we wanted to make… All that really mattered was that we loved the music, and we made up the rest as we went along."

In contrast to other independent labels born in the '40s and early '50s, Atlantic never became irretrievably locked into one musical style. So while its foundation was built on a string of pioneering rhythm and blues recordings, before the '50s had passed, Atlantic had branched out into groundbreaking jazz and crossed over into white pop territory. In the '60s, the company reclaimed the black music crown with the definitive soul roster, while at the same time moving full-bore into the new rock era on both sides of the Atlantic. By the time Woodstock defined a cultural sea change in 1969, two decades after Atlantic's formation, the label had grown into a global music powerhouse.

Today, sixty years since scoring its first hit, Atlantic's original entrepreneurial spirit remains its driving force, and unlike countless long-departed labels, it has thrived through constant evolution and determined diversity. What has mattered most to the company's long-term survival is that it continues be run by true music people. At the end of the first decade of the new century, the "house that Ahmet built" is in the midst of a renaissance, rankin
g #1 in an industry in the midst of radical change. It is a testament to Atlantic's unique place in history that it remains such a vital force six decades down the line.

"ATLANTIC RECORDS: TIME CAPSULE"

ARTISTS IN CHRONOLOGICAL/DISC ORDER:

Joe Morris * "Stick" McGhee And His Buddies * Ruth Brown * The Clovers * Professor Longhair * Big Joe Turner * The Chords * Ray Charles * Ivory Joe Hunter * LaVern Baker * Chuck Willis * The Bobbettes * Modern Jazz Quartet * The Coasters * Bobby Darin * Charles Mingus * The Drifters * John Coltrane * Ornette Coleman * Ben E. King * Herbie Mann * Booker T. & The MG's * Barbara Lewis * Doris Troy * Rufus Thomas * Don Covay * Solomon Burke * Otis Redding * Wilson Pickett * Sonny & Cher * The Young Rascals * Percy Sledge * Sam & Dave * Carla Thomas * Buffalo Springfield * Arthur Conley * Aretha Franklin * The Bar-Kays * Bee Gees * Vanilla Fudge * Albert King * Cream * Archie Bell & The Drells * Iron Butterfly * Crazy World Of Arthur Brown * Dusty Springfield * Led Zeppelin * Blind Faith * Thunderclap Newman * Crosby, Stills & Nash * The Allman Brothers Band * Les McCann & Eddie Harris * R.B. Greaves * Brook Benton * Clarence Carter * Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young * The Velvet Underground * King Floyd * Stephen Stills * Emerson, Lake & Palmer * Derek & The Dominos * Donny Hathaway * The Rolling Stones * Betty Wright * Yes * The Spinners * Roberta Flack * Dr. John * Bette Midler * Manu Dibango * Genesis * Blue Magic * Dionne Warwicke & The Spinners * Bad Company * J. Geils Band * Average White Band * Major Harris * Roxy Music * Hall & Oates * ABBA * The Trammps * Foreigner * Peter Gabriel * Peter Tosh * Chic * The Blues Brothers * Sister Sledge * Manhattan Transfer * Pete Townshend * Slave * Phil Collins * Stevie Nicks * Laura Branigan * Robert Plant * Shannon * Ratt * Twisted Sister * Honeydrippers * Nu Shooz * Debbie Gibson * Levert * INXS * Mike + The Mechanics * Skid Row * Rush * Alannah Myles * En Vogue * Marc Cohn * Mr. Big * Tori Amos * Stone Temple Pilots * All-4-One * Collective Soul * Hootie & The Blowfish * Everything But The Girl * Trans-Siberian Orchestra * Jewel * Matchbox Twenty * Sugar Ray * Lil' Kim * Brandy * Aaliyah * Kid Rock * Uncle Kracker * P.O.D. * Sean Paul * Simple Plan * Rob Thomas * Staind * Death Cab For Cutie * James Blunt * Gnarls Barkley * T.I. * Panic! At The Disco * Paramore * Flo Rida * Lupe Fiasco * Estelle * Jason Mraz * Zac Brown Band * Shinedown

Contact:
Ashley White
ashley.white@atlanticrecords.com
212-707-2050