Probe was an ABC subsidiary that lasted between 1968 and 1970. It was run out of the Grand Award division of the company. It was established to record and issue the "psychedelic" sounds of the late 1960s, and had such artists as the Soft Machine, Litter, Zephyr, and Rare Bird. The Soft Machine was an experimental rock trio from the UK constiting of Robert Wyatt (vocals, drums), Kevin Ayers (guitar), and Michael Ratledge (organ). Litter was from Minneapolis, and specialized in hard rock. Members included Mark Gallagher (vocals), Ray Melina (guitar), Dan Rinaldi (guitar), J. Worthington Kane (bass), and Tom Murray (drums).

Zephyr, from Denver, had the label's most successful album. The group featured ill-fated Tommy Bolin on guitar (he also did stints with Deep Purple and the James Gang), who died of a drug overdose at age 26 in 1976. Other members were bassist David Givens, his wife Candy Ramey Givens (vocals, who accidentally drowned on January 27, 1984), John Farris (keyboards), and Robbie Chamberlain (drums).

The group Fat City had Bill Danoff and Taffy Nivert (later Taffy Danoff) amongst their lineup. The Danoffs later backed John Denver, and co-wrote some of his biggest hits. By 1976, they had teamed up with two other singers in the Starland Vocal Band and had a huge hit with "Afternoon Delight" on Denver's Windsong label.

The most successful single on the Probe label was "Sympathy" by Rare Bird, a British group made up of Steve Gould (vocals, bass), David Kaffinetti (keyboards), Graham Field (organ), and Mark Ashton (drums). "Sympathy" proved to be an FM hit in early 1970, the days when FM radio was fighting for an audience with the well-established AM top-40 radio. The FM success didn't translate directly into 45-rpm record sales, however, since the single stalled at #121 on the charts. The Rare Bird album, however, made a respectable chart showing for Probe, as might be expected from the more album-oriented FM listeners. By the time the group's second album was ready several months later, Probe had been abandoned as a label by ABC, and the group signed with Polydor for US distribution.

Interestingly, with the general lack of chart success for the label's offerings in the FM-rock genre, Probe turned to a more soul-oriented look for its last gasp. Dick Jensen's White Hot Soul preceded an album by long-time soul singer Freddie Scott, I Shall Be Released, but with the failure of even this new direction, Probe was shut down in mid-1970.

The label was typical of the late 1960s ABC labels, black with silver print with a colorful Probe logo on the top left and an ABC logo on the top right of the label. Around the bottom of the label it said, in red print, "MFG. By Grand Award Records Co., Inc., a subsidiary and trademark licensee of ABC Records, Inc. New York, N.Y. 10019 - Made in USA."

We would appreciate any additions or corrections to this discography. Just send them to us via e-mail. Both Sides Now Publications is an information web page. We are not a catalog, nor can we provide the records listed below. We have no association with Probe Records. Should you be interested in acquiring albums listed in this discography (all of which are out of print), we suggest you see our Frequently Asked Questions page and follow the instructions found there. This story and discography are copyright 2002 by Mike Callahan.