Happy Tiger Records
Encyclopedia
Happy Tiger Records was an independent American record label
that was owned by the Flying Tiger Line
air freight company. Happy Tiger only operated from 1969 to 1971, but during this time managed to produce more than two dozen albums by such notable artists as Count Basie
, Mason Proffit
, Red Rhodes
, Priscilla Paris
, Paul Kelly
, and the Anita Kerr Singers. They released two albums by the post-Morrison Them
band.
. The staff included engineer and producer Ray Ruff, who had previously worked for ABC-Paramount Records
. During its short existence Happy Tiger issued twenty-seven albums and numerous singles, all distributed by Era Records
. The label also issued eight albums of oldies under the joint Happy Tiger/Era label, including works by Phil Baugh
, Dorsey Burnette
and some early Beach Boys recordings. Happy Tiger's final album in 1971 was Mason Proffit's Movin' Toward Happiness. The label's final single in 1972 was Richard Berry
performing a song he had written and that The Kingsmen
had made famous in 1963, "Louie Louie
." After Happy Tiger folded, Warner Bros. Records
reissued Paul Kelly's Stealin' in the Name of the Lord in 1972, retitled Dirt. Warner also reissued the two Mason Proffit albums as a double LP, Come and Gone, in 1974.
Record label
In the music industry, a record label is a brand and a trademark associated with the marketing of music recordings and music videos. Most commonly, a record label is the company that manages such brands and trademarks, coordinates the production, manufacture, distribution, marketing and promotion,...
that was owned by the Flying Tiger Line
Flying Tiger Line
Flying Tiger Line, also known as Flying Tigers, was the first scheduled cargo airline in the United States and a major military charter operator during the Cold War era for both cargo and personnel .- History :...
air freight company. Happy Tiger only operated from 1969 to 1971, but during this time managed to produce more than two dozen albums by such notable artists as Count Basie
Count Basie
William "Count" Basie was an American jazz pianist, organist, bandleader, and composer. Basie led his jazz orchestra almost continuously for nearly 50 years...
, Mason Proffit
Mason Proffit
Mason Proffit was a folk rock band from Chicago, Illinois that released five albums between 1969 and 1973.-History:Brothers Terry Talbot and John Michael Talbot played together in several local bands around Indianapolis, Indiana and later in Chicago...
, Red Rhodes
Red Rhodes
Rhodes played pedal steel on many country rock, pop and rock albums with The Monkees, James Taylor, Seals and Crofts, The Byrds, The Carpenters and many other groups. He is most often remembered for his work with former Monkee Michael Nesmith on Nesmith's first solo albums in the early 1970s...
, Priscilla Paris
Priscilla Paris
Priscilla Paris was an American singer. She had two sons, Edan and Seth.Backed by her two older Paris Sisters, Albeth and Sherrell, Priscilla Paris is best remembered for the song, "I Love How You Love Me", an international hit in October 1961.-External links:* on...
, Paul Kelly
Paul Kelly (U.S. musician)
Paul Kelly, born June 19, 1940, is a United States singer-songwriter. He is best known for the soul songs "Stealing in the Name of the Lord", which was a major hit in 1970, and "Hooked, Hogtied & Collared". He also wrote "Personally", which has been widely-covered, and was a hit for soul singer...
, and the Anita Kerr Singers. They released two albums by the post-Morrison Them
Them (band)
Them were a Northern Irish band formed in Belfast in April 1964, most prominently known for the garage rock standard "Gloria" and launching singer Van Morrison's musical career...
band.
History
Happy Tiger's offices were located at 1801 Avenue of the Stars in Century City, Los Angeles, CaliforniaCentury City, Los Angeles, California
Century City is a 176-acre commercial and residential district on the Westside of the city of Los Angeles. It is bounded by Westwood on the west, Rancho Park on the southwest, Cheviot Hills and Beverlywood on the southeast, and the city of Beverly Hills on the northeast...
. The staff included engineer and producer Ray Ruff, who had previously worked for ABC-Paramount Records
ABC Records
ABC Records was an American record label, founded in New York City in 1955 as ABC-Paramount Records. It originated as the main popular music label operated the Am-Par Record Corporation, the music subsidiary of the American Broadcasting Company . ABC-Paramount Records' first president was Samuel H....
