Vee-Jay Records
Vee-Jay Records is an American record label founded in the 1950s, located in Chicago and specializing in blues, jazz, rhythm and blues and rock and roll.
| Vee-Jay Records | |
|---|---|
 Single by Jimmy Reed, 1956 | |
| Parent company | Concord Music Group |
| Founded | 1953 |
| Founder | Vivian Carter, James C. Bracken |
| Genre | Jazz, blues, rock, R&B, disco |
| Country of origin | U.S. |
| Location | Chicago, Illinois |
The label was founded in Gary, Indiana in 1953 by Vivian Carter and James C. Bracken, a husband-and-wife team who used their initials for the label's name.[1] Vivian's brother, Calvin Carter, was the label's A&R man. Ewart Abner, formerly of Chance Records, joined the label in 1955, first as manager, then as vice president, and ultimately as president. One of the earliest African American-owned record companies,[2] Vee-Jay quickly became a major R&B label, with the first song recorded making it to the top ten on the national R&B charts.
Notable artists
Major acts on the label in the 1950s included blues singers Jimmy Reed, Memphis Slim, and John Lee Hooker, and rhythm and blues vocal groups the Spaniels, the Dells, and the El Dorados. The 1960s saw the label become a major soul label with Jerry Butler, Gene Chandler, Dee Clark, and Betty Everett having hit singles on both the pop and R&B charts. Vee-Jay was also the first label to nationally issue a record by the Pips (through a master purchase from the tiny Huntom label of Atlanta), who became Gladys Knight and the Pips in 1962 when they moved to Fury Records.
Vee-Jay had significant success with pop/rock and roll acts, such as the Four Seasons (their first non-black act) and the Beatles. Vee-Jay acquired the rights to some of the early recordings by the Beatles through a licensing deal with EMI, as the American affiliate Capitol Records was initially uninterested in the group.[2] The main attraction at the time, however, was another EMI performer, Frank Ifield. Calvin Carter later said, "There was a number one record over in England at the time—It was 'I Remember You' by Frank Ifield. We took the record, and as a throw in, they had a group and asked us if we would take them, too. The group turned out to be the Beatles and we got a five-year contract on the Beatles as a pickup on the Frank Ifield contract."[3]
In the mid-1960s, Vee-Jay signed the former successful child singer Jimmy Boyd, known for the hit "I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus"; Boyd was then twenty-five years old. The company ventured into folk music with Hoyt Axton and New Wine Singers, and also picked up Little Richard who re-recorded his Specialty hits and recorded (1965) "I Don't Know What You've Got (But It's Got Me)", an R&B success, with Jimi Hendrix, Don Covay, Bernard Purdie, Ronny Miller, and Billy Preston (before Hendrix became successful on his own).
Vee-Jay's jazz line accounted for a small portion of the company's releases, but recorded such artists as Eddie Harris, Wynton Kelly, Lee Morgan, and Wayne Shorter.[4] The A&R for the label's jazz releases was Sid McCoy.[5] The company also had a major gospel line, recording such acts as the Staple Singers, The Famous Boyer Brothers, the Argo Singers, Swan Silvertones, the Caravans, Dorothy Love Coates and the Gospel Harmonettes, and Maceo Woods.[4] Vee-Jay even released comedy on LP, with records by Dick Gregory, and Them Poems, Mason Williams' early nightclub act, recorded with a studio audience in 1964.
Success
Vee-Jay's biggest successes occurred from 1962 to 1964, with the ascendancy of the Four Seasons and the distribution of early Beatles material ("From Me to You" b/w "Thank You Girl," "Please Please Me" b/w "From Me to You," and "Do You Want to Know a Secret" b/w "Thank You Girl" via Vee-Jay;[1] and "Love Me Do" b/w "P.S. I Love You" and "Twist and Shout" b/w "There's a Place" via its subsidiary Tollie Records), because EMI's autonomous United States company Capitol initially refused to release Beatles records.[6][7][8][9] Vee-Jay's releases were at first unsuccessful, but quickly became huge hits once the British Invasion took off in early 1964, selling 2.6 million Beatles singles in a single month. Cash flow problems caused by Ewart Abner's tapping the company treasury to cover personal gambling debts led to the company's active demise; Vee-Jay had been forced to temporarily cease operations in the second half of 1963, leading to royalty disputes with the Four Seasons and EMI. The Four Seasons then left Vee-Jay for Philips Records, and EMI's Capitol Records picked up the U.S. rights for both the Beatles and Frank Ifield.
