Janus was originally founded in July 1969 as a joint venture of GRT and British label Pye Records. In its early years of operation the bulk of Janus' acts were U.S. issues of Pye product. Its first major hit was "Baby Take Me in Your Arms" by Jefferson, in late 1969. Other acts in Janus' early years included Pye artists Status Quo, Pickettywitch and Sounds Orchestral. Up to the early 1970s, the label's president was Marvin Schlactner, who later ran the ill-fated U.S. Pye label, which by 1976 evolved into Prelude Records. GRT assumed sole ownership of Janus in 1971, after Pye pulled out of the venture. Ed Dejoy of Baltimore, MD followed Schlactner as President. Allan Mason was Vice President in charge of A&R.