Mainstream Records was an independent label, founded in 1964 by veteran producer Bob Shad. Shad was producing jazz (Charlie Parker), blues and R&B material since the 1940s, and started several record labels before Mainstream, including Time Records, Brent Records, and EmArcy. On Mainstream he both reissued his old material from Commodore Records and Time Records, and produced new recordings from Shelly Manne, Dizzy Gillespie, Roy Haynes, Buddy Terry, and Pete Yellin.
In the late 1960s, the label released Big Brother & The Holding Company's first material (feat. Janis Joplin), as well as The Amboy Dukes' first albums, featuring Ted Nugent. Mainstream was also distributing Flying Dutchman Records and continued issuing soundtracks and new jazz material through to 1978, when it folded.