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COMPANY INFO
The Purpose of Brandon Records
It would be my contention that when most companies are formed they have a theme or goal in mind. Something they wish to achieve something setting them apart from other companies. We wanted to make adult Rock n' Roll records with real players. Not Broadway staged choreography with meaningless tracks. Our slogan, The Power of Artistry is real to us. The first two releases by Freddy Dame and Otis Blackwell typify this. The music business is going through mammoth changes but there is nothing to fear once you hear Rock n' Roll itself.
Who are the faces behind the mask?
Brandon L. Harris • Tony Sansone
Brandon L. Harris
His career began in New Hampshire when he wrote a double sided regional success titled "You Name It" and "So I Guess" by The Tidal Waves. Then came a production partnership with a young recording engineer Russ Hamm. Hamm and Harris Productions soon moved to Boston then New York. The history of these days can be found on The Collectable Records (col0676) compilation "You Ain't Gonna Bring Me Down on My Knees, a history of Strafford/Right Records-New England in the Sixties.
Brandon L. Harris produced Rock n' Roll bands and R&B/Soul groups simultaneously. He and Russ Hamm brought Bobby Herne, Maine guitarist, and arranger to New York and he wrote the string and horn parts for the record "Kissin' Me Huggin' Me (You Knew Just what to Do)" by Freddy Dame. This master was sold to Jerry Ross and released on his label Heritage Records, which was burning up the charts at that time. Russ Hamm became chief engineer of Fine Recording in New York simultaneously Hamm and Harris Productions was in demand as producers, therefore Mr. Harris was forced to produce Otis Blackwell, Steve Colt The Franklin Brothers and The Friends of Whitney Sunday on his own. He had never worked without his engineer partner and was concerned that he did not have the ability to go it alone. However, the Colt and Blackwell records have proven to be the stellar productions of Brandon L. Harris' career.
At the height of his independent record production run Brandon produced artists for Columbia, Epic, Decca, Heritage, Mercury, Musicor, Smash, United Artists and Vanguard Records. He and Russ Hamm who together owned Right Records in New Hampshire in the Sixties and formed HHP records distributed by Jamie Records in the Seventies. Then each subsequently drifted out of record production.
While Russ Hamm continued as an engineer, Brandon continued as a songwriter collaborating with his childhood hero Otis Blackwell whom he had produced earlier. Billy Swan recorded "Can't Get You Out of My Bloodstream" as did Freddy Dame on his first Brandon Records release The Original Believers. Otis Blackwell recorded "Hello Bottle with producer Bob Mersey and Otis produced a Harris solo composition "Lady Dynamite." During this period Brandon wrote magazine articles for Time Barrier Express and Trouser Press. The New School of Social Research hired him to lecture on the history of Rock n' Roll.
His good friend Bobby Herne was at home in York, Maine selling second hand goods from his mother's store. This depressed Brandon to such a degree that he arranged for Media One/ AT&T Broadband to finance a production of Bobby's career that he co-produced with Bobby Herne. During this project titled "King of New England Guitars" Bobby passed away and Brandon completed it. The thirty minute film has been widely broadcast through out New England on Media One as well as Maine Public Television. One of the scenes in the film was the 1997 Annual Blues Festival in Portsmouth, New Hampshire where the group "The Spellbounds" featuring Freddy Dame and Bobby Herne. Bobby and Freddy grew up together and were once again united on stage. Freddy's searing rendition of "Georgia On My Mind" and "None of Us Are Free" stole the show. These performances led Brandon to once again record Freddy Dame and form Brandon Records.
Tony Sansone
He is the co-composer of "Walk Away Renee." This song was a huge hit for the Left Banke and The Four Tops. It was a chart record for Southside Johnny & The Asbury Dukes. He is the heart and soul of Brandon Records. "Walk Away Renee" has become a classic and was featured in the film The Bodyguard and the hit TV series Aly McBeal. Mo Jo Magazine of London, a respected worldwide publication, has recently cited "Walk Away Renee" as one of the greatest one hundred songs ever written. Tony served in the A&R department of Musicor and Dynamo Records in New York. He produced The Five O'clock News.
Mr. Sansone has worked with Brandon L. Harris for a number of years. Most recently writing "I'll Hear Your Call" for the initial Brandon Records release The Original Believers by Freddy Dame.
He is a stylized piano player and a powerful vocalist. Hear him singing backup on "Yours" on The Original Believers.Tony is involved in every aspect of the day to day operation of the company, including artist development and graphic arts.