Supreme Records (Los Angeles)

Supreme Records (Los Angeles) was a small, independent record label in Los Angeles that was in operation from 1947 to 1950. It was founded by dentist Albert Patrick and specialized in Rhythm and Blues. Among the artists who were released on label were Jimmy Witherspoon, Paula Watson, Buddy Tate, Eddie Williams and his Brown Buddies (with Floyd Dixon), Big Jim Wynn and Percy Mayfield.[1][2]

Albert Patrick on the cover of Cash Box Magazine in the late 1940s.

The label's two greatest hits were Paula Watson's A Little Bird Told Me that sold over a million copies[3] and Jimmy Witherspoon's version of Ain't Nobody's Business, that he recorded on Albert Patrick's request, and that lasted 34 weeks on Billboard's Rhythm & Blues hit list.[4]

The label got involved in a costly lawsuit against Decca for copyright infringement on the arrangement of Paula Watson's version of A Little Bird Told Me, with their version of Evelyn Knight. The judge ruled in favor of Decca, stating that arrangements on an existing composition cannot be considered as property. He also stated that the arrangement on Watson's version lacked originality and the differences between the versions were evident.[3][5]

In another lawsuit the label lost its pressing and distribution partner Black & White records, after settling a dispute over Black & White selling its pressing line to Monogram in Canada.[6]

The lawsuits proved to be too costly for the label and in 1950 it ceased operation. Most of the masters were sold to Swing Time Records. The promising "Two Years Of Torture" of Percy Mayfield got a re-release at John Dolphin's Recorded In Hollywood label.[1]

Links

References

  1. 1 2 J. C. Marion "Forgotten Sessions - Part 2"
  2. ↑ Black, Jack Jr. and Settlemier, Tyrone. "Supreme records 78rpm numerical listing discography." The Online Discographical Project, 13 Aug. 2010. Web. Retrieved June 17, 2015.
  3. 1 2 Zak, A. I Don't Sound Like Nobody: Remaking Music in 1950s America, p. 143. University of Michigan Press, 2010. ISBN 978-0-472-11637-9
  4. ↑ Deffaa, C. Blue Rhythms: Six Lives in Rhythm and Blues, p. 148 and 225. University of Illinois, 1996. ISBN 9780252022036
  5. ↑ "Supreme loses case for 400G against Decca." The Billboard, May 13, 1950 p. 12.
  6. ↑ "Supreme, B&W Bury Hatchet Out of Court. The Billboard, April 9, 1949", p. 19.
This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the Wednesday, February 10, 2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.