Other Vee-Jay subsidiary labels included Interphon (which yielded the Top 5 hit "Have I the Right?" by another British group, the Honeycombs), and Oldies 45 for reissues along with Tollie and Abner Records, which was an early subsidiary label formed in 1958. Vee-Jay also did distribution for Ted Jarrett's Champion Records, Rick Hall's Fame Records, and for a time, the Memphis label Goldwax Records and Johnny Vincent's Ace Records.
Vee-Jay moved back to Chicago in 1965 after a year in Los Angeles. Liens were placed on Vee-Jay assets still in Los Angeles after legal action by Pye Records due to non-payment of royalties.[10]
As Vee-Jay International
Vee-Jay Records filed for bankruptcy in August 1966.[11] The assets were subsequently purchased by label executives Betty Chiappetta and Randy Wood (not the Dot Records founder), who changed its name to Vee-Jay International. From 1967 to 1972, Vee-Jay was limited to selling some of the inventory on hand when the company went under, and leasing or licensing the Vee Jay masters to Buddah Records, who came out with "The First Generation" series, and Springboard International, who issued dozens of albums featuring Vee Jay material on their subsidiary label, Upfront. In the 1970s, Vee Jay International itself re-released a number of titles on LPs and 8-track tapes.
In 1978, Vee Jay issued a Silver Anniversary catalog to commemorate the 25th birthday of the label.[12]
1980s–present
The label was revived under new management in 1982 as a dance and R&B label, but closed down in 1986.
In the mid-late 1980s, a one-hour independent documentary film was made called "Cradle of Rock and Roll" aired on PBS soon after the film's completion. It covered the history of Vee-Jay and Chess Records in Chicago, which helped to begin a revival of some interest in Vee-Jay's history and catalog. In 1986 Motown licensed 26 of Vee Jay's soul, blues and R&B hits for a CD compilation, "Hits from the Legendary Vee Jay Records."
In 1993, the Vee Jay Limited Partnership released a 3-CD boxed set, "The Vee Jay Story (Celebrating 40 Years of Classic Hits)," again drawn from the label's R&B, soul, and blues catalog. The package includes a red-vinyl facsimile 45 of the Spaniels' "Goodnite Sweetheart Goodnite."
Under the management of Michele Tayler, the company was reactivated in 1998 as The Vee-Jay Limited Partnership. Its main office is located in Redding, Connecticut.
Collectables Records has been remastering and reissuing Vee-Jay albums on audio CD since 2000. A compilation which contains a Best of Vee-Jay box set as well as individual "Best of the Vee-Jay Years" CDs is released by Shout! Factory.[13]
In July 2014 its catalogue was acquired by Concord Music Group.[14] The sale was facilitated by Minneapolis film producer, Scott McLain.[15]
The Vee-Jay Records story is featured on the documentary series Profiles of African-American Success.
Subsidiaries
Abner Records was a subsidiary of Vee-Jay Records. It was originally named Falcon Records, but the name was changed in 1958 since there already existed a Falcon Records. The label was named after Ewart Abner who was general manager at Vee-Jay, 1955–1961. Falcon Records Scotland (2011–present) is a sub-label of Jilted Generation Inc. Falcon Records launched October 2011 in partnership with "Music Media Management" owned by Diania Elliott Tomlin Perkins & Eric Bryce, "In Hoodz We Trust (IHWT)" owned by Jay Supa & "Make Noise Fife" owned by Alex Herbert.
