Label Guide: RAK

RAK Records was founded in 1969 by British producer Mickie Most along with RAK Publishing and RAK Music Management. The name of the label was inspired by Mickie's first job in the early 1960s, when he was selling records in stores and displaying them on racks. Soon he became a successful producer in the 1960s, first producing the debut single of The Animals, then albums for Herman's Hermits, Donovan, The Nashville Teens, The Yardbirds and Jeff Beck.

RAK Records released a string of hits in the 1970s and 1980s, including Suzi Quatro's "Can the Can", Smokie's "Living Next Door to Alice", Hot Chocolate's "You Sexy Thing", and Kim Wilde's "Kids in America". In 1986 Mickie Most sold RAK Records to EMI. RAK Publishing and the RAK Recording Studios still exist today in St. John's Wood in London.