Cheap Thrills Addenda- Bounties of Budget Bin Browsing Update

by Opal Louis Nations and Bob Bell

A short note here: As Opal writes below, the first installment of this piece ran in Blues and Rhythm 155, over twenty years ago. Opal and I brought it up to date and submitted it to B & R who unfortunately re-ran the first piece instead of this one. This is what can happen in these days when cyber files are tossed around like paper aeroplanes.

This listing does not purport to be definitive in any way at all - first of all, the entries here are in addition to what B & R published all those years ago, and secondly, this field is so extensive that I seriously doubt that an all-inclusive survey could ever be assembled. Nevertheless, it is a taste of what might be found out there, so feel free to nibble a bit, and get the flavor. There is a lot of tasty stuff.

It’s been two decades since our first trawl through U.S. budget and thrift store album outlets (see Blues &Rhythm 155.) A good deal has changed since then. The growth of own-nothing, in-cloud downloading has mushroomed. This has led to the diminishing sales of CDs. Aside from the growth of thrashed CDs, the number of used vinyl retail outlets continues to multiply, serving mostly the funksters and those younger hip-folk among us who are looking for a more meaningful stream of vernacular music. Raised rents have caused closures of the larger retail stores and store chains, making way for smaller, specialized, one-man enterprises. Also Goodwill stores in the U.S. have “upscaled” by raising prices and “poshing” up their premises. The occasional collectible treasure can still be found among the bric-a-brac at scattered antique stores and markets at reasonable prices. The growth of high-end audio component outlets flourishes as the sale of turntables mushroom everywhere. There is a burgeoning interest in restored phonographs from the forties through the sixties. It’s just a matter of time before we see the return of listening booths. More and more new, expensive audio wax is being sold alongside digital disc equivalents so that one can sample an original vinyl reproduction and store its digital replica. Cheap budget album collecting has become a serious subject of study. Books covering extensive research are being written, some of which are only available online. For the purposes of this article, we define a budget album as retailing significantly cheaper than a full price LP, the period being the fifties through the seventies. 

For this second trawl, we have enlisted the services of Bob ‘Rob’ Bell, an ex-Trojan/Island operative, reggae & R&B collector, ex-manager, and promoter for Roomful of Blues.

As per usual we have excluded country music wherever possible and have drawn personal boundaries around omitting some jazz and blues & rhythm. Also we have included LPs as opposed to 78s/45s and EPs. The latter were mainly pressed for sale in the ‘sound-alike’ market. These recordings by and large attempted to duplicate sound of a hit record, using unknown artists. This is a whole other field, and we have only touched upon it at its margins. Labels such as Tops and Broadway started out offering 78s, and then 45s covering pop and country tunes. As Rock n Roll started to hit, the format changed to including two or three songs per side. Musically much of this material is suspect due to the slavish desire to duplicate the original sound without realizing that the appeal of the original lay in its very originality - the copy usually lacking fire and feeling. Nevertheless, there are some interesting performances to be found amongst the dross.

Two labels do stand out as being a little different. Bell Records employed top-notch studio musicians and singers, eg, Buddy Lucas, Edna McGriff, and often re-arranged the tunes thus giving them a real identity. Waldorf used a similar approach, and the wonderful guitar playing of George Barnes can be heard on many of that label’s covers. Tops, Value and Waldorf, and possibly other labels, packaged the releases together in paper jackets containing three records, hence Waldorf’s 18 Top Hits label, three songs on each side of a 78 or 45, giving the consumer 18 ‘hit’ tunes in one purchase.

There were dozens of these sound-alike labels, just a few being Broadway, Gilmer, Value, Tops , Waldorf, Star, Cameo, Prom / Promenade, Royale, Gateway, Worthmore, and Big 4 Hits. Often masters were passed around, and so Value and Broadway will often have the same releases, as will Gilmer and Tops. A few actually had R & B series, such as the Tops R700 series. Gateway also had an R & B series.

The first sound-alike LPs were all 10-inchers, due to the easy availability of presses that had been built to press 78s. As capacity for 12” pressing grew, so did the manufacture of sound-alike 12” records. The pop world back in the fifties was very much a singles market, so it is fair to say that the growth of these budget 12” LPs - sold at very low prices and available on racks at gas stations, drug stores and the like - were instrumental in marketing the LP format to younger buyers. (Indeed, it is probably fair to say that overall sales of budget albums, mass marketed as they were, quite likely outsold full price LPs by well known artists on major labels). Soundalike LPs mostly had generic covers, using the same catalog number with just the addition of a letter after the number to keep a little sanity in the manufacturing process (signifying to the pressing plant to use the current set of stampers). The retailer or rack jobber thus used the same catalogue number to order, and received whatever songs were on the current release. A blank patch of the cover would be overprinted with the new titles, or just a small label glued on. Other covers made the process even more budget friendly - just like a regular singles jacket, the middle of the cover would be punched out so the label could be read. Waldorf did print EP covers, but they were in the minority. Their 10” ‘8 Top Hits’ LP series is quite collectible, and has 48 releases!

* Indicates that this label was also covered in the previous installment in B&R 155.

ACE OF HEARTS (Decca)

The Decca Record Company Ltd, Decca House, Albert Embankment, London SE1

Ace Of Hearts AH 72 - Out Came The Blues Vol 1 Various Artists

Very influential during the early 60’s blues boom

Ace Of Hearts AH 77 - Harlem Hamfats

Ace Of Hearts AH 85 - Let the Good Times Roll Louis Jordan & His Tympany Five

Classic Decca 1940s sessions. Louis was hugely popular in Jamaica - during the 60’s it seemed every Jamaican record store in London had this LP on display.

Ace Of Hearts AH 119 - I Love To Sing - Jimmy Rushing

Ace Of Hearts AH 158  - Out Came The Blues Vol 2 - Various Artists

Ace Of Hearts AH 163 - Jugs & Washboards - Various Artists

Ace Of Hearts AH 182 Sonny Terry & Brownie McGhee

ALA (Laff)

Louis Drozen, 4101 West Jefferson Boulevard, Los Angeles, California 90016

Ala 1972 – Little Richard & Jimi Hendrix

Stompin’ Vee Jay reissues from Le Petit

Ala G-904 - I Found a Friend - Clarence Fountain and The Blind Boys

*AAMCO (Alison)

204 W. 49th St., NYC, NY. Also at 1604 Broadway, NYC, NY. Carl Lebow, president

Aamco ALP 329  – Rock! Rock! Rock! - George Rhodes

One of four LPs the George Rhodes Orchestra cut for Aamco, and the most desirable of them all. With Heywood Henry, Elmer Crumbley and other leading East Coast session guys present, this is great small combo R & B.

AL-FI (Modern)

5810 S. Normandie Ave., L.A., CA

Al-Fi C4080 - Shades Of Blues - Ivy Anderson, Helen Humes, Etta Jones, Lena Horne

Black and White sides

*ALLEGRO (Later purchased by RCA) (also Allegro Elite and Allegro Royale, and Ultraphonic).