Discography
Vee-Jay LP/SR-1000 Main Series
The Vee-Jay LP/SR 1000 Series of 12 inch LPs were released between 1958 and 1963 with a catalog prefix of LP for mono releases and SR for stereo.[16]
| Catalog No. | Album | Artist | Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| LP-1001 | Crazy Little Mama | The El Dorados with the Magnificents | Compilation of singles featuring one track by The Magnificents |
| LP-1002 | Goodnite, Its Time to Go | The Spaniels | |
| LP-1003/SR-1003 | We Bring You Love | Sarah McLawler and Richard Otto | The first stereo record issued by Vee-Jay |
| LP-1004 | I'm Jimmy Reed | Jimmy Reed | |
| LP-1005/SR-1005 | The Swingin'est | Bennie Green and Gene Ammons | also released as Juggin' Around |
| LP-1006/SR-1006 | We Bring You Swing | Sarah McLawler and Richard Otto | |
| LP-1007 | I'm John Lee Hooker | John Lee Hooker | |
| LP-1008 | Rockin' with Reed | Jimmy Reed | |
| LP-1009 | Gene Allison | Gene Allison | |
| LP-1010 | Oh, What a Nite | The Dells | |
| LP-1011 | Wade Flemons | Wade Flemons | |
| LP-1012 | Memphis Slim at the Gate of Horn | Memphis Slim | |
| LP-1013/SR-1013 | Walter Perkins' MJT + III | Walter Perkins and the MJT + 3 | |
| LP-1014/SR-1014 | Go | Paul Chambers | |
| LP-1015/SR-1015 | Bill Henderson Sings | Bill Henderson | |
| LP-1016/SR-1016 | Kelly Great | Wynton Kelly | |
| LP-1019 | You're Lookin' Good | Dee Clark | |
| LP-1020 | The Blues | Various Artists | |
| LP-1021 | Teen Delights | Various Artists | |
| LP-1022 | Found Love | Jimmy Reed | |
| LP-1023 | Travelin' | John Lee Hooker | |
| LP-1024 | The Spaniels | The Spaniels | |
| LP-1025 | Jimmy Reed ...Now Appearing | Jimmy Reed | |
| LP-1026/SR-1026 | Dee Clark | Dee Clark | Reissue of Abner LP-2000 |
| LP-1027 | Jerry Butler, Esquire | Jerry Butler | Reissue of Abner LP-2001 |
| LP-1028/SR-1028 | How About That | Dee Clark | Reissue of Abner LP-2002 |
| LP-1029 | He Will Break Your Heart | Jerry Butler | |
| LP-1030/SR-1030 | At the Break of Day | Richard Otto and Sarah McLawler | |
| LP-1031/SR-1031 | Bill Henderson | Bill Henderson | |
| LP-1032 | Stepin Fetchit in Person | Stepin Fetchit | |
| LP-1033/SR-1033 | The Folk Lore of John Lee Hooker | John Lee Hooker | |
| LP-1034 | Love Me | Jerry Butler | Reissue of LP-1027 |
| 2LP-1035/2SR-1035 | Jimmy Reed at Carnegie Hall | Jimmy Reed | This is a 2LP studio album containing one disc of new material and a second disc "best of" compilation of singles |
| LP-1036 | Teen Delights Volume 2 | Various Artists | |
| LP-1037/SR-1037 | Hold on... It's Dee Clark | Dee Clark | |
| LP-1038/SR-1038 | Aware of Love | Jerry Butler | |
| LP-1039/SR-1039 | The Best of Jimmy Reed | Jimmy Reed | Reissue of second disc of Jimmy Reed at Carnegie Hall |
| LP-1040/SR-1040 | Duke of Earl | Gene Chandler | |
| LP-1041/SR-1041 | Twist Along with Cal Carter | Calvin Carter | |
| LP-1042 | Tomorrow's Hits | Various Artists | |
| LP-1043/SR-1043 | Burnin' | John Lee Hooker | |
| LP-1044/SR-1044 | Lightnin' Strikes | Lightnin' Hopkins | |
| LP-1046/SR-1046 | Moon River | Jerry Butler | |
| LP-1047/SR-1047 | The Best of Dee Clark | Dee Clark | |
| LP-1048/SR-1048 | The Best of Jerry Butler | Jerry Butler | |
| LP-1049/SR-1049 | The Best of John Lee Hooker | John Lee Hooker | |
| LP-1050/SR-1050 | Just Jimmy Reed | Jimmy Reed | |
| LP-1051 | The Unavailable 16 Hits of Yesteryear | Various Artists | |
