United Records
Encyclopedia
For "United Records", see United Records (1910s)
United Records was in business from July 1951 to December 1957. It was operated by Chicago businessman Leonard Allen, initially in collaboration with Lew Simpkins. United issued records by such artists as Tab Smith
, Jimmy Forrest
, Gene Ammons
, Memphis Slim
, Roosevelt Sykes
, The Four Blazes
, The Moroccos, Robert Anderson
and The Staple Singers
.
In May 1952, United was joined by a sister label, States
.
United released 116 singles in a series that ran from 101 to 217, skipping 135 and 200. The company also released 2 10-inch LPs, but never got into 12-inch LPs.
Tab Smith was by far United's biggest contributor. He laid down 85 tracks, releasing 24 singles (a fifth of the company's entire output) and United's first LP.
After the company closed, Savoy Records
bought the masters by Gene Ammons and the Staple Singers. The rest of United's output was eventually acquired by Bob Koester
of Delmark Records
, which has made most of it available through LP and CD reissue programs.
For a much earlier, unrelated company of the same name, see United Records (1910s)
.
United Records (1910s)
United Records operated in the years before World War I. The label was owned by the United Talking Machine Company of Chicago, Illinois, which produced the double-sided lateral cut disc records with an unusually large spindle hole , and wind-up phonographs with large spindles for playing the...
United Records was in business from July 1951 to December 1957. It was operated by Chicago businessman Leonard Allen, initially in collaboration with Lew Simpkins. United issued records by such artists as Tab Smith
Tab Smith
Talmadge "Tab" Smith , was an American swing and rhythm and blues alto saxophonist. He is best known for the tracks, "Because Of You" and "Pretend". He variously worked with Count Basie, the Mills Rhythm Boys and Lucky Millinder.-Biography:Smith was born in Kinston, North Carolina, United States...
, Jimmy Forrest
Jimmy Forrest
Jimmy Forrest was an African American jazz musician, who played tenor saxophone throughout his career....
, Gene Ammons
Gene Ammons
Eugene "Jug" Ammons also known as "The Boss," was an American jazz tenor saxophonist, and the son of boogie-woogie pianist Albert Ammons.-Biography:...
, Memphis Slim
Memphis Slim
Memphis Slim was an American blues pianist, singer, and composer. He led a series of bands that, reflecting the popular appeal of jump blues, included saxophones, bass, drums, and piano. A song he first cut in 1947, "Every Day I Have the Blues", has become a blues standard, recorded by many other...
, Roosevelt Sykes
Roosevelt Sykes
Roosevelt Sykes was an American blues musician, also known as "The Honeydripper". He was a successful and prolific cigar-chomping blues piano player, whose rollicking thundering boogie-woogie was highly influential.-Career:Born in Elmar, Arkansas, Sykes grew up near Helena but at age 15, went on...
, The Four Blazes
The Four Blazes
The Four Blazes were an American R&B vocal and instrumental group formed in Chicago and popular in the 1940s and 1950s. They were also occasionally billed as The Five Blazes and as the "Blasers" or the "Flames."-Career:...
, The Moroccos, Robert Anderson
Robert Anderson (singer)
Robert Anderson was an American gospel singer and composer.-Early years:Robert Anderson was born in Anguilla, Mississippi, and moved to Chicago with his family as a child. During his childhood, Anderson learned piano by ear and assisted Roberta Martin with coaching the Sunday school choir at the...
and The Staple Singers
The Staple Singers
The Staple Singers were an American gospel, soul, and R&B singing group. Roebuck "Pops" Staples , the patriarch of the family, formed the group with his children Cleotha , Pervis , Yvonne , and Mavis...
.
In May 1952, United was joined by a sister label, States
States Records
States Record Company was a Chicago-based record label. A subsidiary of United Records, it was in business from May 1952 to December 1957. States focused on rhythm and blues, jazz, and gospel....