5 Columbus Circle, NYC, NY.  Paul Puner, president

Allegro 1704 - Let’s Rock and Roll - Various Artists

Cootie Williams from Derby, Big Jay McNeely, Paul Williams and Hal Singer from Savoy. T.J. Fowler from Regent etc - wrongly ID in previous article (B & R 155).

Allegro 1734 – Easy Listening Blues - Various Artists

Nice selection of Derby sides from Joe Black, King Odom Four and Lawrence ’88’ Keys

Allegro 1697 & 3102 - Georgie Auld

Guild and Musicraft sides from tenor player Georgie Auld who sat alongside Al Sears, Freddie Mitchell and Red Prysock in Alan Freed’s Rock n Roll Band - 7 cuts are duplicated.

Allegro 1514  – St Louis Blues Rockin Rhythm

As by St Louis Boogie Band, but in reality Maurice Rocco. Easy listening boogie woogie from Guild & Musicraft

Allegro 4033 – Earl Bostic & Jimmie Lunceford

Gymnastical hot dance music from these two legends

Allegro 4046 – Cootie Williams & Eddie ‘Cleanhead’ Vinson

Great Hit & Majestic source material

Allegro 4109  ‘Rock and Roll’

Derby sides from Jimmy Preston and Cootie Williams - great cover

Allegro 4131 and 4150 - Tops in Pops - Soundalikes

ARCHIVE OF FOLK (Everest)

10920 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 410, Los Angeles, CA 90024      

Archive of Folk 206 – Sonny Terry

Asch Folk Club material from Stinson LPs 7 & 8 (1946)

AT THE HOP (Music Makers Inc.)

No address given

PMI 101 – Seldon Powell & His All Stars

Worthy grooving band for a small fist of silver

BEACON RECORDS LTD

331-333 High Road Willesden NW10

Beacon SBEAB 9 - Authentic Chicago Blues

Issued in 1972 contemporary Chicago blues from Magic Slim, Chuck Rives, Little Hite, Jackie Edwards (see also Windmill)

.

BOULEVARD (A.R.C.)

326 Kensal Road, London W10, England

Boulevard 4001 – Lightnin’ Hopkins

From Verve-Folkways with Earl Palmer and Jimmy Bond - also issued on Saga 8001 (UK). Has two cuts not issued on Verve-Folkways

BOUNTY (Electra)

2-4 Dean Street, London W.1, England

Bounty BY 6009 - Maxwell Street Jimmy Davis

Bounty BY 6018 - Back To The Country - Big Joe Williams

Bounty BY 6020 - Call The Doctor - Dr. Ross

Bounty BY6022 - My Home Is In The Delta - Fred McDowell

Bounty BY 6031 - Down on Stovall’s Plantation - Muddy Waters

Historic Library of Congress recordings from 1941-2, issued in the UK on Elektra subsidiary Bounty. Essential

Bounty BY 6033 -Sound Of The Delta - Various Artists

Bounty BY 6035 - Can’t Keep From Crying: Blues On The Death of JFK - Various Artists

*BRAVO 

Freeport, Long Island, NY

K 101 - Tops In Pops - Soundalikes

BROADWAY

Los Angeles 59, CA

Soundalike label using same masters as Value, Royale, Halo, Allegro etc

LPs variously listed as Juke Box Hits, 12 Value Tunes etc.

BULLDOG (President)

25 Denmark St., London, WC 2

Bulldog BDL 1000 Great Rhythm and Blues - Louis Jordan

Bulldog BDL 1001 Great Rhythm and Blues - Charles Brown

Bulldog BDL 1002 Great rhythm And Blues - Johnny Otis

Bulldog BDL 1003 Great Rhythm and Blues - Joe Turner

Bulldog BDL 1004 Great Rhythm and Blues - Pee Wee Crayton

Bulldog BDL 1005 Great Rhythm and Blues - Joe Liggins

All above accompanied by Johnny Otis’ band - very credible new recordings. Hats off to Johnny!

Bulldog BDL 1011 Blues Before Sunrise - John Lee Hooker

Bulldog BDL 1012 Cry the Blues -  - Jimmy Witherspoon and Groove Holmes

Bulldog BDL 1018 Sonny Terry and Brownie McGhee

Bulldog BDL 2009 20 Golden Pieces of King Curtis

CAMDEN

RCA’s budget label - consequently there are very many worthwhile releases worth tracking down - we’ve just listed a few tasty ones.

RCA Camden ‎CAL 420 - Little Richard and Buck Ram

Contains Little Richards RCA sides. LP issued in 1958 or 1959 to cash in on Richard’s success at the time. Four sides credited to Platters producer/owner Buck Ram.

RCA Camden CAL 588 Singing The Blues 

Great LP compiled by Leonard Feather - Hot Lips Page, Lizzie Miles, Jimmy Rushing, Leadbelly, Johnny Moore’s Three Blazers.

RCA Camden CAL 294 - Biggest Hits 1955

RCA Camden CAL 331 - Biggest Hits 1956 - Vol 2

RCA Camden CAL 400 - Biggest Hits 1957 - Vol 2

RCA Camden CAL 431 - Biggest Hits 1958 - Vol 1

RCA Camden CAL 435 - Biggest Hits 1958 - Vol 2

RCA Camden CAL 523 - Biggest Hits 1959 - Vol 1

RCA Camden CAL 552 - Biggest Hits 1959 - Vol 2

All above RCA’s soundalikes series - some decent stuff here and there.

RCA Camden CAL 2146 Honkin’ Sax - Buddy Lucas

Released 1967.

CAMDEN (UK)

RCA Camden CDN 125 - Little Richard and Buck Ram

RCA Camden CDN 171 - The Big Twist Hits - Charlie ‘Hoss’ Singleton Combo - good jumping R & B. This is Charlie Singleton, the songwriter, NOT, as one might expect, Charlie Singleton the saxophonist.

CELEBRITY (Premier)

356 W. 40th Street, NYC., NY (same as Coronet) – Philip Landwehr, President

Celebrity UT 186 – The Fabulous Ray Charles

Downbeat, Swingtime and Sittin’ In With sides

CONCERT HALL

(no address given)

Concert Hall Jazz CJ 1250 (UK) – The Authentic Ray Charles& His Jazz Ensemble

One more drop in the deluge of Charles’ budget label cash-ins on his international popularity in the early 60’s. Downbeat / Swingtime sides

CONTOUR

Musical Rendezvous Limited 16 St George Street London

Contour 2870 388 – The Dell Vikings

Dot / Fee Bee sides from one of the early integrated vocal groups

Contour 2870 115 - The Best of Earl Bostic

Issued in 1971 Great King sides by Bostic.

Contour 2870-150 Sings His Greatest Hits Recorded Live - Little Richard

Released circa 1966, Kent/Modern with overdubbed audience? Also on MFP?

*CORONET (Premier)

356 W. 40th St., NYC, NY.  Philip Landwehr, President

Coronet CX-173 – Ray Charles

Identical to Celebrity UT-186

Coronet CZS-201 – The Whistling Organ - Dave ‘Baby’ Cortez’

Take care here - one side is not Mr Cortez, but some unknown player of mediocre appeal

Coronet CX-223 – Playing His Great Hit Rinky Dink - Dave ‘Baby’ Cortez

Ten solid sides from our man.

