GRT Records was the name of both a U.S. and a Canadianrecord label, both created byGeneral Recorded Tape, aCalifornia-based company that existed from 1965 to 1979.^[1] Their demise was concurrent with the bankruptcy of their owner, General Recorded Tape.^[2]

The American branch of GRT Records was founded in 1970.^[3]

Artists who released material on GRT Records in the United States includedThe Mojo Men,Sam Taylor,Lighthouse,Bobby Jameson,Edwards Hand,Terry Bush,Ronnie Hawkins,Colosseum,Mainline,Minnie Riperton,Flower Travellin' Band,Rastus,String Driven Thing,Lotti Golden,Van der Graaf Generator,Meri Wilson andSteve Hackett.^[2] Contrary to original expectations, the label was not a major component of the operations of parent General Recorded Tape. Instead of its record releases being referenced to the GRT label, as originally announced, General Recorded Tape referred to itsChess/Janus record operations.^[4] The GRT label had more success with theirNashville operations, but the Nashville office was shut down in 1978.^[5]

In 1976, GRT Records established a subsidiary, Sunnyvale Records,^[6] which concentrated on releases of interest to an older audience, including releases ofDixieland, organ, harmonica and accordion music.^[7]

In contrast to the U.S. label, the Canadian subsidiary became a major source of original releases by Canadian artists. GRT Records, legally known as GRT of Canada Ltd., was established as the Canadian subsidiary of General Recorded Tape. It was initially based inLondon, Ontario, as a Canadian distributor of4-track and8-track tapes produced in the United States.^[1] The company was specifically established to produce records of Canadian artists.^[8] Its founding president wasRoss Reynolds, who later was the president ofMCA Records Canada.^[9]

The company was relocated toToronto,Ontario in 1969, and commenced distributing foreign label records and tapes, as well as recording its own artists. By 1976, the foreign labels distributed by GRT in Canada included GRT-owned Chess Records and Janus Records, as well as other labels such asABC Records,Dunhill Records,Island Records,Festival Records,Westminster Records,America Records,Impulse Records,Musidisc Records,^[1]20th Century Fox Records andSire Records.^[10] In addition to releasing records under the GRT label, other Canadian labels distributed includedAxe Records andDaffodil Records.^[1] Notable Canadian artists whose records were released by GRT includedDan Hill,Ian Thomas,Downchild Blues Band,Lighthouse,Prism^[1] andFM.^[11]

GRT Records went bankrupt in 1979,^[11] with significant effects on the career progress of certain Canadian artists. The second album release of FM had been scheduled for release one week subsequent to the GRT Records bankruptcy.^[12] The Canadian bandPrism had sold in excess of 200,000 copies of their albumArmageddon, which was released the same year as the GRT bankruptcy. Both8-track tapes and records byThe Ramones wereremaindered as a result of the GRT bankruptcy. Paradoxically, the remaindering of Ramones music in Canada is regarded as having contributed to the band's popularity in that country,^[10] since their music was discovered by persons who would not otherwise have purchased the music at full price.^[13]