. During its short existence Happy Tiger issued twenty-seven albums and numerous singles, all distributed by Era Records
Era Records
Era Records was an independent American record label located in Hollywood, California. It was founded by Herb Newman and Lou Bedell in 1955 as a pop, country and western and jazz label. Era had a #1 hit in 1956 with Gogi Grant's "The Wayward Wind", written by Newman. In 1959 Bedell sold his...
. The label also issued eight albums of oldies under the joint Happy Tiger/Era label, including works by Phil Baugh
Phil Baugh
Phil Baugh was an American guitarist. He was known as one of the leading hot country guitarists whose "playing exuded joy and humor." He was active from the 1960s through the 1980s, performing as a highly sought-after session musician as well as a recording artist in his own right.-Biography:Phil...
, Dorsey Burnette
Dorsey Burnette
Dorsey Burnette was an early Rockabilly singer. With his younger brother, Johnny Burnette, and a friend named Paul Burlison, he was a founder member of The Rock and Roll Trio.-Background and early career:Dorsey Burnett was born on December 28, 1932 to Willie May and Dorsey Burnett Sr...
and some early Beach Boys recordings. Happy Tiger's final album in 1971 was Mason Proffit's Movin' Toward Happiness. The label's final single in 1972 was Richard Berry
Richard Berry
Richard Berry was an African American singer, songwriter and musician, who performed with many Los Angeles doo-wop and close harmony groups in the 1950s, including The Flairs and The Robins....
performing a song he had written and that The Kingsmen
The Kingsmen
The Kingsmen is a 1960s garage rock band from Portland, Oregon, United States. They are best known for their 1963 recording of Richard Berry's "Louie Louie", which held the #2 spot on the Billboard charts for six weeks...
had made famous in 1963, "Louie Louie
Louie Louie
"Louie Louie" is an American rock 'n' roll song written by Richard Berry in 1955. It has become a standard in pop and rock, with hundreds of versions recorded by different artists...
." After Happy Tiger folded, Warner Bros. Records
Warner Bros. Records
Warner Bros. Records Inc. is an American record label. It was the foundation label of the present-day Warner Music Group, and now operates as a wholly owned subsidiary of that corporation. It maintains a close relationship with its former parent, Warner Bros. Pictures, although the two companies...
reissued Paul Kelly's Stealin' in the Name of the Lord in 1972, retitled Dirt. Warner also reissued the two Mason Proffit albums as a double LP, Come and Gone, in 1974.
Notable artists
- Count BasieCount BasieWilliam "Count" Basie was an American jazz pianist, organist, bandleader, and composer. Basie led his jazz orchestra almost continuously for nearly 50 years...
- Richard BerryRichard BerryRichard Berry was an African American singer, songwriter and musician, who performed with many Los Angeles doo-wop and close harmony groups in the 1950s, including The Flairs and The Robins....
- Donnie BrooksDonnie BrooksDonnie Brooks was an American pop music singer. Brooks is a member of the Rockabilly Hall of Fame....
- Gib GuilbeauGib GuilbeauFloyd August "Gib" Guilbeau is an American country-rock musician and songwriter. As a member of Nashville West, Swampwater, and the Flying Burrito Brothers, Guilbeau helped pioneer the fusion of rock and country music in the 1960s....
- Paul KellyPaul Kelly (U.S. musician)Paul Kelly, born June 19, 1940, is a United States singer-songwriter. He is best known for the soul songs "Stealing in the Name of the Lord", which was a major hit in 1970, and "Hooked, Hogtied & Collared". He also wrote "Personally", which has been widely-covered, and was a hit for soul singer...
- Anita Kerr Singers
- Baker KnightBaker KnightBaker Knight was an American songwriter and musician from Birmingham, Alabama.He was born Thomas Baker Knight Jr. in Birmingham, Alabama to Thomas Baker Knight Sr. and his wife Mary Knight. His father died in 1939 at the age of 32, and because of his mother's poor health Knight was raised mainly...
- Priscilla ParisPriscilla ParisPriscilla Paris was an American singer. She had two sons, Edan and Seth.Backed by her two older Paris Sisters, Albeth and Sherrell, Priscilla Paris is best remembered for the song, "I Love How You Love Me", an international hit in October 1961.-External links:* on...
- Dan PennDan PennDan Penn is an American singer, songwriter, record producer and sometime guitar player who co-wrote many soul hits of the 1960s including "Dark End of the Street" and "Do Right Woman, Do Right Man" and "Out of Left Field" & "Cry Like A Baby"...
