Spivey Records

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Spivey Records was a specialist blues record label founded by blues singer Victoria Spivey and jazz historian Len Kunstadt in 1961.

1 History of Spivey Records
2 Albums Released by Spivey Records
3 Notes
4 References
5 See also
6 External links

[edit] History of Spivey Records

The label recorded a wide variety of blues musicians who were friends of Spivey and Kunstadt, including Muddy Waters, Otis Spann, Big Joe Williams, Lonnie Johnson, Memphis Slim, and Louis Armstrong. Kunstadt had a rough and ready approach to recording. He was known to walk thru the session and shout "More mistakes!"^[1]

On March 2, 1962, Bob Dylan contributed harmonica and backing vocals to a recording session featuring Big Joe Williams. These tracks appeared on Spivey LP 1004, Three Kings And The Queen.^[2] (This was not Dylan's first recording session. He had already recorded his eponymous first album Bob Dylan for CBS. This album was released on March 19, 1962.)

In recognition of her entrepreneurial achievements with Spivey Records, Spivey was awarded the "BMI Commendation of Excellence" in 1970.^[3]

The label became dormant after the death of Len Kunstadt in 1996.

In 2007, Len Kunstadt's niece, Lisa Weiner, revived the label. Audio engineer Doug Pomeroy digitally remastered the original session tapes(recorded 1961-1996). Spivey LP1001 through Spivey LP1016 will be reissued on CD in 2008.

[edit] Albums Released by Spivey Records

Buddy Tate Invites You "To Dig" A Basket Of Blues (1962) (Spivey LP 1001)

Buddy Tate Band; Hannah Sylvester; Lucille Hegamin; Victoria Spivey

Victoria Spivey And Her Blues (1962) (Spivey LP 1002)

Victoria Spivey

Chicago Blues: A Bonanza All Star Blues LP (1962) (Spivey LP 1003)

Big Willie Dixon; Sunnyland Slim; John Henry Barbee; Homesick James; St Louis Jimmy; Washboard Sam; Cocoa (Aka "Koko") Taylor; Evans Spencer

Three Kings And The Queen (1962) (Spivey LP 1004)

Roosevelt Sykes; Lonnie Johnson; Big Joe Williams (with Bob Dylan); Victoria Spivey

Missippi Mr Shortstuff (1964) (Spivey LP 1005)

Big Joe Williams

The Queen And Her Knights (1965) (Spivey LP 1006)

Victoria Spivey; Memphis Slim; Little Brother Montgomery; Lonnie Johnson

Louis Metcalf At The Ali Baba (1966) (Spivey LP 1007)

Louis Metcalf; Sonny White; Jerome Patterson; Al Matthews; Struttin' Sam; Victoria Spivey

The Bluesmen Of The Muddy Waters Chicago Blues Band (1966) (Spivey LP 1008)

Otis Spann; George Smith; Luther Johnson; Samuel Lawhorn; Francis Clay

Encore For The Chicago Blues (1968) (Spivey LP 1009)

Muddy Waters Bluesmen; Harvey Hill; Koko Taylor; Memphis Slim; Babe Stovall; Big Joe Williams; Oliver Brown; J. B. Lenoir; Washboard Sam's Band; Victoria Spivey; Willie Dixon; John Hammond; John Henry Barbee; Viola Wells; Homesick James; Roosevelt Sykes

The Bluesmen Of The Muddy Waters Blues Band, Volume 2 (1968) (Spivey LP 1010)

Otis Spann; Lucille Spann; Luther Johnson; Sammy Lawhorn; Little Sonny Wimberley; S.P. Leary; Paul Oscher; Pee Wee Madison; Willie Smith

Victoria Spivey Presents The All Star Blues World Of Spivey Records In Stereo (1970) (Spivey LP 1011)

Roosevelt Sykes; John Hammond; Victoria Spivey; Smokey Hogg; Washboard Doc; Smokey Hogg; Willie Dixon; Sunnyland Slim; Marie Dixon; Johnny Shines

Spivey's Blues Parade (1970) (Spivey LP 1012)

Spivey's Blues Paraders: Bill Dicey, John Hammond, Bob Malenky, Roosevelt Sykes & Washboard Doc: Benny Jefferson; Pat Blackman; Sugar Blue & His Harmonica; Sippie Wallace; Billie Mitchell; Walter "Shakey" Horton, Sunnyland Slim & Johnny Shines; Victoria Spivey, Lonnie Johnson, Little Brother Montgomery & Sonny Greer; Carolina Rose; Sonny Boy Williamson; Nita Washington; Washboard Bill; Little Sonny Parker; Delsey Maccay, Horton & Sunnyland Slim; Papa Comb & His Ukelele Mama; Lonnie Johnson

The Everlasting Blues vs. Otis Spann (1969) (Spivey LP 1013)

Otis Spann; Johnny Young; Luther Johnson; Peter Malick; S.P. Leary

Three Kings And The Queen, Volume Two (1970) (Spivey LP 1014)

Memphis Slim; Lonnie Johnson; Roosevelt Sykes; Victoria Spivey, Big Joe Williams and Bob Dylan; Big Joe Williams; Roosevelt Sykes and John Hammond; Victoria Spivey and Bob Dylan.

Spivey's Blues Cavalcade (1970) (Spivey LP 1015)

Bill Dicey's High Street Blues Band; Larry Johnson; Brooklyn Blues Busters; Danny Russo; Washboard Bill; Homesick James; Mark Ross & John Brenner; John Hammond; Johnny Shines, Big Walter Horton and Sunshine Slim; Bukka White; Bill Dicey and Sugar Blue; Ralph Rush; Harvey Hill; Louisiana Red; Victoria Spivey.

The All Star Blues World Of Maestro Willie Dixon and his Chicago Blues Band (1973) (Spivey LP 1016)

Willie Dixon Band; Buster Benton; Lafayette Leake; Larry Johnson; Victoria Spivey; Carey Bell; Larry Johnson; Carey Bell; Victoria Spivey; Buster Benton.