August 25th 1978.
Security Pacific National Bank. L.A.
The afternoon sun was bright as James & Martha stepped out of the Security Pacific Bank.
The meeting had lasted nearly two hours.
Most of it had gone over his head.
The only part James truly understood was the number at the end.
Thirty million dollars.
"Try not to look so shocked."
James glanced at her.
"I just walked out of a bank with access to more money than I've seen."
"That's fair."
James finally shook his head.
They began walking down towards the parking lot.
They got in the car heading back to office.
They reached a crosswalk and stopped.
The light was red.
James tapping the wheel.
"It still feels ridiculous."
"It probably will for a while."
"Speaking of ridiculous."
"The Fantasy Group reorganization paperwork is almost ready."
"Fantasy Group Holdings should be fully registered within two weeks."
James nodded.
That part he remembered.
Instead of everything sitting under one company, Martha had spent the last several weeks restructuring it.
The light changed. James stepped on the gas.
"Fantasy Pictures stays where it is," Martha continued.
"Obviously."
"Fantasy Records And Fantasy Home & Television Entertainment were also registered as subsidaries according to your request."
Martha glanced at him.
"One more thing."
"There's always one more thing."
"The Delaware office."
"It's already arranged. Small rental office. The deposit just needs to be sent through Arthur & Young."
"I will send Linda to deposit tommorow."
Martha nodded and asked.
"No Linda today?"
"Office hunting."
"Still?"
Martha gave him a look.
James just laughed.
James dropped Martha at Arthur & Young and returned to office.
He need to sort out himself with that amount of money secured.
Thirty million dollars.
The number still felt absurd.
James headed straight for his desk and reached for the phone.
An hour later, A stack full of Notes beside him covered in names and numbers.
Most weren't interested.
Some were too small.
Others weren't for sale.
He still narrowed it down to five labels.
Total Experience Records, Slash Records , Contemperary Records, Butterfly Records and biggest surprise of All the Fantasy Records Berkley
Strongest Independant Label in 1970s. The House That Creedence built but it's valuation was in millions certainly not the target for now.
James grabbed his keys and headed back out.
He had made an appointment at Total Experience Records today. it was a independent studio operating near Hollywood at yuuca st.
James was greeted by George Semper one the key producer at Total Experience.
James was completely taken by surprise, He expected some small employee would show
him around.
He completely underestimated his own fame and worth.
George meticulously showed hit around the studio introduting to various people and
history of the studio for half an hour.
Just as James was about to take his leave at the entrance they ran into Lonnie Simmons.
upon introduction Lonnie invited James to his nightclub Total Experience.
James being free and wanting to make friends and network with various people from industry accepted the invitation.
It was late night in Total Experience.
James and Lonnie with George were drinking beers and tequila shot half drunk enjoying
their evening.
Lonnie in the mood and half drunk started talking with james about friday the 13th.
"James, I watched your movie not bad. Last week we had a artist performing a song called Bloody Friday with axe and blood on his head here it was quite entertaining."
"Pleasure is mine, I wish I could have seen it." James half drunk started spouting nonsense.
"So, James what's next ? Don't tell me you are trying to change profession visiting recording studio."
James eating some peanuts,"Nah, My next movie is Dancing musical, I am roaming studios to learn."
"Dancing Musical ?" Lonnie sipping his shot amused " That good, so James can you dance? "
James nodded without paying attention. " Of course, I can dance Lonnie."
Lonnie with huge grin shouted towards a girl at the bar counter. " Hey Monica, My friend wants to dance. How about it. "
James stunned dropped the peanut from his mouth but still alchol took over. "Gladly and joined the Dance floor with Monica."
Lonnie stood up and went towards the DJ and started hyping up the crowd and clearing floor space for monica and James.
James completely let loose although not much of a dancer he could dance a little with couple dance waltz and imitating travolta and hip thrust of Michael Jackson he worked up the crowd.
After Dancing for a while he kissed Monica goodbye and went back to drinking with Lonnie and George.
Lonnie throughly Entertained, "James you can dance that was nice, Cheers."
James with adrenaline and Alcohol coursing through raise the glass of tequila shot "cheers."
George was throughly being invisible throughout this interaction.
"James remember to send me premiere tickets of your dance musical."
"I will save a best seat for you."
By late into the night James went back to his home and flopped on his bed wake up with a bad hangover.
Next week James and Linda were no where in the office they were travelling all over L.A
James visited various labels, Slash Records, Contemperary Records, Butterfly Records but his most memorable visit was to Fantasy Records Berkley.
August 31st 1978.
James finally returned to Fantasy Pictures.
The office looked exactly the same.
Linda was already there.
She looked just as exhausted as he felt.
A folder nearly three inches thick sat on her desk.
James pointed at it.
"Office hunting?"
"Yep."
They both sat for a while Neither moving for several minutes.
Then Linda stood up.
"I'm making coffee."
Five minutes later both of them were sitting in the office with coffee cups.
Linda opened first.
"I found three Location that fit our criteria."
James immidietely stopped her.
"Forget about all that tell me the one you liked the most."
Linda annoyed but still pulled out a photographs.
"I like this one."
James looked at the photos one by one.
Linda continued introducing the one she liked.
A larger building near Burbank, Office space upstairs.
Warehouse space behind it, Enough parking Space. Big room for equipment storage.
It meets our criteria and is in budget.
"How?"
"Good, If we're moving, I don't want to move again in a year."
"Neither do I."
James set the Photographs down.
"What their asking price ?"
"1.5 million it's quite small considering it's L.A."
"1.5, That's a Bargain."
James was satiesfied with this office.
"Let's do this quickly, Forward this to Martha."
"Alright."
Then Linda pointed toward his folder.
"Your turn."
He passed the sheet of paper to Linda.
Five names sat on the first page.
Total Experience Records.
Slash Records.
Butterfly Records.
Fantasy Records.
Contemporary Records.
Linda immediately pointed at Fantasy Records.
"That one."
James laughed.
"No."
"No?"
"Absolutely not."
"Why?"
"Because they would probably cost more than this entire building."
James crossed it off.
"Fantasy Records is successful."
"That's bad?"
"It is when you're trying to buy something."
He crossed off names one by one eventually only one name remained.
Contemporary Records.
Linda looked at the page.
"That's the one?"
"I think so."
"Why?"
James thought about it for a moment.
"The studio is complete."
He raised one finger.
A second finger.
"The founder died last year."
"And?"
"The son is running it."
Third.
"It was a jazz label."
That was the biggest reason, Jazz wasn't dead, Far from it.
But it wasn't where the money was anymore.
Rock, Disco, Punk, Pop.
That was where the industry was moving.
James tapped the paper.
"If somebody offers a good price, they're more likely to listen."
Eventually Linda smiled.
"So."
"So."
"You found a record label."
"You found an office."
She raised her coffee cup.
"Productive week."
James raised his own.
"Exhausting week."
Linda laughed.