.
United released 116 singles in a series that ran from 101 to 217, skipping 135 and 200. The company also released 2 10-inch LPs, but never got into 12-inch LPs.
Tab Smith was by far United's biggest contributor. He laid down 85 tracks, releasing 24 singles (a fifth of the company's entire output) and United's first LP.
After the company closed, Savoy Records
Savoy Records
Savoy Records is an American record label specializing in jazz, R&B and gospel. Starting in the mid 1940s, Savoy played an important part in popularizing bebop.Savoy Records is an American record label specializing in jazz, R&B and gospel. Starting in the mid 1940s, Savoy played an important part...
bought the masters by Gene Ammons and the Staple Singers. The rest of United's output was eventually acquired by Bob Koester
Bob Koester
Robert Gregg "Bob" Koester is the American founder and owner of Delmark Records, one of the oldest independent record labels in the United States, and one of jazz's best-known imprints...
of Delmark Records
Delmark Records
Delmark Records is an independent American jazz and blues record label, based in Chicago since 1958. The label originated in St. Louis, Missouri, in 1953 when owner Bob Koester released a recording of the Windy City Six, a traditional jazz group, under the "Delmar" imprint.-History:Born in 1932 in...
, which has made most of it available through LP and CD reissue programs.
For a much earlier, unrelated company of the same name, see United Records (1910s)
United Records (1910s)
United Records operated in the years before World War I. The label was owned by the United Talking Machine Company of Chicago, Illinois, which produced the double-sided lateral cut disc records with an unusually large spindle hole , and wind-up phonographs with large spindles for playing the...
.
Releases
- U-101 - "Fine and Brown"/"Lucky Blues" - Roosevelt SykesRoosevelt SykesRoosevelt Sykes was an American blues musician, also known as "The Honeydripper". He was a successful and prolific cigar-chomping blues piano player, whose rollicking thundering boogie-woogie was highly influential.-Career:Born in Elmar, Arkansas, Sykes grew up near Helena but at age 15, went on...
and his Honey Drippers - U-102 - "Kansas City Blues"/"Crying Won't Help You" - Robert NighthawkRobert Lee McCollumRobert Lee McCollum was an American blues musician, who played and recorded under the pseudonyms Robert Lee McCoy and Robert Nighthawk.-Robert Lee McCoy:...
and his Nighthawks Band - U-103 - "Windy City Boogie"/"Blackjack Blues" - "Nature Boy" BrownJ. T. BrownJ. T. Brown was an American tenor saxophonist of the Chicago blues era. He was variously billed as Saxman Brown, J.T. Brown and Bep Brown.-Biography:...
and his Blues Ramblers - U-104 - "Because of You"/"Dee Jay Special" - Tab SmithTab SmithTalmadge "Tab" Smith , was an American swing and rhythm and blues alto saxophonist. He is best known for the tracks, "Because Of You" and "Pretend". He variously worked with Count Basie, the Mills Rhythm Boys and Lucky Millinder.-Biography:Smith was born in Kinston, North Carolina, United States...
His Fabulous Alto/His Velvet Tenor and Orchestra - U-105 - "Feel So Bad"/"Take It Easy Baby" - Robert Nighthawk and his Nighthawks Band
- U-106 - "Rock 'em"/"When I Was a Lad" - "Nature Boy" Brown and his Blues Ramblers
- U-107 - "Can't We Take a Chance"/"(It's No) Sin" - Tab Smith His Fabulous Alto and Orchestra
- U-108 - "Hands across the Table"/"Boogie Joogie" - Tab Smith His Fabulous Alto and Orchestra
- U-109 - "Solitude"/"Rockin' the Blues Away" - Tiny GrimesTiny GrimesLloyd "Tiny" Grimes was an American jazz and R&B guitarist. He was a member of the Art Tatum Trio from 1943 to 1944, was a backing musician on recording sessions, and later led his own bands, including a recording session with Charlie Parker...