- Mason ProffitMason ProffitMason Proffit was a folk rock band from Chicago, Illinois that released five albums between 1969 and 1973.-History:Brothers Terry Talbot and John Michael Talbot played together in several local bands around Indianapolis, Indiana and later in Chicago...
- Red RhodesRed RhodesRhodes played pedal steel on many country rock, pop and rock albums with The Monkees, James Taylor, Seals and Crofts, The Byrds, The Carpenters and many other groups. He is most often remembered for his work with former Monkee Michael Nesmith on Nesmith's first solo albums in the early 1970s...
- Kay StarrKay StarrKay Starr is an American pop and jazz singer who enjoyed considerable success in the 1940s and 50s. She is best remembered for introducing two songs that became #1 hits in the 1950s, "Wheel of Fortune" and "The Rock And Roll Waltz"....
- ThemThem (band)Them were a Northern Irish band formed in Belfast in April 1964, most prominently known for the garage rock standard "Gloria" and launching singer Van Morrison's musical career...
Album discography
| Year | Artist | Title | Number | Chart | Peak |
| 1969 | Buddy Bohn | Places | HTR-1001 | |
| Priscilla Paris Priscilla Paris Priscilla Paris was an American singer. She had two sons, Edan and Seth.Backed by her two older Paris Sisters, Albeth and Sherrell, Priscilla Paris is best remembered for the song, "I Love How You Love Me", an international hit in October 1961.-External links:* on... |
Priscilla Loves Billy | HTR-1002 | ||
| Red Rhodes Red Rhodes Rhodes played pedal steel on many country rock, pop and rock albums with The Monkees, James Taylor, Seals and Crofts, The Byrds, The Carpenters and many other groups. He is most often remembered for his work with former Monkee Michael Nesmith on Nesmith's first solo albums in the early 1970s... and The Detours |
Red Rhodes Live at the Palamino | HTR-1003 | ||
| Them Them (band) Them were a Northern Irish band formed in Belfast in April 1964, most prominently known for the garage rock standard "Gloria" and launching singer Van Morrison's musical career... |
Them | HTR-1004 | ||
| Dan Terry | Lonely Place | HTR-1005 | ||
| 1970 | The Kimberlys | Kimberlys | HTR-1006 | |
| Count Basie Count Basie William "Count" Basie was an American jazz pianist, organist, bandleader, and composer. Basie led his jazz orchestra almost continuously for nearly 50 years... |
Basie on the Beatles | HTR-1007 | ||
| Ecology | Environment/Evolution/Ecology | HTR-1008 | ||
| Mason Proffit Mason Proffit Mason Proffit was a folk rock band from Chicago, Illinois that released five albums between 1969 and 1973.-History:Brothers Terry Talbot and John Michael Talbot played together in several local bands around Indianapolis, Indiana and later in Chicago... |
Wanted | HTR-1009 | ||
| Aorta Aorta (band) Aorta were an American psychedelic rock band from Chicago who recorded two albums in the late 1960s and early 1970s.-History:The band developed from a soul, pop and rock'n'roll group who had originally formed in Rockford, Illinois in 1962 as Kal David and the Exceptions. Its members were Kal David... |
Aorta 2 | HTR-1010 | ||
| 1971 | Hal Rugg | Hal Rugg Steels the Hits of Loretta Lynn | HTR-1011 | |
| Them | Them in Reality | HTR-1012 | ||
| The Kimberlys | New Horizon | HTR-1014 | ||
| Paul Kelly Paul Kelly (U.S. musician) Paul Kelly, born June 19, 1940, is a United States singer-songwriter. He is best known for the soul songs "Stealing in the Name of the Lord", which was a major hit in 1970, and "Hooked, Hogtied & Collared". He also wrote "Personally", which has been widely-covered, and was a hit for soul singer... |
Stealin' in the Name of the Lord | HTR-1015 | Billboard Pop Singles | 49 |
| Anita Kerr Singers | A Tribute to Simon and Garfunkel | HTR-1016 | ||
| Various | Early Chicago, Volume 1 | HTR-1017 | ||
| Buffalo Nickel Jug Band | Buffalo Nickel Jug Band | HTR-1018 | ||
| Mason Proffit | Movin' Toward Happiness | HTR-1019 | Billboard Pop Albums | 177 |