| LP-1052 | The Moonglows Meet the Flamingos on the Dusty Road of Hits | The Moonglows and The Flamingos | |
| LP-1053/SR-1053 | Sherry & 11 Others | The Four Seasons | |
| LP-1054/SR-1054 | I Remember You | Frank Ifield | |
| LP-1055/SR-1055 | The 4 Seasons Greetings | The Four Seasons | |
| LP-1056/SR-1056 | Big Girls Don't Cry and 12 Others | The Four Seasons | |
| LP-1057/SR-1057 | Folk Songs | Jerry Butler | |
| LP-1058/SR-1058 | The Big Soul of John Lee Hooker | John Lee Hooker | |
| LP-1059/SR-1059 | Ain't That a Shame | The Four Seasons | |
| LP-1060/SR-1060 | Come Surf with Me | Aki Aleong and the Nobles | |
| LP-1061 | Africa Calling | The Dungills | |
| LP-1062/SR-1062 | Introducing... The Beatles | The Beatles | Two versions of this album were released containing slightly different tracks |
| LP-1065/SR-1065 | Golden Hits of the Four Seasons | The Four Seasons | |
| LP-1066/SR-1066 | John Lee Hooker on Campus | John Lee Hooker | |
| LP-1067/SR-1067 | T'ain't No Big Thing... But He Is | Jimmy Reed | |
| LP-1069/SR-1069 | Pop Gospel Live from London | Alex Bradford and Chris Barber | |
| LP-1070/SR-1070 | Live.. At the Losers | Ann Richards with the Bill Marx Trio | |
Vee-Jay LP/SR-3000 Jazz Series
In 1960 Vee-Jay began issuing jazz records with separate catalog numbers as the LP/SR 3000 Series of 12 inch LPs with a catalog prefix of LP for mono releases and SR for stereo.[17]
| Catalog No. | Album | Artist | Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| LP/SR-3004 | Kelly Great | Wynton Kelly | Reissue of Vee-Jay LP-1016 |
| LP/SR-3005 | Fantastic Frank Strozier | Frank Strozier | |
| LP/SR-3006 | Introducing Wayne Shorter | Wayne Shorter | |
| LP/SR-3007 | Here's Lee Morgan | Lee Morgan | |
| LP/SR-3008 | Make Everybody Happy | MJT+3 | |
| LP/SR-3009 | Dixie on the Rocks | Dave Remington and the Dixie 6 | |
| LP/SR-3010 | Louis Hayes | Louis Hayes | |
| LP/SR-3011 | Kelly at Midnight | Wynton Kelly | |
| LP/SR-3012 | 1st Bassman | Paul Chambers | |
| LP/SR-3013 | The Young Lions | The Young Lions | Featuring Lee Morgan, Frank Strozier, Wayne Shorter, Bobby Timmons, Bob Cranshaw, and Louis Hayes / Albert Heath |
| LP/SR-3014 | MJT + 3 | MJT + 3 | |
| LP/SR-3015 | Expoobident | Lee Morgan | |
| LP/SR-3016 | Exodus to Jazz | Eddie Harris | |
| LP/SR-3017 | Eddie Higgins | Eddie Higgins | |
| LP/SR-3018 | Here's Harold | Harold Harris | |
| LP/SR-3022 | Wynton Kelly! | Wynton Kelly | |
| LP/SR-3024 | Juggin' Around | Gene Ammons with Bennie Green | Reissue of Vee-Jay LP 1005 |
| LP/SR-3025 | Mighty Like a Rose | Eddie Harris | |
| LP/SR-3026 | Summit Meeting | Various Artists | |
| LP/SR-3027 | Jazz for "Breakfast at Tiffany's" | Eddie Harris | |
| LP/SR-3028 | A Study in Jazz | Eddie Harris | |
| LP/SR-3029 | Wayning Moments | Wayne Shorter | |
| LP/SR-3030 | Dixie/Chicago Style | Dave Remington | |
| LP/SR-3031 | Eddie Harris Goes to the Movies | Eddie Harris | |
| LP/SR-3032 | Jazz Kaleidoscope | Bill Marx and the Jazz Octet | |
| LP/SR-3033 | Bird Lives! | Ira Sullivan and the Chicago Jazz Quintet | |
| LP/SR-3034 | Bossa Nova | Eddie Harris | |
| LP/SR-3035 | My Son the Folk Swinger | Bill Marx | |
| LP/SR-3036 | Harold Harris at the Playboy Club | Harold Harris | |
| LP/SR-3037 | Half and Half | Eddie Harris | |
Vee-Jay LP/SR-5000 Gospel Series
Between 1959 and 1965 the Vee-Jay LP/SR-5000 Gospel Series released seventy-eight 12 inch LPs.[18]
| Catalog No. | Album | Artist | Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| LP-5000 | Uncloudy Day | The Staple Singers | |