His Guitar and Rocking Highlanders - U-110 - "Night TrainNight Train (song)"Night Train" is a twelve bar blues instrumental standard first recorded by Jimmy Forrest in 1951.-Origins and development:"Night Train" has a long and complicated history. The piece's opening riff was first recorded in 1940 by a small group led by Duke Ellington sideman Johnny Hodges under the...
"/"Bolo Blues" - Jimmy ForrestJimmy ForrestJimmy Forrest was an African American jazz musician, who played tenor saxophone throughout his career....
, tenor and all star combo - U-111 - "How I Got Over"/"Trusting in Jesus" - Robert AndersonRobert Anderson (singer)Robert Anderson was an American gospel singer and composer.-Early years:Robert Anderson was born in Anguilla, Mississippi, and moved to Chicago with his family as a child. During his childhood, Anderson learned piano by ear and assisted Roberta Martin with coaching the Sunday school choir at the...
and his Gospel CaravanThe CaravansThe Caravans is a Jubilee Gospel group that was started by Albertina Walker . The group reached its peak popularity during the 1950s and 1960s, launching the careers of a number of artists, including: Delores Washington, Albertina Walker, Bessie Griffin, Cassietta George, Dorothy Norwood, Inez... - U-112 - "Let's Get High"/"Strange Man" - Grant (Mr. Blues) Jones and his Orchestra
- U-113 - "Milk Train"/"Love Is a Wonderful Thing" - Tab Smith His Fabulous Alto and Orchestra
- U-114 - "Mary Jo"/"Mood Indigo" - Four BlazesThe Four BlazesThe Four Blazes were an American R&B vocal and instrumental group formed in Chicago and popular in the 1940s and 1950s. They were also occasionally billed as The Five Blazes and as the "Blasers" or the "Flames."-Career:...
- U-115 - "Down Beat"/ "A Blanket of Blue"- Tab Smith His Velvet Tenor/His Fabulous Alto and Orchestra
- U-116 - "Big Horn Blues"/"Jockey Jack Boogie" - Johnny Wicks and his Swinging Ozarks
- U-117 - "When They Ring the Golden Bells"/"Satisfied" - Southern Tornadoes
- U-118 - "Sow Righteous Seeds"/"My Expectations" - Robert Anderson and his Gospel Caravan
- U-119 - "Big Dip"/"My Buddy" - Jimmy Forest, Tenor and All Star Combo
- U-120 - "Raining in My Hear"/"Heavy Heart" - Roosevelt Sykes and his Honey Drippers
- U-121 - "House Party Groove"/"Strictly Gone" - Nature Boy BrownJ. T. BrownJ. T. Brown was an American tenor saxophonist of the Chicago blues era. He was variously billed as Saxman Brown, J.T. Brown and Bep Brown.-Biography:...
and his Blues Ramblers - U-122 - "Come in the Room"/"How Could It Be" - Robert Anderson and his Gospel Caravan
- U-123 - "Toll the Bell Easy"/"How about You" - Southern Tornadoes
- U-124 - "A Bit of Blues"/"Sunnyside of the Street" - Tab Smith His Fabulous Alto and Orchestra
- U-125 - "Night Train"/"Rug Cutter" - Four Blazes
- U-126 - "Glasgow KY Blues"/"Blue Dawn" - Johnny Wicks and his Swinging Ozarks
- U-127 - "Please Send Her Back to Me"/"Stop Boogie Woogie" - Four Blazes
- U-128 - "Dinah"/"Hora Staccato" - Ray McKinstry
- U-129 - "Security Blues"/"Walkin' This Boogie" - Roosevelt Sykes (The Honeydripper)
- U-130 - "Hey Mrs. Jones"/""Blue Groove" - Jimmy Forrest and Orchestra
- U-131 - "You Belong to Me"/"Auf Wiederseh'n Sweetheart" - Tab Smith His Fabulous Alto and Orchestra
- U-132 - "Nicotine Fits"/"It's All Your Fault" - Tiny Murphy and his Bar 69 Boys
- U-133 - "In the Dark"/"Hello Stranger" - Grant (Mr. Blues) Jones and his Orchestra
- U-134 - "O Lord Is It I"/"Pleading in Glory for Me" - Robert Anderson and his Gospel Caravan
- U-136 - "Dangerous Ground"/"Hot Steel" - Tiny Murphy and the Bar 69 Boys
- U-137 - "Street of Dreams"/"The Beat" - Gene AmmonsGene AmmonsEugene "Jug" Ammons also known as "The Boss," was an American jazz tenor saxophonist, and the son of boogie-woogie pianist Albert Ammons.-Biography:...