*CRAFTSMAN

2610 S. Crenshaw Blvd, Los Angeles, CA. John Dolphin, President

Craftsman 8036 – Gone Gone Gone - Scat Man Crothers

Jumping stuff. Some titles also issued on Tops LP 1511

*CROWN (Modern)

9317 W. Washington Blvd., Culver City, Ca.  Jules Bihari, President

Crown 5196 – Twangy Guitar Rock - Billy Boyd (also on Crown 5170)

Crown 5246 – Doing The Twist - Joe Houston

In stereo  - Never mind the song titles – listen to the sound

Crown 5254 – Popeye Twist Stomp - Steve Douglas & The Rebel Rousers

Duane Eddy’s band let rip on a slew of dancing tunes

Crown 5303 – Ray Charles & Jimmy Witherspoon

‘Spoon is fine. Great Fazio cover. Same as Crown 5418

Crown 5339 – Pearl Bailey & Sylvia Lynn

For those who like the smoldering torch vocals

Crown 5383 – Joe Turner & Jimmy Nelson

A must if not just for the cover

Crown 5392 – Sounds Of The Blasters - The Blasters

Great jet-engined dragster car on the cover. Songs with dragster sounds are an acquired taste

Crown CLP 5058 - Johnson/Brooks - Pete Johnson & Hadda Boogie

Crown CST 449 Discotheque - groovin’ R & B instrumentals.

No artist listed.

*CUSTOM (MODERN)

5810 S. Normandie Ave., LA, Ca.  Jules Bihari, President

Custom 2051 – Sings the Blues - Lightnin Hopkins (Same as Crown 5224 & United 7713)

You gotta have at least one of them

*DESIGN (Pickwick)

8-16 43rd Ave., Long Island City, NY.  Cy Leslie - President

Design 155 - Ray Charles and George Brown Orch

More early Ray

Design 201 – Impressions, Jerry Butler & Betty Everett

Vee Jay & pre-Vee Jay R&B sides

Design DLP 253 – Isley Bros / Young Rascals

Pre- RCA sides from the Isleys

Design DKLP 256 – Music for Longhairs

Odd mixture of Bobby Freeman, Baby Cortez, Robert Parker, Chiffons, Lou Rawls, Johnny Sea and others

Design DLP 279 – The Early Ray Charles

Yet more recycling of Ray’s pre- Atlantic recordings

*DIPLOMAT (Ambassador)

461 8th Ave., NYC, NY

Diplomat 2311 – Teen Dance Time with Phil Flowers, Harptones, Sonny Til, Angels, et al.

Nice budget R&B set

Diplomat D 2312 – Original Stars Sing Their Greatest Oldie Hits

Harptones, Jesters, Monarchs, Inspirations, Paragons, Angels and more - a group lover’s delight

Diplomat DL 2434 – Billy Eckstine, Arthur Prysock, Sarah Vaughan, Phil Flowers

Grab this one for the exceptional Phil Flowers stuff

DUB-TONE

1245 Vine Street, Hollywood, CA

Dub-Tone LP 1247 – Huggie Boy’s Rare R&B Oldies, Vol. 2

Oddball collection of oldies compiled by Mr. Hugg, includes Johnny Ace, Buster Brown, Joe & Ann, Quintones, Dubs, Oscar McLollie and others        

EGMONT (UK outlet for Viking Records, Charlie Parker Records, Strand, etc)

Broadway, Royton, Lancashire, UK

Egmont AJS25 - Modern Sounds of The Orioles

Release of Charlie Parker (US) PLP 816

Egmont EGM8106 - The Incomparable Ray Charles

One side by Memphis Slim from Strand

Egmont EGM8166 - Nina Simone

The US Strand LP SL 1130 …..

Egmont EGM8167 - The Artistry of Ivory Joe Hunter

The US Strand LP SL 1123

EMBER

Suit 4, Carlton House Place, Sloane Street SW1.

Ember EMB 3356 - Driftin’ Thru The Blues - John Lee Hooker

Ember EMB 3369 - Spoonful Of Blues - Jimmy Witherspoon

Ember EMB 3370 - Big City Blues - Howlin’ Wolf

Ember EMB 3371 - Sings The Blues - John Lee Hooker

Ember EMB 3379 - R&B Soul Of B.B. King

Ember EMB 3389 - A Time For The Blues - Lightnin Hopkins

Ember EMB 3391 - Sings The Blues  - Roosevelt Sykes

Ember EMB 3397 - Late Fantastically Great Elmore James

Ember EMB 3405 - Sings The Blues - Smokey Hogg

Ember SPE 6604 - Formidable - Johnny Otis

Ember CJS 800 - Jimmy Rushing/Champion JackDupree

Label started in 1964 by Jeffrey Kruger. The ‘Smokey Hogg Sings The Blues’ was priced at £1.23p, dated 1971 with notes by Mike Leadbetter (stereo enhanced mono it boasts).  It’s the ‘Original Folk Blues’ United LP. The Otis sides are from Capitol and the Rushing/Dupree sides are from King.

*EMUS

17 W. 60th St., NYC, NY 10023

Emus 12031 – Little Anthony & The Imperials

Chart-topping hits from the George Goldner stable

Emus 12032 – The Harptones

Ten sides from Willie Winfield and The Harptones. Gee / End material

Budget label owned by Morris Levy of Roulette Records

EVEREST (A.F.M.)

10920 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 410, Los Angeles, CA 90024

Everest / Archive of Folk Music

LPs by the ilk of Sonny Terry, “Big” Bill Broonzy, Brownie McGhee, Leadbelly and John Lee Hooker – desirable if not indispensible. From Folkways masters

Everest 239 - 1959 Monterey Jazz festival with Jimmy Witherspoon.

Nice set.

FAMOUS (Keen)

Famous F-101 - Rockin’ Slumber Party with Billy Storm, Sam Cooke, Bumps Blackwell, Turks, Echoes and a young Herbie Alpert.

FESTIVAL

15910 Ventura Blvd., Suite 603, Encino, CA 91436

Festival 1027,1028 and 1029 – Hit Kickers Series

(3 volumes in all). Vol. 6 features Lowell Fulson, Barbara Lynn, T-Bone Walker et al. Three excellent double disc collections.

FIDELIO

The Delta Record Company, London NW10

Fidelio ATL- 4112 Blues In The Night - Hal Singer Orchestra

Issued in 1964 (also see Summit), features side in 1963 with trumpet player Dick Vance

Fidelio ATL 4115  – The World’s Foremost Blues Singer - Memphis Slim

Early 1961 sides from Strand - Matt Murphy on Guitar

Fidelio  ATL 4125 - Brook Benton Sings Volume 1 (also released on Summit with same catalog number)

Six of the songs on this album, issued in 1964 are by ‘Jackie Jocko’ and are pop songs such as ‘Misty’, and ‘Sweet Georgia Brown’.