| LP-5001 | Amazing Grace | Maceo Woods | |
| LP-5002 | The Harmonizing Four | The Harmonizing Four | |
| LP-5003 | The Swan Silvertones | Swan Silvertones | |
| LP-5004 | The Original Five Blind Boys | Five Blind Boys of Mississippi | |
| LP-5005 | Highway QC's | The Highway QC's | |
| LP-5006 | Singing in My Soul | Swan Silvertones | |
| LP-5007 | Jesus Is Waiting | The Highway QC's | |
| LP-5008 | Will the Circle Be Unbroken | The Staple Singers | |
| LP-5009 | God Will Take Care of You | The Harmonizing Four | |
| LP-5010 | The Lord Will Make a Way | Maceo Woods | |
| LP-5011 | Wonderful | Back Home Choir of the Greater Harvest Baptist Church | |
| LP-5012 | Near the Cross | The Argo Singers | |
| LP-5013 | Saviour Pass Me Not | Swan Silvertones | |
| LP-5014 | Swing Low | The Staple Singers | |
| LP-5016 | Sunday Morning | Various Artists | |
| LP-5017 | My Prayer | The Patterson Singers | |
| LP-5018 | That's God | Princess Stewart | |
| LP-5019 | The Best of the Staple Singers | The Staple Singers | Compilation |
| LP-5020 | Oh Lord I Pray | The Highway QC's | |
| LP-5021 | Precious Lord | The Sally Martin Singers | |
| LP/SR-5022 | Black Nativity | Original Cast | Featuring Marion Williams and the Stars of Faith, Princess Stewart and Professor Alex Bradford and the Bradford Singers |
| LP-5023 | One Step | Alex Bradford | |
| LP-5024 | God and Me | Marion Williams and The Stars of Faith | |
| LP-5025 | Golden Bells | The Harmonizing Four | |
| LP-5026 | Seek Ye the Lord | The Caravans | |
| LP-5027 | Glory Train | The Watson Sisters | |
| LP-5028 | Message of Hope | The Reverend Maceo Woods' Christian Tabernacle Ensemble | |
| LP-5029 | You'll Never Walk Alone | The Original Blind Boys of Alabama | |
| LP-5030 | Swing Low Sweet Chariot | The Staple Singers | |
| LP-5031 | Let the Words of My Mouth... | Marion Williams and The Stars of Faith | |
| LP-5032 | The Lord's Prayer | The Patterson Singers | |
| LP-5033 | As You Sow, So Shall You Reap | Charles Taylor and The Taylor Singers | |
| LP-5034 | Blessed Assurance | The Swan Silvertones | |
| VJLP-5035 | I'll Serve the Lord | The Argo Singers | |
| VJLP-5036 | Reach the Heart | Northeastern Michigan Church of God in Christ State Choir | |
| VJLP-5037 | Angel on Vacation | Bradford Singers | |
| VJLP-5038 | The Soul of the Caravans | The Caravans | |
| VJLP-5039 | Nearer My God to Thee | The Harmonizing Four | |
| VJLP-5040 | All Men are Made By God | The Highway QC's | |
| VJLP-5041 | God Is Here | Sallie Martin Singers | |
| VJLP-5042 | Camp Meeting | Gospel Harmonettes Specials | |
| VJLP-5043 | Greatest Gospel Songs of Our Times | Various Artists | |
| VJLP-5044 | Let's Sing About Freedom | Various Artists | |
| VJLP-5045 | A Treasury of Golden Christmas Songs | Various Artists | |
| VJLP/SR-5046 | Songs of Faith | The Patterson Singers | |
| VJLP/SR-5047 | Yes Jesus Loves Me | The Thompson Community Singers | |
| VJLP/SR-5048 | True Convictions | The Original Blind Boys of Alabama | |
| VJLP/SR-5049 | Altar Stairs of Song | The Wooten Ensemble | |
| VJLP/SR-5050 | The Best of the Harmonizing Four | The Harmonizing Four | Compilation |
| VJLP/SR-5051 | The Best of the Highway QC's | The Highway QC's | Compilation |
| VJLP/SR-5052 | The Best of the Swan Silvertones | Swan Silvertones | Compilation |
| VJLP/SR-5053 | Garden of Prayer | Maceo Woods | |