His Golden Toned Tenor and Orchestra - U-138 - "Living the Life I Love"/"Back Alley" - Memphis SlimMemphis SlimMemphis Slim was an American blues pianist, singer, and composer. He led a series of bands that, reflecting the popular appeal of jump blues, included saxophones, bass, drums, and piano. A song he first cut in 1947, "Every Day I Have the Blues", has become a blues standard, recorded by many other...
and his House Rockers - U-139 - "Four O'Clock Blues"/"To [sic] Hot to Hold" - Roosevelt Sykes and His Honeydrippers
- U-140 - "Red Hot and Blue"/"These Foolish Things" - Tab Smith His Fabulous Alto and Orchestra
- U-141 - "Leo's Boogie"/"Cool Leo" - Leo ParkerLeo ParkerLeo Parker was an American jazz baritone saxophonist.Parker studied alto saxophone in high school, and played this instrument on a recording with Coleman Hawkins in 1944. He switched to baritone saxophone later that year when he joined Billy Eckstine's bebop band, playing there until 1946...
- U-142 - "You Foxie Thing"/"Smooth Rocking" - Billy FordBilly & LillieBilly & Lillie were an American pop vocal duo, composed of Billy Ford and Lillie Bryant .-Career:...
and His Night Riders - U-143 - "Linger Awhile"/"I Keep Thinking of You" - The Dozier Boys Featuring Voices and Alto
- U-144 - "Don't Make Me Cry"/"Love Me Please Love Me" - Debbie Andrews and The Musketeers
- U-145 - "Mrs. Jones' Daughter"/"Mr. Goodbeat" - Jimmy Forrest His Tenor and All Star Combo
- U-146 - "Not Any More Tears"/"My Hat's on the Side of My Head" - The Four Blazes
- U-147 - "Cuban Boogie"/"My Mother's Eyes" - Tab Smith His Fabulous Alto and Orchestra
- U-148 - "With All My Heart"/"Why Should I Cry" - Johnny Holiday - Arranged and Conducted by Dennis Farnow [sic]
- U-149 - "Red Top"/"Just Chips" - Gene Ammons His Golden Toned Tenor and Orchestra
- U-150 - "Ebony after Midnight"/"My Sympathy" - Tasso the Great and his Combo
- U-151 - "Brazil"/"Blues for Lew" - Chris WoodsChris Woods (musician)Chris Woods was an American jazz alto saxophonist.Woods played locally in Memphis early in his career before moving to St. Louis to play with the Jeter-Pillars Orchestra and trumpeter George Hudson. He then joined Tommy Dean's combo, recording with them for Town and Country, Miracle, and States...