*FORUM (Roulette)

659 10th Ave., NYC, NY

Forum 9006 – Pajama Party – with Heartbeats, Cleftones & other groups

Leading budget for R&B reissue. Duplicates Roulette LP 25021

Forum FCS- 9083 – The Big Sound of Red Prysock

Ownership of this LP should be obligatory. (Also on Parliament 9083)

GOLDEN TONE

Radio Craftsmen, Los Angeles 44, CA

Soundalikes

Golden Tone C 4001 America’s Top Tunes 

another endless series of soundalikes

*GRAND AWARD

8 Kingsland Ave., Harrison, NY.  Enoch Light - President

Grand Award 33-318 – Dinah Washington Sings The Blues

Grand Award was part of Enoch Light’s Waldorf set-up, and his various labels issued several interesting records. This release has Dinah, from Apollo on one side. Flip is by Betty Roche with Earl Hines and Johnny Hodges

Grand Award 33-321 – Pete Johnson & Errol Garner

The Johnson material is from Apollo, much previously unissued

Grand Award 33-397 – Cookie Carr on Hammond organ

Truly a cool organ sound with a solid beat. For B3 enthusiasts

Grand Award 33-343 — Rock ’n Roll

Soundalikes

Grand Award 33-Pop -1 thru at least 10 Pops For America

Soundalikes

*GRAND PRIX (Pickwick)

Long Island City 1, NY

Grand Prix K-187 - Do The Twist - Tubby Chess & His Candy Stripe Twisters

R&B flavored cash in - also issued under Robby Robber, Ray Gunn and other names on other labels. Nice vocals. Good rug-cutting stuff

Grand Prix 194 – Ray Charles

Usual regurgitated pre-Atlantic Ray Charles tracks with 3 unidentified instrumental killers

Grand Prix K-404 – The Earl Of Bostic - Earl Bostic

Ten wonderful early Bostic sides from Gotham

Grand Prix 423 – Pearl Bailey, Rose Murphy & Ivy Anderson

Great torch set. Duplicates other budgets

Grand Prix 432 – Teen Time Million Seller Hits

Clovers, Wilbert Harrison, Lee Dorsey et al. Good average sound

*GUEST STAR 

(Synthetic Plastics) 88 St. Francis St., Newark, NJ. Henry LaPidus, President

Guest Star 1419 – The Platters

Four essential Federal sides from the Platters together with six horrific sides from The Exotic Guitars

Guest Star 1430 – Original Hits, Vol. 1 – Harptones, Collegians, Baby Cortez et al.

Pretty good R&B set for the price

Guest Star 1454 – Bill Haley

Sides that came out also under the name of Scott Gregory. Issued on Xtra in the UK

Guest Star 1455 - Boots Randolph and George Cury 

George Cury is better known as Rudy Pompilli - odd that two consecutive Haley type releases came out under pseudonyms.

Guest Star 1459 – Lightnin' Hopkins (Rec. in Houston in 1964)

Verve / Folkways stuff of 1965. Worthwhile set

Guest Star 1476 – Arthur Prysock

Partially Arthur Prysock with lots of surprisingly good Leroy Bivins (really Phil Flowers) songs

Guest Star G-1488 – Shindig!!!

Artists vary from Penguins to Steve Lawrence - 25 tunes compressed on one LP. Mixed musical styles

Guest Star G-1907 – Garnet Mimms

8 early soulful demo sides by Mimms, and 2 by a certain P. Davis

*HALO (Concertone)

Classic Record Co., 7 W. 46th St., NYC, NY

Halo 50212 – Crimson Moods - Rock n Rhythm by the All Star Jazz Orchestra

Gorgeous cheese-cake cover contains Freddie Mitchell and Hen Gates from Derby on one side, and Maurice Rocco Guild / Majestic sides on the other. Both artists in the accepted tradition of budget labels are uncredited

Halo 50236 – Mildred Bailey Sings

Usual reissue fodder. Back cover mismatched with Mozart LP collection!

Halo 50273 – Slim Gaillard with Dizzy Gillespie & Orchestra

Nice set of jumpin’ and jivin’

Halo 50220 ’Tops in Pops’ series -

many more soundalike LPs, prob from Broadway.

*HARLEM HIT PARADE (Pickwick)

Woodbury, NY 11797

Harlem Hit Parade HHP-5001 – Funky Fifties

Platters, Jesters, Clovers, Paragons, Bobby Day etc. released with other oldies

HARMONY (Columbia)

799 Seventh Ave., NY NY

Harmony 11360 – Ooh-Poo-Pah-Doo - Ike & Tina Turner

From 1965 Loma masters

Harmony HL 7103 Rock and Roll - The Blazers

Harmony HL 7200 The Big Ten - Rocky Curtiss and The Harmony Flames

Harmony HL 7251 The Big Ten - The Harmony Flames

All three albums are Columbia soundalikes - some good sounding and well produced rock ’n’ roll, esp. 7103. Worth looking for.

HI-LIFE

1650 Broadway, NYC, NY

Hi-Life HLS-59 – Dave Baby Cortez

Another dozen from the always enjoyable and prolific Mr. Cortez

*HOLLYWOOD (Hallmark)

Paramount Enterprises Inc., 383 Concord Ave., NYC, NY

Hollywood LP H4 Rock and Roll Lindsey Powers and His Combo.

16 great rocking R & B sides from the mysterious Lindsey and his Combination. Previously issued as 4 EPs on Gateway. Essential! Research shows that Lindsey Powers is none other than Buddy Lucas.

HUDSON (Galaxy)

118 W. 57th St., NYC, NY – George J. Bennett, president

Hudson 4893 –Twisting With The Twist - Jerry Kale and the Spinners

Good cigarette butt stubbin’ out sounds

*HURRAH

(Kimberly) Long Island City 1, NY

Hurrah H-1025 – The Blues featuring Ray Charles, Vol. 2

Worth getting for the five great tenor led instrumentals but by who? Look out for this one

JOY (President)

25 Denmark St., London WC2, England

JOY 101 I’m John Lee Hooker

JOY 106 - It’s In His Kiss - Betty Everett

JOY 111 The Legend - The Man - Jimmy Reed 

JOY 115 Lightnin’ Strikes - Lightnin’ Hopkins

JOY 120 Jimmy Reed At Carnegie Hall

JOY 122 Soul Meeting Saturday Night

Features Hooker, Reed, Birdlegs & Pauline etc

Joy 124 – John Lee Hooker

Facsimile of “Burnin” LP on Vee Jay. Essential Hooker

JOY 127 - At Soul City - Jimmy Reed

JOY 129 - Travelin’ - Lee Hooker 

JOY 132 - Plays 12 String Guitar - Jimmy Reed

JOY 133 - The Folk Lore Of John Lee Hooker

JOY 141 - Rockin’ With Reed - Jimmy Reed

JOY 142 - Concert At Newport - John Lee Hooker

JOY 143 - At The Gate of Horn - Memphis Slim

JOY 146 - Just Jimmy Reed

JOY 147 - The Big Soul Of John Lee Hooker

JOY 151 - The Best Of The Blues - Jimmy Reed

JOY 152 - In Person - John Lee Hooker

JOY 155 - The Best Of Jimmy Reed

JOY 156 - The Best Of John Lee Hooker

JOY 183 - At The Gate Of Horn - Memphis Slim

JOY 195  - Mr Big - Little Richard

Vee Jay source material. His last great throat-thrashings 

JOY SPECIAL SERIES

Joy 5011 - Best of Staple Singers

Joy 5012 - Argo Singers

Joy 5013 - Wonderful Memories - Various Artists

Joy 5014 - Staples Singers - Swing Low

Joy 5016 - Original Blind Boys

Joy 5019 - Staples - Uncloudy Day More gospel to come

Vee Jay sides in gospel series selling at £1.10

*INTERNATIONAL AWARD (Pickwick/Sears)

33 - 34th St., Brooklyn, NY – Cy Leslie - president

International Award Series - AK -187 – Big Bill Twister & His Minters

Same as Guest Star 187 - same catalog number too. Is this Don Covay? Suspected duplicates with Mayfair (Tops) 9738 & Tubby Chess on Grand Prix 187

JAFCO

P.O. Box 39474, N. Hollywood, Ca.