| VJLP/SR-5054 | That Old Time Religion | The Harmonizing Four | |
| VJLP/SR-5055 | Songs Our Mother Taught Us | The Highway QC's | |
| VJLP/SR-5056 | The Soul of Alex Bradford | Alex Bradford | |
| VJLP/SR-5057 | He'll Bless Your Soul | The Richbourg Singers | |
| VJLP/SR-5058 | Walk Around Heaven All Day | The Caravans | |
| VJLP/SR-5059 | Let's Go to Church Together | The Swan Silvertones | |
| VJLP-5060 | The Soul of the Patterson Singers | The Patterson Singers | |
| VJLP-5061 | Come Closer to God | The Raymond Raspberry Singers / The Swan Silvertones / Reverend Maceo Wood | Compilation |
| VJLP-5062 | The Soul of Charles Taylor | Charles Taylor Singers | |
| VJLP-5063 | The Soul of the Argo Singers | The Argo Singers | |
| VJLP-5064 | The Soul of the Gospel Harmonettes | Gospel Harmonettes | |
| VJLP-5065 | The Soul of the Thompson Community Singers | The Thompson Community Singers | |
| VJLP-5066 | Wonderful Memories from the Family Prayer Book | Various Artists | |
| VJLP-5067 | Sometimes I'm Happy, Sometimes I'm Sad: The Many Moods of Reverend Maceo Woods | Rev. Maceo Woods | |
| VJLP-5069 | Spirituals That Will Live Forever! | The Harmonizing Four | |
| VJLP-5070 | Let's Break Bread Together | The Caravans | |
| VJLP-5071 | Sing from the Top of the Hill | The Highway QC's | |
| VJLP-5072 | Can I Get a Witness | The Blind Boys of Alabama | |
| VJLP-5073 | In Memoriam: Waiting at the River | Archie Brownlee with the Original Five Blind Boys | Reissue of VJLP-5004 |
| VJLP-5074 | The Heart of Gospel | Helen Robinson Youth Choir | |
| VJLP-5075 | My Movin' Soul | James Lowe | |
| VJLP-5076 | Religion with Rhythm | The Lunenberg Travellers | |
| VJLP-5077 | The Caravans in Concert | The Caravans | |
| VJLP-5078 | Singing Is Our Life | The Harmonizing Four | |
| VJLP-5083 | Hymns Speak from the Organ | William Everett Preston | |
Vee-Jay VJLP/VJS-1000 Main Series
From 1963 the Vee-Jay 1000 Series of 12 inch LPs were released with a catalog prefix of VJLP for mono releases and VJS for stereo.[19]
| Catalog No. | Album | Artist | Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| VJLP/VJS-1071 | The New Wine Singers at the Chicago Opera House | The New Wine Singers | |
| VJLP/VJS-1072 | Jimmy Reed Sings the Best of the Blues | Jimmy Reed | |
| VJLP/VJS-1073 | Jimmy Reed Plays 12 String Guitar Blues | Jimmy Reed | |
| VJLP/VJS-1074 | Soul Meeting Saturday Night Hootennanny Style | Various Artists | |
| VJLP/VJS-1075 | For Your Precious Love | The Impressions with Jerry Butler | |
| VJLP/VJS-1076 | Need to Belong and Other Great Performances | Jerry Butler | Also released as Giving Up on Love and Other Great Performances |
| VJLP/VJS-1077 | You're No Good | Betty Everett | Also released as It's in His Kiss (Shoop Shoop) |
| VJLP/VJS-1078 | Concert at Newport | John Lee Hooker | |
| VJLP/VJS-1079 | 12 String Guitar-Nanny | Bradley Wayne | |
| VJLP/VJS-1080 | The Boss Man of the Blues with More of the Best | Jimmy Reed | |
| VJLP/VJS-1081 | The Theme from Exodus and Other Film Spectaculars | Eddie Harris | Compilation of tracks from VJLP 3016, VJLP 3025, VJLP 3027 and VJLP 3031 |
| VJLP/VJS-1082 | Folk-Nanny | The Four Seasons | Also released as Stay & Other Great Hits |
| VJLP-1084 | The Original Nitty Gritty | Various Artists | |
| VJLP/VJS-1085 | Jolly What! | The Beatles and Frank Ifield | Also released as The Beatles and Frank Ifield on Stage |
