WORDS BY BILL DAHL
In the wake of Elvis Presley’s meteoric rise, America’s major labels went on the hunt for an answer to RCA Victor’s swivel-hipped superstar. Liberty Records, on the other hand, appeared in no great hurry to enter the rock and roll sweepstakes.
Founded in 1955 by Simon Waronker, the fledgling Los Angeles label got lucky shortly before the year’s end thanks to sultry chanteuse Julie London, whose vengeful pop anthem Cry Me A River cracked the Billboard Top 10. It turned out to be her only hit single, though she remained on the imprint through 1969, releasing nearly 30 albums in all.