Label Guide: Pink Elephant

Pink Elephant was a Dutch record label, founded in 1968 by radio DJ Willem van Kooten, better known under his pseudonym Joost den Draaijer. The label released many progressive rock albums by Dutch artists like Shocking Blue and OPMC, but also some international gems as Irish psychedelic band Andwella or English blues rockers Killing Floor (although the band claims the "releases on the Pink Elephant label are bootlegs, and the band has never received any payment for these.")

The related Blue Elephant label was founded by Joost den Draaijer in 1970 to focus on Black Music like Soul, Funk, Latin and Blues. This label released albums by international stars like Kool & The Gang, but its most successful act was Dutch-Surinamese singer Oscar Harris and his Twinkle Stars. Pink Elephant lasted until 1977, while Blue Elephant closed its doors about two years earlier.