| VJLP/VJS-1086 | The Best of Wynton Kelly | Wynton Kelly | Tracks from VJLP-1016, VJLP 3011 and, VJLP 3022 with string section directed by Bill Marx overdubbed |
| VJLP/VJS-1087 | Hello Trouble | Orville Couch | |
| VJLP/VJS-1088 | More Golden Hits by the Four Seasons | The Four Seasons | |
| VJLP/VJS-1089 | The Great Movie Themes of the 30's, 40's and 50's | Gordon Jenkins | |
| VJLP/VJS-1090 | It's Monster Surfing Time | The Deadly Ones | |
| VJLP/VJS-1091 | The Ska | Mango Jones and His Orchestra with The Harry Ballu Singers | |
| VJLP-1092 | Songs, Pictures and Stories of the Fabulous Beatles | The Beatles | reissue of the second version of Vee Jay LP-1062 |
| VJLP/VJS-1093 | Running For President | Dick Gregory | |
| VJLP/VJS-1094 | Sam Fletcher Sings I Believe in You | Sam Fletcher | |
| VJLP/VJS-1095 | Jimmy Reed at Soul City | Jimmy Reed | |
| VJLP/VJS-1096 | Love Me with All Your Heart | Victor Feldman | |
| VJLP/VJS-1097 | Great Mariachi Favorites | Victorio Valdez, His Orchestra and Chorus | |
| VJLP/VJS-1098 | Hoyt Axton Explodes! | Hoyt Axton | |
| VJLP/VJS-1099 | Delicious Together | Betty Everett and Jerry Butler | |
| VJ-1100 | Live at the Whiskey-a-Go-Go | Various Artists | |
| VJ-1101 | The 15 Greatest Songs of the Beatles | The Merseyboys | |
| VJLP/VJS-1102 | Steal Away | Jimmy Hughes | |
| VJLP/VJS-1103 | Them Poems and Things | Mason Williams | |
| VJLP/VJS-1104 | Sweets for the Sweet Taste of Love | Harry "Sweets" Edison, His Trumpet and Orchestra | |
| VJLP/VJS-1105 | Rocks in My Bed | Georgia Carr | |
| VJLP/VJLPS-1106 | Most Requested Dances at Your Home Tonight | Mango Jones and His Internationally Famed Orchestra | |
| VJLP/VJS-1107 | Little Richard Is Back (And There's a Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin' On!) | Little Richard | |
| VJLP/VJS-1108 | Night Time Is the Right Time | Bill Marx | |
| VJLP/VJS-1109 | Bubbles, John W. That Is | John W. Bubbles | |
| VJLP/VJS-1110 | My Favorite Songs from Mary Poppins | Ray Walston | |
| VJLP-1112 | The Great Hits of 1964 and Some Golden Oldies! | Various Artists | |
| VJLP/VJS-1113 | The Castaway Strings Play the Elvis Presley Song Book | The Castaway Strings | |
| VJLP/VJS-1114 | The Castaway Strings Play the Andy Williams Song Book | The Castaway Strings | |
| VJLP/VJS-1115 | The Castaway Strings Play the Peter, Paul & Mary Song Book | The Castaway Strings | |
| VJLP/VJS-1116 | The Castaway Strings Play the Bobby Vinton Song Book | The Castaway Strings | |
| VJLP/VJS-1118 | The Best of Hoyt Axton | Hoyt Axton | Compilation from his Horizon material |
| VJLP/VJS-1119 | More of the Best of Jerry Butler | Jerry Butler | |
| VJLP/VJS-1121 | Girls Girls Girls - We Love Girls | The Four Seasons | |
| VJLP/VJS-1122 | The Very Best of Betty Everett | Betty Everett | |
| VJLP/VJS-1123 | The Most Exciting Organ Ever | Billy Preston | |
| VJLP/VJS-1124 | Little Richard's Greatest Hits | Little Richard | Re-recordings of his hits for Specialty - AKA His Greatest Hits |
| VJLP/VJS-1125 | His Greatest Hits | Russ Morgan | |
| VJLP/VJS-1126 | Greenback Dollar | Hoyt Axton | Reissue of Horizon WP-1601 |
| VJLP/VJS-1127 | Saturday's Child | Hoyt Axton | Reissue of Horizon SWP-1621 |
| VJLP/VJS-1128 | Thunder 'n' Lightnin' | Hoyt Axton | Reissue of Horizon SWP-1613 |
| VJLP/VJS-1129 | The Gary LeMel Album | Gary LeMel | |
| VJLP-1130 | The Legend, The Man | Winston Churchill | Spoken word album with commentary by the Honorable James Roosevelt |
