Shrine Records

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Shrine Records was a Washington DC soul music and R&B record label.

Shrine Records was founded in 1964 by songwriter Eddie Singleton and his wife, Raynoma Gordy Singleton, also known as Miss Ray, who had previously cofounded the legendary Motown Records with her first husband, Berry Gordy. Its headquarters was a townhouse at 3 Thomas Circle NW, Washington DC. There were a total of 19 Shrine Records singles released, and about six more completed recordings that were never issued. Eddie Singleton wrote many of the songs himself, and the musicians were primarily local Washington acts. Notable artists involved with Shrine included Ray Pollard (who later released material on Decca), Linda Tate, Eddie Daye & The Four Bars, and The Cavaliers. However, none of the Shrine singles were significant hits, and the label ceased operations in 1967. Shrine's stock of unsold records was destroyed in a warehouse fire in the 1968 Martin Luther King riots. As a result, very few Shrine records remain today, and they are highly sought-after by collectors.

The Shrine Records logo was a line drawing of an eternal flame.

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[edit] Reissues

Due to the considerable interest in the Shrine Records label among collectors and soul enthusiasts, in 1990 Horace's Records of the UK released two vinyl LPs of Shrine material, entitled Shrine: The Rarest Soul Label and Shrine: The Rarest Soul Label, Volume 2. Horace's also released a split 7" vinyl 45 with Eddie Daye & The Four Bars' "Guess Who Loves You" backed with Jimmy Armstrong's "Mystery" (Cat. HRH 004).

In 1996, UK Soul label Kent released a 24-song CD version of Shrine: The Rarest Soul Label (Cat. CDKEND 160), with material from the Horace's Records LPs as well as other rediscovered material. This was followed in 2003 by a second CD collection, Shrine: The Rarest Soul Label Vol 2 (Cat. CDKEND 190), featuring a further 24 songs, including five previously unreleased tracks and one incredibly rare recording, The Counts' "Peaches Baby", which was released but only one copy is known to exist.

In addition, Goldmine Soul Supply Limited of the UK has re-issued five Shrine singles in their original vinyl 45 format. These rereleases include...

  • The Cairos' "Stop Overlooking Me" backed with "Don't Fight It" [cat. SRG 101]
  • Eddie Daye & The Four Bars' "Guess Who Loves You" backed with "What Am I Gonna Do" [cat. SRG 102]
  • Les Chasonettes' "Don't Let Him Hurt You" backed with "Deeper" [cat. SRG 105]
  • DC Blossoms' "Hey Boy" backed with "I Know About Her" [cat. SRG 108]
  • Bobby Reed's "Caldonia Brown" backed with "Baby Don't Leave Me" (recording intended for Shrine in 1966 but previously unreleased) [cat. SRG 114]

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[edit] Bibliography