Obit: Nat Joseph - Transatlanic Records (Sep 2005)

Subject: Obit: Nat Joseph - Transatlanic Records
From: Wesley S
Date: 14 Sep 05 - 11:55 AM

I found this over at the Woodshed - a blues guitar forum :

'Shedders in the UK and elsewhere will be saddened by the death of Nat(han) Joseph, who founded Transatlantic Records in the 1960s. After education at Cambridge and a period in the US, Joseph returned to the UK and set up as a record entrepreneur (for want of a better word). His first disc was a spoken-word sex instruction guide (!!) which in the staid Britain of the early 60s sold 100,000 copies. He used the profits from this to found Transatlantic, recording only people whose music he enjoyed or thought worthwhile. The label was a HUGE influence on the UK 'folk-revival' scene in the 60s, giving first recordings to such later-to-be-major artists as Ralph McTell, Bert Jansch, John Renbourn, John James, Pentangle etc. It also recorded several American artists: Stefan Grossman recorded several albums either for Transatlantic or which were issued by the label in the UK. The changing music scene of the 1970s caused financial problems for the label and it was eventually bought by a large corporate entity. Nat Joseph found he could not work within the profit-rather-than-music-motivated environment and bailed out.He later enjoyed a successful career as a theatrical producer. Although his label was a 'minor' in terms of size and sales, it was most definitely a 'major' in terms of the quality and variety of the artists and music it issued. And it was all down to the tastes of Nathan Joseph. May he rest in peace.

Subject: RE: Obit: Nat Joseph - Transatlanic Records
From: The Borchester Echo
Date: 14 Sep 05 - 12:09 PM

Monday's Guardian

Though this obit too omits to mention that he said up Transatlantic with Stephen Sedley (nowadays the knighted High Court judge) who was already renowned at the time for his songbook The Seeds Of Love.

Subject: RE: Obit: Nat Joseph - Transatlanic Records
From: Tam the man
Date: 14 Sep 05 - 12:38 PM

Sadly missed, Billy Connolly's recored producer ( if I can remember)
on his Solo concert recored.

TAM

Subject: RE: Obit: Nat Joseph - Transatlanic Records
From: The Borchester Echo
Date: 14 Sep 05 - 02:30 PM

said up Transatlantic????

erm . . . meant to put 'set up' . . .

Subject: RE: Obit: Nat Joseph - Transatlanic Records
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 14 Sep 05 - 02:33 PM

Yes I have a few Transatlantic recordings in my collection, a man of taste and discernment, who contributed greatly to our culture.
Safe journey to him.
Giok