Label Guide: Westbound
Westbound Records is a Detroit-based soul label founded by producer Armen Boladian in 1970. Armen Boladian was driving westbound on 8 Mile Road one day in 1968 when the name came to him (NPR). Westbound's most important act is Funkadelic, who recorded eight albums for the label between 1969-1976, including the classics "Maggot Brain" and "Free Your Mind."
Westbound had a distribution deal with Janus Records from 1970 to 1975 (Chess/Janus for 1974/75), then it switched distribution to 20th Century-Fox, and finally Atlantic Records from 1977 to 1979.
-
1. Label Variation
first Westbound label (1970 - 1975)
The first Westbound label was used for all 4-digit catalog numbers in the 1000, 2000, and 4000 series.
-
2. Label Variation
second Westbound label (1975 - 1977)
The second Westbound label was used for the mid-Seventies 200- numbers.
-
3. Label Variation
third Westbound label (1977 - 1980)
The final Westbound label of the late 1970s, 300 and 6000 series.