Jafco 101 – Twenty Five Big Hits

Runs the gamut from BB King and Hooker to Dion and Dorsey Burnette. Of interest due to the obscurity of the label. Average fidelity

LION (M..G.M.)

Loew’s Inc., 701 Seventh Avenue, NYC, NY – Arnold Maxin, President

Lion L70054 – Rockin’ At the Hop - Sam (The Man) Taylor

Re-issue of ‘Rock n Roll’ from MGM. Primal tenor led rock ’n roll

Lion L70068 - I Need You So - Ivory Joe Hunter 

his early 50’s MGM sides.

MARBLE ARCH (Pye)

A.T.V. House, Great Cumberland Place, London W.1., England

Marble Arch MAL 663  – ‘House of the Blues’ John Lee Hooker

Chess sides, well worth your while

Marble Arch MAL 611 - Chuck Berry

Ten of his Chess hits

Marble Arch MAL 660 - Greatest Hits - Chuck Berry

Marble Arch MAL 661 - At Newport - Muddy Waters

Marble Arch MAL 804 - The Blues - Various Artists

Marble Arch MAL 814 - Hey Bo Diddley - Bo Diddley

Marble Arch 843 Sonny & Brownie In London

Originally sides cut in London for Pye label Nixa

Marble Arch MAL 1208 - In Memorium - Josh White

Sides recorded in London, UK in the early 1950s

*MASTERSEAL (Remington, Plymouth, Palace, Buckingham etc)

500 - 5th Avenue, NYC, NY - Don Gabor - President

Masterseal 5103 - Hi-Fi Jazz Session

Useful jazz / R & B issue with Cozy Cole, Sarah Vaughan, Tiny Grimes, Sabby Lewis and, of course, Hen Gates.

MODERN SOUND of Nashville

P.O. Box 7505, Nashville, Tn. – Bill Beasley, president

Modern Sound MS 506 – Rhythm & Blues Million Sellers, Volume 6

Covers from Hit label

Modern Sound 545 – Straight from Detroit Via Nashville

Collection of Motown covers from Bill Beasley’s Hit label, some better than those on original labels. Absolutely the best 1960s cover record budget label. Highly recommended to fans of soul music

MONARCH (Cambridge)

Ontario, Canada

Monarch 5 – 12 Top Tunes All Over America – unidentified artists

Although musical covers are not quite up to scratch, Monarch’s cover-art was the best in the 1960s budget world. “Pogue” is the artist.

Monarch 23 – 1956 Rock ‘n’ Roll – unidentified artists

Forget the music – the cover is one of the best I’ve seen – worth framing

*MVM (Mt. Vernon Music)

Mt. Vernon, NY

MVM 184 – Nothing but the Blues – Lightnin’ Hopkins

Essential. This is Hopkins’ finest, most stunning work. From Herald masters

MUSIC FOR PLEASURE (EMI)

Drury House, Russell Street, London W.C.2, England

MFP 1043 – The Blues of T-Bone Walker

1965 UK issue of 12 Black and White / Capitol sides. Very nice indeed

MFP 1038 - Real Gone - Nellie Lutcher

MFP 1139 - Good Morning Blues - Josh White

MFP 50557 - Choo Choo Ch’Boogie - Louis Jordan

NEW WORLD

Enterprise Records, 1367 High Road, Whetstone, London N20.

6003 John Lee Hooker

6004 Volume One B. B. King

6005 Volume Two B. B. King

6006 Revue - Ike & Tina Turner

A review in Blues Link said these albums sold at 71 pence each; the Hooker is his Verve album with The Groundhogs; the B. B.’s are Modern/RPM; the Ike & Tina is ‘unidentified’ live recordings.

OLDIES (Vee Jay)

1449 S. Michigan Ave., Chicago, Ill. – Ewart G. Abner, Jr., – Manager

Oldies Series 8001

Reissue of artists’ work on Vee Jay label & others. Stable includes Memphis Slim, Jimmy Reed, John Lee Hooker et al. If you missed ‘em the first time in the original, this is your last chance.

*PALACE (Buckingham)

NYC. NY A Don Gabor Company

Palace   672 - Sarah Vaughan Sings

Three from Sarah, one Continental side from Champion Jack Dupree, a Mary Lou Williams and the inevitable Hen Gates tune. Other side by Belgian Herman Sandy.

Palace 673 - Sarah Swings

One side Sarah, the other various artists including Mr H. Gates. This is the same B side as on Masterseal 5103, another Don Gabor company

Palace 700 - Let’s Go Dancing to Rock and Roll - Hen Gates

Same issue as Masterseal 5005, with modified cover

Palace 773 – Brook Benton Sings Blues Favorites

Two R & R cuts from Benton, the balance by The Bruce Darrel Jazz Orch - good kickin’ R & B. Get this one

*PARIS

NYC, NY A Don Gabor Company

Paris 3 – Jazz Jam Session / Rock & Roll Festival

Great rockin’ grinding workout from Hen Gates on Side 2. Side 1 Is Sarah Vaughan again - exact same side as Masterseal 5103A. Confused yet?

Paris 101 – Rock & Roll – Jack Haines & His Rockbusters

More bumping and grinding from Hen Gates & others - This release has same cover art with at least three different colors.

Paris 113 – Your Dance Party

Additional stomach reduction from Freddie Mitchell doing business as Hen Gates etc. Freddie was labeled with more pseudonyms than any other budget musician. Just two cuts by Freddie here - other cuts by Machito, Polka Kings and others.

*PARLIAMENT (Artia)

600 - 5th Avenue, NYC, NY

Parliament 9083 – The Big Sound of Red Prysock

Essential, unruly tooting for horn collectors - same as Forum issue.

PHILIPS INTERNATIONAL

Stanhope House, London W.2, England

6336 246  - Choo Choo Ch’boogie  - Louis Jordan

Samples from Jordan’s wonderful Mercury sessions

BBL 7289 Live At Newport 1958 - Mahalia Jackson

BBL 7369 Blues Fell This Morning - Various Artists

Tie in with Paul Oliver’s groundbreaking book of the same title - absolutely essential.

