Vee-Jay Records

Vee -Jay Records was an American record company that successfully as independent label published in rhythm and blues, blues, jazz, gospel and Popsektor from 1953 records.

Founder and History

When the radio announcer Vivian Carter saw the doo-wop group The Spaniels at a gig, she had the idea to start a record label. Together with her partner Jimmy Bracken and a loan of U.S. $ 500 they finally founded in April 1953 in Gary (Indiana) Vee -Jay Records, named after the initials of their first names Vivian and Jimmy. As a producer and promoter served her brother Calvin Carter, while from 1955 onwards led Ewart Abner of the liquidated in December 1954 Company Records chance the business side of the new record company. Gary was not a center for talent, and also because of the recording studios opted for a move to Chicago.

In Chicago, a studio band was put together, the core of William " Lefty " Bates ( guitar) and Al Smith / Quinn B. Wilson (bass) and Horace Palm or Norman Simmons represented as a pianist. James " Red" Holloway was at the beginning tenor saxophonist, and later included Lucius Washington ( "Little Wash" ) and Cliff Davis. Baritone saxophone usually played McKinley "Mac" Easton. The square on drums took alternately Paul Gusman, Vernel Fournier and Alrock " Al " Duncan.

First recordings for Vee -Jay created with the spaniels in Bill Putnam belonging recording studios Universal Recording Corporation in Chicago on May 4th 1953 with the single Baby It's You / Bounce ( Vee -Jay # 101 ), which after its publication in June 1953 as the highest ranking a respectable tenth in the rhythm-and - blues charts occupied. Published in the catalog as the first disk, but only began on 29 December 1953 but was Jimmy Reed High and Lonesome / Roll and Rhumba (Vee -Jay # 100) was unable to obtain chart listing after its publication in July 1953. Reeds clean presentation - mostly he played guitar and harmonica - inspired later artists to cover his compositions.

On December 16, 1953 married the label 's founder. Previously, the Spaniels on September 23, 1953 were again in the studio, where with Goodnite Sweetheart Goodnite / You Do not Move Me was that penetrated in May 1954 to the fifth rank of the rhythm-and - blues charts. First top hit for the young label was on April 24, 1954, the El Dorados At My Front Door rehearsed / What's Buggin ' You Baby, which was released in September 1954, achieve a significant crossover success with a 17th place in the Pophitparade could. On October 19, 1955 blues legend John Lee Hooker first stepped onto the Vee -Jay Recording Studios in Chicago to Mambo Chillun there / Time Is Marching On record (# 164 ), published in December 1955. Hooker was already two top hits at Modern Records ( Boogie Chillen ' and I'm In the Mood ) show before he moved to Vee Jay in October 1955. Hooker was unusual in the studio, he found in texts no good rhymes, played only solo good, everything was recorded in only one take, because he could not repeat the same. The label was his earlier successes - even lack of convincing song material - with 14 singles appeared no longer repeat. Only worth mentioning is its classic, often gecoverte composition Dimples ( with guitarist Eddie Taylor), added on March 17, 1956 and published in August 1956 ( Vee -Jay # 205). Vee -Jay won further already known blues greats. Billy Boy Arnold took on May 5, 1955 his composition I Wish You Would on, Elmore James, published in May 1957 Coming Home, Jerry Butler & The Impressions recorded their classic For Your Precious Love in April 1958. The unusual soul -like ballad did not repeat the song title and had a light gospel undertone. Complete with Jerry Butler tenor of the song could reach the third rank of the R -and- B chart and # 11 on the pop charts. And that despite the organizational confusion, because the plate was published simultaneously in three record companies: except for Vee -Jay and Falcon ( a subsidiary label of Vee -Jay ) and Abner, which belonged to the commercial director of Vee -Jay.

First million seller

Almost ten years since the foundation had passed to Gene Chandler Duke of Earl / Kissin ' in the Kitchen (# 416 ), the first million-seller of the label, ie, the first single from the one million copies sold, was recorded. The piece with the unusual bass voices intro ( "Duke duke duke of earl ...") was born on November 5, 1961 on the market, ten days after Chandler had signed a record deal. The recorded at Universal Studios on August 30, 1961 song remained for three weeks at the top spot on the pop charts. Within just four weeks of the publication, the song about the million sales mark and has sold four million copies, according to Gene Chandler. In the same year Abner rose to become president of the label.

More Hits

The first white group for Vee -Jay were the Four Seasons with its famous falsetto voices. Group member Bob Gaudio had written within 15 minutes of a song he first "Jackie " named (after Jackie Kennedy). Four Seasons producer Bob Crewe renamed the song in sherry and introduced him to Vee -Jay. The piece in August 1962, the same month was produced published. The day after the appearance in the TV show " The Ed Sullivan Show", the song was sold 180,000 times, stayed for five weeks number one on the pop charts and was two million times implemented. On September 22, 1962 Four Seasons " American Bandstand " was awarded a gold disc for the television program. From the same recording session also came her next hit Big Girls Do not Cry / Connie -O (Vee -Jay # 465 ), published on 20 October 1962. He also abolished the No. 1 and was a further single from which a million records were sold. The third hit was Walk Like a Man, who also reached the top of the charts upon its release in January 1963. The Four Seasons sold a total of 175 million records, a part of it but also the record label Philips, for which they were exchanged in November 1963.

