Musical tastes began to change in the late 1960s and Wexler changed along with them. He would sign such groups as Led Zeppelin; Cream; The Bee Gees; Yes; Vanilla Fudge; and Emerson, Lake, and Palmer. He also developed the idea of a subsidiary label owned by the artist and distributed by Atlantic. This idea led to The Rolling Stone Record Label, Led Zeppelin’s Swan Song Label, and the Capricorn Label for The Allman Brothers.
Wexler would leave the Atlantic label in 1975 and work as an independent producer. He produced Bob Dylan’s Slow Train Coming which would win Dylan his first Grammy award in 1979. He also produced albums for Dire Straits, The Staple Singers, Etta James, George Michael, and Jose Feliciano among others.
He reportedly sold his interest in the Atlantic Label for millions and was elected to The Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame in 1987.
Before his death Wexler was asked what he would like as his epitaph on his tombstone to which he replied, “More bass.”
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Article comments
1 - TexasBrian
Wexler never produced an album for George Michael. He produced the initial take of one single, "Careless Whisper," which George disliked and rerecorded with himself as producer.
2 - David Bowling
Greetings. As far as I know the Wexler version of "Careless Whisper" was released in Japan. George Michael decided to release an earlier take in other countries including The United States. Thanks for the comment, David
3 - Marcia Neil
"Race music", however, is real -- it is all-vocal music engaged with other species.