BBL 7513 At The Bunk House - Sonny Terry & Brownie McGhee

BBL 6336 217 Fats Domino in Las Vegas

The Fats LP was much recycled, but is a great album cut in 1965 and selling at £1.29 when it was released as a budget release.

*PICKWICK

33 - 34th, Brooklyn, NY.  Cy Leslie - president

Pickwick has proved to be one of the most ubiquitous and long lasting budget labels

Pickwick 3233 – R & B Grooves

Jerry Butler, Little Richard, Clyde McPhatter from early 1960s Mercury masters

Pickwick 3328 – Get It – Ike & Tina Turner

Capitol retreads. Good butt-shaking stuff

Pickwick 3630 – “The Best of Lloyd Price”

1960s sides from ABC Paramount years

*PLYMOUTH

500 - 5th Avenue, NYC, NY.  Jack Meyerson - general manager - Owner Don Gabor

Plymouth P12-113 Jazz, Bebop and Blues - All Star Jazz Band

This one perhaps takes the cake for crude, insensitive and by today’s sensibilities, very racist cover art, to say nothing of  general confusion and lack of regard for the artists involved. Using the same album title as the 10” Remington 1031 (which itself has two different covers listing different artists on each!), this 12” Plymouth has no songs in common with the Remington. Tunes are by Lockjaw Davis, Cozy Cole, Rubberlegs Williams, Morris Lane and one Hen Gates. No artists are listed on the label or jacket. 

Plymouth P-12-115 Sarah Vaughan and Dizzy Gillespie

Continental sides of Lockjaw Davis, Sabby Lewis, Cozy Cole, Floorshow Culley recycled once again. Gloriously crude cover art.

Plymouth P-12-122 – Jazz, Jazz, Jazz - Ethel Waters, Hot Lips Page, Sabby Lewis and others

Get this for the Hot Lips Page Continental sides. Don Gabor started Continental Records in 1942. These masters reappeared on various labels he owned during the 50’s such as Plymouth, Paris, Palace, Buckingham, Masterseal and Remington - labels that are the epitome of cheap. Pressings, printing, labels and cover art are lessons in how to stretch a buck – artists’ identities usually obscured, and liner notes non-existent. When Larry Newton’s Derby Records went bust, Gabor created Hen Gates & His Gators / House Rockers from mainly Freddie Mitchell Derby sides bought at fire sale prices - they were also issued as by Jack Haines & His Rockbusters (on the cover only) or by All Star Orchestra - both on Paris 101 but with slightly differing covers. As Freddie Mitchell was one of the stars of Alan Freed’s R & R band, it is very odd that Gabor did not cash in by using his real name. But then the entire Gabor set up was for financial gain -- to hell with the talent and who it might be

PONTIAC

263 W. 54th Street, NYC, NY – Donald H. Gabor, president

Pontiac 523 - Tenors Wild and Mild - Morris Lane, Lockjaw Davis and Frank 'Floorshow’ Culley

Great music, great cover, unfortunate album title! Same as Remington 1037

Pontiac 534 – Jazz Jive and Boogie – Dorothy Donegan & Morris Lane

From Lenox & Jubilee (?). The goods fit the title

POWER S.P.C. Inc., Newark, NJ 07105

S 9001 Rhythm and Blues Hits of 1964. Ripple Blast Singers & Band

-- well crafted remakes of hit songs from a variety of diskeries

*PREMIER

1650 Broadway, NYC, NY 10019 – Morty Craft, president

Premier 201 – Old Goldies” Vol. 1 – 5 Satins, Turbans et al.

Premier 9022 - Lou Rawls, Joe Tex, Brook Benton 

PRESTO

A Product of Pickwick International Inc., Victoria Works, Cricklewood, London NW2

Presto PRE 688 - Jimmy Witherspoon And Juanita Hall

Presto PRE 689 - The Great Leadbelly

*PROMENADE / PROM

Promenade 6001, 6030 - Hits a Poppin’

Soundalikes

PYE GOLDEN GUINEA & GOLDEN HOUR

Pye Records, ATV House, 17 Great Cumberland Place, LONDON W1 (same for Golden Guinea & Pye International)

GGL 0317 Murderer’s Home - Various Artists

GGL 0383 Five Feet Of Soul - Jimmy Rushing

GH 0864 Great Bluesmen Vol 1 - Various Artists

GH 0879 Great Bluesmen Vol 2 - Various Artists

REALM (Oriole)

104 New Bond Street, London, W.1., England

Realm RM 101 & 175 – Ray Charles On R & B Greats, Vols. 1 & 2

Two great LPs from the 60’s boom with Charles, James Wayne, Arbee Stidham, Peppermint Harris, Lil Son Jackson, Smokey Hogg and more. Mostly from Sittin’ In With

Realm 207 – Sings The Blues, Vol. 1 - Big  Joe Turner

From essential National masters; a must

Realm 229 – Sings The Blues, Vol.2  - Big Joe Turner

More essential National masters – as above

RM 128 Sings The Blues - Lightnin’ Hopkins

RM 165 Back Country Blues - Sonny & Brownie

RM 171 Dirty House Blues - Lightnin’ Hopkins

RM 197 I’m So Lonely - Smokey Hogg

REMINGTON

500 5th Avenue, NYC, NY. – Don H. Gabor, President

Remington R-1025 - Shades in Blues - Ethel Waters

Remington R-1031 - Birth of Be-Bop and Blues

Rubberlegs Williams, Cozy Cole, JC Heard, Timmie Rosenkrantz - from Continental.

Remington R-1032 - Cafe Society Swing - Sabby Lewis, Mary Lou Williams etc

Remington R-1035 – Moods in Blues – Hot Lips Page, Edmund Hall etc.

Nice ten incher with fine Lips performances from his R & B period

Remington 1037 – Hot Jazz with Morris Lane & Eddie Lockjaw Davis

From Lenox masters. Essential to anyone collecting rhythm & blues roots material

RIVIERA (Crown)

9317 W. Washington Blvd., Culver City, Los Angeles, Ca. – Jules Bihari, President

Riviera 0047 – Fabulous Paul Anka

Anka’s away! - in other words, forget Anka! Set includes R&B greats such as Young Jessie & Marvin & Johnny

RONDO (Rondo-lette)

Rondo Recording Corp., Union City, N.J. – Eli Oberstein, President

Rondo-lette A9 – Louis Prima In all His Moods

Source label Majestic. Duplicated on Coronet, Spin-o-rama & other budgets. Fine stuff though

Rondo-lette 854 – Louis Prima

Majestic sides once again from Mr. Prima

ROYALE         

Wright Record Corp., 47 W. 63rd Street, NYC, NY – Eli Oberstein, President

Royale 75 – Rhythm & Boogie – Slim Gaillard

Jumping & jiving from Majestic masters

Royale 1801 - Dance Party

Soundalike series

Royale 1893 - Boogie Woogie

Odd mix of Louis Prima, so far unidentified boogie sides, a Hen Gates and a Slim Gaillard! No artists identified anywhere.