and his Orchestra - U-152 - "Tell Me True"/"Come Back Baby" - Roosevelt Sykes and his Honeydrippers
- U-153 - "Cherry"/"I've Had the Blues All Day" - Tab Smith His Fabulous Alto and Orchestra
- U-154 - "Call Me Darling"/"Please Wait for Me" - Debbie Andrews - Arr. and Conducted by Remo Biondi
- U-155 - "I'm Still in Love with You"/"Never to Cry Again" - Bixie Crawford
- U-156 - "Five O'Clock Blues"/"The Come Back" - Memphis Slim and his House Rockers
- U-157 - "Riding with the Blues"/"Stop Feeling Sorry for Yourself" - Nelda Dupuy and Ike Perkins Orchestra
- U-158 - "Perfect Woman"/"Ella Louise" - Four Blazes
- U-159 - "Don't Pay to Gamble"/"Stompin' at the Savoy" - The Mil-Con-Bo Trio
- U-160 - "Walkin' Home"/"Lonesome Road"- The Rockin' and Walkin' Rhythm of Eddie Chamblee
- U-161 - "My Last Cry"/"Hold Me" - Terry Timmons
- U-162 - "This Love of Mine"/"All My Life" - Tab Smith His Fabulous Alto and Orchestra
- U-163 - "Early Morning Blues"/"Cold, Cold Rain" - The Dozier Boys
- U-164 - "Stairway to the Stars"/"Jim Dawgs" - Gene Ammons
- U-165 - "Won't You Sit Down"/"It Rained Children" - The Staple SingersThe Staple SingersThe Staple Singers were an American gospel, soul, and R&B singing group. Roebuck "Pops" Staples , the patriarch of the family, formed the group with his children Cleotha , Pervis , Yvonne , and Mavis...
- U-166 - "Call before You Go Home"/"This Is My Lucky Day" - Memphis Slim and His House Rockers
- U-167 - "Confessin'"/"Old Age" - Billy Ford and His Night Riders
- U-168 - "My Great Love Affair"/"All Night Long' - The Four Blazes
- U-169 - "Honky Tonk Angels"/"Blue Roses" - Tiny Murphy
- U-170 - "Tiny's Boogie"/"Blue Roundup" - Tiny Grimes
- U-171 - "Jumptime"/"Strange" - Tab Smith His Fabulous Alto and Orchestra
- U-172 - "Tell Me"/"Whoo-wee Baby" - The Five C's
- U-173 - "Sophisticated Lady"/"Flight 3-D" - Jimmy Forrest and His All Star Combo
- U-174 - "My Baby"/"Rock City" - Tab Smith His Fabulous Alto and Orchestra
- U-175 - "Big Slam Part I"/"Big Slam Part II" - Gene Ammons His Golden Toned Tenor and Orchestra
- U-176 - "Wish Me Well"/"Sassy Mae" - Memphis Slim and His House Rockers
- U-177 - "Do the Do"/"Did You Ever See a Monkey Play a Fiddle" - Tommy (Mary Jo) Braden and his FlamesThe Four BlazesThe Four Blazes were an American R&B vocal and instrumental group formed in Chicago and popular in the 1940s and 1950s. They were also occasionally billed as The Five Blazes and as the "Blasers" or the "Flames."-Career:...
- U-178 - "Ace High"/"How Long Has It Been" - Tab Smith His Fabulous Alto and Orchestra
- U-179 - "L'Odore della Rosa"/"I Remember" - Buddy diVito and Howard Zuegner's Orchestra
- U-180 - "Goody, Goody"/"My Heart's Got the Blues" - The Five C's
- U-181 - "Come On In"/"La! La! La! Lady" - The Rockin' and Walkin' Rhythm of Eddie Chamblee
- U-182 - "Four Years of Torment"/"I Love My Baby" - Memphis Slim and his House Rockers
- U-183 - "Southern Women"/"Remember Me" - Tommy Brown and his Combo
- U-184 - "In a Little Spanish Town"/"Mr. Gee" - Tab Smith His Fabulous Alto and Orchestra
- U-185 - "Traveling Light"/"Fuzzy" - Gene Ammons his Golden Toned Tenor and Orchestra
- U-186 - "Memphis Slim U.S.A."/"Blues All around My Head" - Memphis Slim and his House Rockers
- U-187 - "Tabolino"/"Cottage for Sale" - Tab Smith His Fabulous Alto and Orchestra
- U-188 - "Pardon My Tears"/"Chicken" - The Moroccos
- U-189 - "She's Alright"/"Two of a Kind" - Memphis Slim and his House Rockers
- U-190 - "Top "n" Bottom"/"For Only You" - Tab Smith and Orchestra
- U-191 - "She Needs to Be Loved"/"Done Got Over" - The BlasersThe Four BlazesThe Four Blazes were an American R&B vocal and instrumental group formed in Chicago and popular in the 1940s and 1950s. They were also occasionally billed as The Five Blazes and as the "Blasers" or the "Flames."-Career:...
