SteepleChase

Danish jazz label; also appears as "SteepleChase Records".
Label Code: LC 3064 / LC 03064
Founded in 1972 by jazz enthusiast Nils Winther who had begun to record artists live at Jazzhaus Montmartre in Copenhagen (label 269003). Many US jazz musicians had relocated to Europe as American interest in the music declined, and Montmartre and Steeplechase from the early 70s became outlets for such artists as Chet Baker, Paul Bley, artist 251779, Stan Getz, Dexter Gordon, Shirley Horn, Thad Jones, Duke Jordan, Jackie McLean, Horace Parlan, Archie Shepp and Doug and Jimmy Raney.
Nils Winther recorded and produced most of the label's releases.

Be aware that some of the CD repressings are actually CDrs, they are unmarked as such. The US distributor said that the owner is pressing small batches of CDrs for older, slower selling titles, such as [r7772799]. So a seller who has a sealed copy has no way of knowing what is inside.

Unfortunately, no well researched label guide is available for SteepleChase. But as a preliminary help, here are some preliminary notes to identify early jazz release years. This concerns primarily catalog series 10XX and 11XX, 1001-1099 were first relased 1972-1979, 1101-1199 1979 through 1985. This list concerns primarily European releases:

* First label series: SteepleChase Records on two lines centered horisontal, midway vertical btw. center and 12 (o'clock). NCB capital letters, in use ca. 1972-74, cat.nos. 1001-13, versions with long text on "All rights of the record producer ..." right-of-center, probably later than versions with just "All rights reserved", left-of-center.

* Second label series: SteepleChase Records one line, same place as previous label, boxed design, rim text. NCB before n(c)b. [The NCB changed the logo in or around 1974].

* Third label series: SteepleChase Records in new font, bold, curved along rim, from 9-to-12. c. 1976 to c. 1983/4.

* Fourth label series: SteepleChase Records in the previous font, curved along rim, centered on 12, c. 1984 onwards.