Royale 18125 - Tops in Pops

More soundalikes

Royale 18128 – Echoes of Harlem – Eddie Wilcox & Cootie Williams

From Derby & Lenox labels. Budget browsers’ most fascinating label. Roots R&B enthusiasts take note.

SAGA

Ass. Record Company Saga Records, 326 Kensal Road, London W. 10

Saga SOC 1000 - Pretty Flower In My Backyard - Leadbelly

Saga FDY STFID 2088 Sister Rosetta Tharpe And The Hot Gospel Tabernacle Choir & Players

Issued in 1967

SEECO (Dawn)

39, W. 60th Street, NYC, NY – Sid Siegel, president

Seeco 4600 – It’s Time For – Rose Hardeway w- Sammy Lowe’s Orch.

Disappointing set from this promising vocalist

Seeco SCLP-92330 – George Torres & Twisters

It’s that Twist album again, this time as by George Torres – listen to Tops/Mayfair, Int. Award, Guest Star collections to check duplication

SOCIETY (Ass. Rec. Co.)

326 Kensal Road, London W10, England

Society 900 - Hot, Hot, Hot - Sister Rosetta Tharpe

From Omega.

Society 968 – Jimmy Witherspoon Sings The Blues

This is a fine collection Spoon recorded in LA for this label in 1960 - it was later reissued in the US on Verve-Folkways LP 3011.

Society 998, 1002 & 1007  – Ray Charles

Three more pre-Atlantic issues from Ray on one of the UK’s early budget labels

Society 1015 - Sonny Terry and Brownie McGhee Sing and Play

Some cuts from VeeJay together with some issued for the first time

SOLITAIRE (Recordiscs)

23 Great Putney Street, London W.1

Solitaire SRO 63 Rhythm & Blues - Manhattan Rhythm Boys

A ten inch U.K. version of the Hollywood album ‘Rhythm And Blues In The Night’ with different cover - 8 Songs from Abbey. Label says Rhythm in Blues.

*SPIN-O-RAMA (Synthetic Plastics)

(Premier) 356 W. 40th St., NYC, NY – Henry Lapidus, president

Spin-o-Rama 1 – Top Hits of Today

Good covers, some probably found on other labels

Spin-o-Rama 101 – Top Hits of Today

Feat. unidentified artists supported by Johnny Sullivan & His Orch. Good covers

Spin-o-Rama 103 – Top Tune Time

More passable covers by the Sullivan Orch. Great cheesy cover

Spin-o-Rama 142 – All Star Golden Oldies

Originals by the likes of the Isley Bros., Nutmegs, Faye Adams et al.  Decent stuff

STEREO SPECTRUM (Design)

8-16 43rd Avenue, Long Island City, NY – Cy Leslie, president

Stereo Spectrum 903 – Three Of A Kind Josh White, Big Bill Broonzy & Sonny Terry

Quite possibly Folkways masters; similar to those found on Everest

*STRAND

1314 Callowhill St., Philadelphia, Pa.  (last address)

Strand 1044 – Chris Columbo Quintette

Louis Jordan’s old drummer in a very nice set that includes great guitar by pioneer Floyd Smith

Strand 1083 – Limbo Rock The Crossfires

Guitar-led band for low-dancing teens

Strand 1084 - Chuck Hess

Some very nice Rock and Roll guitar - Haley connection

Strand 1120 - Bobby Rydell Sings and Larry Hall and Ricky Vale

The two Vale instrumental cuts are good.

Strand 1123 - The Artistry of Ivory Joe Hunter

Goldisc sides from 1960 plus 4 by Memphis Slim

Strand 1124 – The Dynamic Brook Benton Sings, Vol. 2

Couple of the same cuts as on the Palace. Other tunes by Jackie Jocko (not related to Chi-Town’s Jacko Henderson)

SUMMIT

ATL 4115 - World’s Foremost Blues Singer - Memphis Slim

Issued in 1964 , possibly the most recycled blues album ever. One website lists nineteen other versions issued of the album.

ATL 4124 - Little Richard Sings with Brock Peters

Gospel sides from Richard - Brock Peters is awful.

SUNSET (Liberty)

Many reissues from Liberty, Imperial and Minit

Sunset L15240 - Fats Domino

Sunset SUS-5107 - Timi Yurt

Sunset SUS-5265 - The Fantastic Ike and Tina Turner

The depth of the catalogs available to Sunset means there is a vast amount of releases out there - happy hunting!

*SUTTON

265 Covina Avenue, Long Beach, Ca. – Leon Silver, president

Sutton 223 – The Blues - Pearl Bailey

Duplication of Crown LP 5339

TIARA (Promosonic)

111 N. San Vincente Blvd., Beverly Hills, Ca.

Tiara 553 – Spotlight on Page Cavanaugh

Pleasant cocktail lounge trio that sometimes swings

TODAY’S RECORDS

NYC, NY

Today’s 1900 series Ten Top Tunes

10” soundalike series

Today’s 2002 - Pop Parade of 18 Top Tunes

Soundalikes

Today’s 3002 - Shake Rock Rattle and Roll - Buddy Lucas

Real gone R & B - grab it if you see it!

Today’s 3010 - 18 Rock ’n’ Roll Hits

Soundalikes

*TOPS

5810 S. Normandie Ave., L.A., Ca. (last address) – Carl Doshay, president

Tops 928 (10”) - Junior Jazz At The Auditorium - Jack McVea, Irving Ashby, Lucky Thompson

Excellent live jump a la JATP

Tops 930 (10”) – Hot Piano -  Wilbert Baranco

The man who attended those all night jam sessions at the Great Lakes in Illinois during the mid-1940s. Wilbert could sing, too

Tops 1573 – Meade Lux Lewis

Meade Lux Lewis on a thumb-tacked piano. For those who dig barrooms with sawdust floors

Tops L 1639 – All Star Blues - Helen Humes, Ivie Anderson, Etta Jones etc.

Perhaps a bit too ‘jazzy’ for some folk though worth grabbing for the Humes and Anderson sides Same as AL-FI C4080

Tops L 1571 – Fraternity Hop – Eddie Miller & His Blue Notes

OK but not essential … easy listening Rock & Roll

Tops / Mayfair 9738 – Twist  Barry Norman & Toppers

More ‘generic’ twist work-out material. Same cuts as on Int. Award and Guest Star

*TRIP (Springboard)

110 Bergen Pike, Little Ferry, NJ 07643

Trip 5571 – Man We’re Wailing - Louis Jordan (1958)

Same as Mercury LP MG20331. Swing out with this one

Trip 5590 – Eddie Cleanhead Vinson & Orch. (1946-1947)

More great Mercury juice

Trip 8025 - Right Now - Memphis Slim (double album)

1969 cuts with Billy Butler and Eddie Chamblee

As with Sunset, there is a huge amount of material to be uncovered.

