Westbound Records

01 / The story of this place

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Armen Boladian started Westbound Records in Detroit in 1968, and within a few years it became one of the most important independent labels to come out of the city's funk and soul scene. George Clinton's band Funkadelic released its wildest, most groundbreaking albums on Westbound, including 'Maggot Brain,' while the Ohio Players scored a hit with 'Funky Worm' before moving on to Mercury Records, and the Detroit Emeralds landed a string of soul hits starting with 'Feel the Need in Me' in 1972. Westbound's distribution deals shifted over the years, from Janus Records in the early 1970s to 20th Century and then Atlantic by the end of the decade, and the label also spun off the experimental Eastbound Records imprint and the gospel label Sound of Gospel. Boladian kept the company going for decades afterward, and Westbound now operates out of an office on West Ten Mile Road in Southfield, still licensing and reissuing its classic funk and soul catalog today.

1. Founded by Armen Boladian in Detroit in 1968
2. Original home of Funkadelic's classic albums, including 'Maggot Brain'
3. Also released the Ohio Players and the Detroit Emeralds
4. Still operating today, now based on West Ten Mile Road in Southfield