Who is Mo Ostin? Mo Ostin is one of the most influential and important record producers of the 1960s and 1970s, only retiring in 2004 at the age of 77. As Vice President and then President of Warner Bros. Records, Ostin created the model of the artist-friendly record label. He made Warners the biggest and most creative record company of its time, signing such artists as the Kinks, Jimi hendrix, The Grateful Dead, Joni Mitchell, Randy Newman, Neil Young, Van Morrison, Jethro Tull, the Mothers of Invention, Arlo Guthrie, Van Dyke Parks, Captain Beefheart and Alice Cooper - many of my favorites! As a kid, I became a big fan of Warner/Reprise records because of their commitment to 'popular' singer songwriters like James Taylor and 'semi-popular'artists - to borrow Robert Christgau's phrase - like Ry Cooder and others. You could almost buy anything released by them without even hearing it first! My appreciation for Warners deepened further when I began to get into the two-buck 'Loss Leaders' compilations assembled so lovingly by Barry Hansen, aka Dr. Demento. They are crazy snapshots of an era, masterpieces each one.

Compilations like these are fascinating indications of a record label's values and priorities. The Warner/Reprise Loss Leaders, which I have written about before, evidence  the prescient enlightenment of the label. Compare them to some of Columbia Records compilations like "20 Heavy Hits, Vol. 1" for instance, which I happen to be playing at the moment. While very entertaining today, Columbia's issues - produced by the Columbia Special Products division - emphasize hits and one hit wonders over artist development. Of course, there are exceptions to every rule: Melanie's cover of the Rolling Stone's 'Ruby Tuesday,' which ends side two, is priceless, and is worth the dollar I spent on "20 Heavy Hits, Vol. 1" all by itself. And then there is the Isly Brothers' 'Freedom' which is a revelation. And Billy Joe Royal's 'Cherry Hill Park.' Who played that crazy organ solo and who wrote that nutty chorus? I looove it. It's groovy, baby.

But, overall, the Columbia Special Products products can't touch Warner's Loss Leaders!And that is thanks to Mo Ostin. Some of his accomplishments, according to Mo Ostin's Wikipedia page:

"1964: Ostin is named vice president of Warner Bros. Records-along with promotion whiz Joe Smith, who would later go on to head both Elektra Records and Capitol Records. Key Warners signing: the Kinks, who move the label aggressively into the world of contemporary rock.

1966: Ostin hires record producer Lenny Waronker. Grateful Dead signed.

1967-1969: Seven Arts buys the Warner Bros. movie and music companies-as well as rival Atlantic Records-in 1967. Warner Bros. and Atlantic operate as separate divisions. Warners' roster additions include Jimi Hendrix, Joni Mitchell, Randy Newman, Neil Young, Van Morrison, Jethro Tull, the Mothers of Invention, Arlo Guthrie, Van Dyke Parks, Captain Beef-heart and Alice Cooper. Steve Ross' Kinney Leisure Services, a giant parking lot consortium, buys both Warner Bros. and Atlantic in 1969.

1970: Ostin elevated to president of Warner Bros. Records. James Taylor, Fleetwood Mac, the Beach Boys and Ry Cooder are signed.

1971: Setting its sights on catching industry champion Columbia Records, Ostin encouraged Kinney to form WEA Distribution Group and backed Atlantic executive Nesuhi Ertegun's plan to form an international division. Rod Stewart, T. Rex, Black Sabbath join the Warner fold.

1972-1974: Ostin is named chairman and CEO of Warner Bros. Records. Warner signs distribution deals with the Chrysalis (Procol Harum) and Capricorn (Allman Brothers) record labels. Emmylou Harris signed.

1975-1979: Warner Bros. Records, which passes Columbia in album sales during the period, takes up residence in a new building in Burbank. Flurry of deals ensues that brings Sire, Island, Qwest, Curb, Curtom and ECM labels into the Warner fold. The moves lead to albums by Madonna, Talking Heads, the Pretenders, the Ramones, U2, Bob Marley. Other signings: Prince, Van Halen, Rickie Lee Jones, Devo."

Mo Ostin succeeded in creating a positive and supportive working environment for artists like Mike Mills of REM, who signed with Ostin because he was honest: "We knew Warner Bros. actually cared about artistic integrity and if we signed with Mo we wouldn't be pressured to sell a million copies each time out just to stay on the label," says Mike Mills, bassist with R.E.M., which chose Warner Bros. after a fierce industry bidding war in the late-'80s. "Unlike other executives we talked to, Mo seemed genuinely interested in our music. But the best thing about him was that he seemed honest. So we trusted him and it paid off-in spades."

Mo Ostin turned 82 on March 27, 2009. Happy Belated Birthday, Mo. I hope you are doing well. And thanks.