Beatles U.S. distribution rights

After Capitol Records had turned down the offer to take over the EMI distribution rights for the U.S. for the Beatles to Vee -Jay 's five -year contract secured in August 1962., The first U.S. publication of a Beatles single was on 25 February 1963 Please Please Me (Vee -Jay # 498 ), then was released on May 27, 1963 From Me to You (# 522) was on 22 July 1963, the LP Introducing ... the Beatles refilled, which was initially unsuccessful, after the breakthrough of the Beatles was published and then sold over one million copies - again on 27 January 1964 - with a slightly altered content. On February 26, 1964 Vee -Jay brought the album Jolly What! The Beatles & Frank Ifield on Stage on the market. It contained four previously released studio recordings of the Beatles. The remaining tracks were live recordings of Frank Ifield. On 1 October 1964, the double LP The Beatles came vs.. The Four Seasons out which contained no new material, but just another release of Introducing ... The Beatles and a compilation of the Four Seasons was. The first in the U.S. looked skeptical Beatles were also a huge success. Within a month, a total of 2.6 million Beatles records were sold in March 1964 by Vee -Jay. The otherwise responsible exclusively for the U.S. distributor of EMI - Capitol Records plates were not on the unexpected success and their wrong decision enthusiastic and sued on 15 January 1964 Vee -Jay injunction, which Capitol However, in mid February 1964 failed. The dispute escalated, and because of this legal uncertainty and Beatles records were except for Vee -Jay released in four other labels. This is also not the newly founded Vee -Jay subsidiary label Tollie involved, on the March 1964 Twist and Shout ( Tollie 9001) appeared on the 2nd. Vee -Jay was granted the right to publish or 1964 Beatles records until October 15. Entangled in many lawsuits and faced with a mighty labels such as Capitol Records, renounced Vee -Jay on the perception of the five-year contract.

During a period of three and a half months in 1964, the Beatles had ten more hits on seven singles from four record companies in the U.S., a fact which had never happened before and has not been seen before again. In retrospect, it can be stated that the little -planned and uncoordinated Label Competition, skim off as quickly as possible and with much profit Beatles records, both prevented further sales as well as the Beatles themselves hurt.

Cooperation with Ace Records

In July 1962 joined the purpose of cooperation zoom the smaller label Ace Records on Vee -Jay. It came to the conclusion of an advertising and sales contract, the Ace Records five years guaranteed the sum of 500,000 dollars a year. Ace was thus able to fully concentrate on talent and the production of records, while Vee -Jay presented its distribution network. The first test case was Venus In Blue Jeans Jimmy Clanton with in August 1962. Vee -Jay denied the figure of 1.5 million copies sold and forwarded lower sales. Vee -Jay over had not the proceeds of new local distribution companies. And the old distribution companies did not pay more because they already suspected Ace in crisis. Though Vee -Jay marketed its own successful catalog, the contract with Ace could not be met because of their own financial difficulties.

Decline

The "million seller" could not prevent himself from 1963 looming crisis in the company at Vee -Jay. Abner was released with other Vee -Jay - staff in August 1963, when the Four Seasons reportedly did not receive their due royalties and their manager Bob Crewe therefore sued the record company. No fewer than 64 court cases were pending at that time at the expense of Vee -Jay.

In October 1965, even Little Richard I Do not Know What You've Got ( But It 's Got Me) (Parts I & II) (composed by Don Covay ) published but has no greater resonance in the hit parade. Other singles from the Vee -Jay catalog are also unsuccessful, and reappears as the last plate with catalog number 715 For Your Precious Love / Give It Up by Jerry Butler. The Four Seasons had left the label in November 1963.

In December 1965, an attempt was made to eliminate the occurred Liquditätsengpass by selling the lucrative Vee - Jay Conrad publishers Publishing, Tollie Music and Music at Gladstone Arc Music. It was no more, because May, 1966 had to Vee -Jay bankruptcy petition ask. The remaining assets were auctioned parts in 1967.

Statistics

Vee -Jay was the first major independent, guided by blacks record company and the most successful company of its kind before the founding of Motown Records. With over 700 singles and 160 albums represented in almost all genres of music, was the firm as undercapitalized and did not have the financial means to press plates quickly and to market - the typical weakness of independent labels in the United States. Certainly, the crisis at Vee -Jay has also tightened the connection bankruptcy of Ace Records at least, if not caused.