Ode Records was started by Lou Adler in 1967 after he sold Dunhill Records to ABC Records. It was distributed by CBS Records until 1969. Between 1970 and 1976 the label was distributed by A&M Records, from 1976 onward it was again distributed by CBS Records. Adler reactivated the label several times including another short run with A&M in 1989 as Ode Sounds. It was disbanded when A&M was sold to PolyGram in late 1989.
One of the first releases on Ode was the now timeless "San Francisco" by Scott McKenzie in 1967. But the label is probably best known for breaking Carole King, first with her band The City, and in 1971 with the mega-seller "Tapestry", that would remain on the top 100 album charts for six years and sell 25 million copies worldwide. Ode Records was discontinued in 1978.