& Tommy (Mary Jo) Braden - U-192 - "Matilda"/"Liza's Blues" - Paul BascombPaul BascombPaul Bascomb was an American jazz tenor saxophonist, noted for his extended tenure with Erskine Hawkins. He is a 1979 inductee of the Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame....
- U-193 - "Red Hots and Chili Mac"/"Somewhere over the Rainbow" - The Moroccos
- U-194 - "The Long Man"/"I'm a Lover" - Long Man Binder and his Thin Men
- U-195 - "Mean to Me"/"Spider's Web" - Tab Smith His Fabulous Alto and Combo
- U-196 - "Boom De De Boom"/"Put Your Arms around Me" - The Pastels
- U-197 - "Whose Heart Are You Breaking"/"Story Love" - The DiMara Sisters
- U-198 - "Mozelle"/"Sherry" - The Sheppards
- U-199 - "T.G. Blues"/"Hurricane T" - Tab Smith His Fabulous Alto and Combo
- U-201 - "Blue and Lonesome"/"Got to Find My Baby" - Memphis Slim and his House Rockers
- U-202 - "Man beyond the Clouds"/"I'm Heaven Bound" - Singing Sammy Lewis
- U-203 - "Yo Yo Blues"/"Feel like I Wanna Die" - Tab Smith and Orchestra
- U-204 - "Bang Goes My Heart"/"What Is a Teen-Ager's Prayer" - The Moroccos
- U-205 - "Pretend"/"Crazy Walk" - Tab Smith His Fabulous Alto/Featuring the Tenor and Orchestra
- U-206 - "Chicago Cha Cha"/"Someone Will Understand" - Lefty BatesLefty BatesLefty Bates was an American Chicago blues guitarist. He led the Lefty Bates Combo, and variously worked with the El Dorados, the Flamingos, Jimmy Reed, John Lee Hooker, Buddy Guy, Etta James, the Aristo-Kats, the Hi-De-Ho Boys, the Moroccos, the Impressions, and a latter day version of the Ink Spots...
and his Band - U-207 - "Sad Sad Hours"/"The Hex" - The Moroccos - Lefty Bates Band
- U-208 - "Tear Drops"/"Edna" - The Palms and Lefty Bates Band
- U-209 - "Someone to Watch over Me"/"Soft Breeze" - Tab Smith
- U-210 - "Shadow Blues"/"Honey Hush" - John Hampton and his Band
- U-211 - "My Mother's Eyes"/"Dansero" - Tab Smith His Fabulous Alto and His Band
- U-212 - "Have No Fear"/"Keeps Me Worried All the Time" - The Answers and Lefty Bates Band
- U-213 - "Enchantment"/"Umbé" - Jack Medell and his Orchestra
- U-214 - "Hi De Ho Rock and Roll"/"Let's Change the Alphabet" - Loretta Thompson and Her Rockers
- U-215 - "Western Union"/"Why Don't You Believe Me" - Don Reed
- U-216 - "Merry Christmas Window"/"I Don't Want to Be the Last on Santa's List" - Carol, Linda, and Cathy
- U-217 - "Just One More Time"/"Mambolino" - Tab Smith His Fabulous Alto and Orchestra