TRANSWORLD

Montreal, Quebec, Canada

Trans World TW 3000 – Twistin’ The Twist The Harlem Twisters

All the usual Twist tunes again, but this time by a good black R & B band. Scarce but worth seeking out

*UP-FRONT (Springboard)

1135 W. Elizabeth Ave., Linden, NJ 07035

UPF - 101 - Soul Greats - Jimmy Reed

UPF - 104 - I’m In The Mood - John Lee Hooker

UPF - 108 - Soulful Sound -  Jimmy Reed

UPF - 109 - The Caravans Feat Shirley Caesar

UPF - 110 - Five Blind Boys of Alabama

UPF - 111 - I Had A Dream - Staple Singers

UPF - 112 - Lord’s Prayer - Swan Silvertones

UPF - 113 - Pray - Highway QC’s

UPF -114 - God Will Take Care Of You - Harmonizing Four

Upfront UPF 128 – The Funky Lloyd Price Orchestra

Lloyd’s great band in a swinging instrumental set from the 60’s. Quite pricey in some quarters

Upfront 160 - Sam Cooke Sings The Billie Holiday Story

Keen sides

VALIANT

69 New Oxford Street, London WC1, England

Valiant VS 103 – Bill Haley and His Comets

Run-of-the-mill retreads from Warner Brothers

*WALDORF (18 Top Hits)

8 Kingsland Ave., Harrison, NY.  Enoch Light - president

18 Top Hits 33-March-57 - 18 Top Hits, later Top Hit Club of America.

Many many issues, all soundalikes, occasional moments of joy instrumentally.

Waldorf 33-108 - Spirituals and Jubilees - Deep River Boys

Waldorf 33-1211 - Rock n’ Roll

Soundalikes with covers by The Ink Spots, Artie Malvin and Rhythm Rockets - cool cover.

Waldorf 3301 through 3348 ‘8 Top Hits’ 

A series of 48 10” LPs of soundalikes. Of possible interest to Rock and Roll archeologists.

WINDMILL

Windmill Records, London

WMD 124 - Authentic Chicago Blues - Various Artists

Issued in 1972 contemporary Chicago blues from Magic Slim, Chuck Rives, Little Hite, Jackie Edwards

WMD 143 - Rock Archive - Various Artists

Issued in 1972 inc Little Richard, Hooker, Buster Brown, Wilbert Harrison, Dee Clark, Billy Preston 

WORLD RECORD CLUB

Parkbridge House, Little Green, Richmond, Surrey, England

TP 365 – The Golden Years Ray Charles

As with all the budget Charles albums, these are from his scuffling years before Atlantic - probably too much Nat Cole to be golden. Some issues have P on label and cover after TP365.

WYNCOTE (Cameo)

Wyncote W 9008 - Oldies with Charlie Gracie, Timmie Rodgers, John Zacherle etc

Marginal stuff from Cameo

Wyncote W 9100 - Hullabaloo with Don Covay, Orlons etc.

XTRA (Transatlantic)

120/122 Marlebone Lane, London W.1, England

Xtra 1093 – Sings Country Blues Big Bill Broonzy

Broonzy LPs were thick on the ground in the early 60’s - this set from Folkways is representative of his later output

Xtra 1004 Big Bill Bronzy, Sonny Terry & Brownie McGhee

Radio Broadcast 1957 

Xtra 1008 - Memphis Slim

Xtra 1017 - (Double) Leadbelly

Xtra 1021 -Brownie McGhee

Xtra 1028 - Champion Jack Dupree

Xtra 1033 -Big Joe Williams

Xtra 1035 - (2 LP Box) Rural Blues - Various Artists

Xtra 1037 - Lonnie Johnson

Xtra 1038 - Dr. Ross

Xtra 1047 - Mike Raven Blues Show Various Artists

A sampler from the Xtra catalogue with dialogue between tracks by Mike Raven, BBC disc jockey who presented the BBCs only specialist blues show from the late 1960s through to the 1970s.

Xtra 1063 - Ain’t It Hard… Mable Hillery

Xtra 1087 -Cat Iron

Xtra 1093 - Big Bill Sings Country Blues - Big Bill Broonzy

Xtra 1098 - His Story - Blind Willie Johnson

Xtra 1099 - Blues From Everywhere - Sonny Terry

Xtra 1103 - Early Recordings - Ray Charles

Xtra 1105 - Blues Are Alive And Well - Various Artists

Xtra 1110 - On The Road - Sonny Terry

Xtra 1111 - Blues By Jazz - Jazz Gillum

Xtra 1115 - Farro Street Jive - Little Brother Montgomery

Xtra 1126 - Shout On 1948 Radio Broadcasts - Leadbelly

Xtra 1132 - Born In Texas - Thomas Shaw

Xtra 5011 - Mr Scrapper’s Blues - Scrapper Blackwell

Xtra 5014 - Say No To The Devil - Blind Gary Davis

Xtra 5042 - A Little More Faith Blind - Gary Davis

Xtra 5051 - That’s Alright - Snooks Eaglin

Xtra 5059 - Big Joe Williams at Folk City

Xtra 5060 - All Kinds Of Blues - Memphis Slim

Xtra 5063 - Blues In My Bottle - Lightnin’ Hopkins

‘Rare Rhythm and Blues on Budget LPs’ by Brian McFadden (Kohner, Madison and Danforth ISBN-13:978-0-9992266-0-5) Review by Bob Bell

            Brian McFadden published ‘Rock Rarities for a Song’ a few years ago, and recently came up with this follow up. Like its predecessor, the author researches the origins of material to be found on American budget labels from the fifties and the sixties.

            Starting off with Modern’s Crown imprint he gives a good overview of the releases on the label, and correctly identifies the original titles of tunes that got retitled on such releases as ‘Twist With BB King’. He again correctly ID’s the two Joe Hill Louis cuts on the iconic Howling Wolf Crown release, and spends some time talking about those wonderful Fazzio covers, many of which are pictured in glorious black and white in the book.

            McFadden’s real strength in this book lies with his tracking down the origins of many of the sessions that saw release on the myriad budget labels of the period, and in unmasking the pseudonyms used. Finally the identity of Leroy Bivens is revealed - he is none other than Phil Flowers. The author identifies demo sessions, who bought what from whom, and how it was often re-labelled to cash in on someone who was a total unknown or sideman at the time of the original session, but who later gained fame through a big hit. Most of the regular miscreants are covered, so we can read about Synthetic Plastics (Guest Star, Diplomat, Promenade, Prom etc), Pickwick International (Design, Grand Prix, International Award), Premier Albums (Premier, Spin-O-Rama, Coronet etc), Masterseal (Palace, Buckingham, Plymouth, Paris etc) and so on and so forth. 

            It’s a very riveting read, but does come with a couple of caveats. Firstly, if ever a book needed an index, this one does. One reads all sorts of interesting little nuggets, but a couple of weeks later, just whereabouts in the book were they? The lack of the index lessens the books’ value as a research tool, making it frustrating to use. The other thing is that graphically the layout leaves much to be desired. The work would have benefitted from the expertise of a professional designer and editor. The same criticism went for the earlier ‘Rock Rarities’. 

            Nevertheless, it is a pioneering work and McFadden is to be commended for tackling the complex, ever confusing and reliably shoddy practices of the budget record companies of the 50’s and 60’s. He has done us all a great favor in clearing up so many of the mysteries that have bedeviled us for so many decades. If you have an interest in budget labels, this is for you.