| VJLP/VJS-1131 | 36 Hours (Soundtrack) | Dimitri Tiomkin | |
| VJLP/VJS-1132 | We Remember Mildred Bailey | Mavis Rivers and Red Norvo | |
| VJLP/VJS-1133 | Here's Pete Barbutti! | Pete Barbutti | |
| VJLP/VJS-1134 | I Wish You Love | Jacques Foti with the Loe Leahy Orchestra | |
| VJLP/VJS-1135 | The Vi Velasco Album | Vi Velasco | |
| VJLP-1136 | More Great Hits of 1964 and Other Golden Goodies | Various Artists | |
| VJLP/VJS-1137 | Damita Jo Sings | Damita Jo | |
| VJLP/VJS-1138 | Coffee House Blues | Lightnin' Hopkins, Brownie McGhee and Sonny Terry | Reissue of Horizon 1617 |
| VJLP/VJS-1139 | Russ Morgan Plays and Sings Red Roses for a Blue Lady | Russ Morgan | |
| VJ-1140 | Favorite Family Poems | Louis Freeman | |
| VJLP/VJS-1141 | It's Not Unusual | The Dells | |
| VJLP/VJS-1142 | Early Hits of 1965 | Billy Preston | |
| VJLP/VJS-1143 | Command Performance | Luis Varona | |
| VJLP/VJS-1154 | Recorded Live: On Stage with The Four Seasons | The Four Seasons | Studio recordings with overdubbed audience |
Vee-Jay LP/SR-2500 Jazz Series
From 1964 to 1965 the Vee-Jay 2500 Series of 12 inch Jazz LPs were released with a catalog prefix of LP for mono releases and SR for stereo.[20]
| Catalog No. | Album | Artist | Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| VJLP/VJS-2501 | Leonard Feather's Encyclopedia of Jazz: Jazz of the 60s | Various Artists | "Giants of the Saxophone" compilation |
| VJLP/VJS-2502 | Jazz's Great "Walker" | Leroy Vinnegar | |
| VJLP/VJS-2503 | The Eric Dolphy Memorial Album | Eric Dolphy | Reissue of FM release Conversations |
| VJLP-2504 | Leningrad Jazz Festival | Golstain-Nosov Quintet / Yusef Wainstain Orchestra | Live LP recorded in Russia |
| VJ/VJS-2505 | Toshiko Mariano and her Big Band | Toshiko Mariano | Live LP recorded in Tokyo featuring Paul Chambers, Jimmy Cobb, Sleepy Matsumoto and Shigeo Suzuki |
| VJLP/VJS-2506 | Blues Bag | Buddy DeFranco | Surtitled Leonard Feather's Encyclopedia of Jazz: Jazz of the ‘60s Vol. 2 |
| VJLP/VJS-2507 | It's a Wonderful World | Victor Feldman | |
| VJLP/VJS-2508 | The Lee Morgan Quintet | Lee Morgan | Compilation of tracks from LP 3007 and LP 3015 |
| VJLP-2509 | My Babe | Bunky Green | Recorded in 1960 |
Vee-Jay International World of Jazz VJS-3000 Jazz Series
Between 1974 and 1978 the Vee-Jay International World of Jazz 3000 Series released twenty-three 12 inch stereo LPs.[21] Many of these were previously unreleased sessions or live recordings, compilations of previously released material or re-releases of albums from other labels.
| Catalog No. | Album | Artist | Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| VJS-3038 | Someday My Prince Will Come | Wynton Kelly | Recorded in 1959-61 - released 1977 |
| VJS-3051 | Organ Talk | Reuben Wilson | Reissue of 1970 Blue Note LP Blue Mode |
| VJS-3052 | Contemplation | Yusef Lateef | Reissue of Vee-Jay SR-3010, Louis Hayes |
| VJLP-3053 | And They Called It Jazz | Claude Hopkins | Compilation of 1935 transcription recordings |
| VJS-3054 | I Got Rhythm | Count Basie | Live recording from France in 1968 |
| VJS-3055 | Please Send Me Someone to Love | Bill Henderson | |
| VJ-3056 | In Concert...Carnegie Hall | Dizzy Gillespie / Stan Getz / Charlie Parker | Recorded at Duke Ellington's 25th Anniversary Concert in 1952 |
| VJS-3057 | Second Genesis | Wayne Shorter | Previously unreleased recordings from 1960 |
| VJS-3058 | For Bird and Bags | Eddie Harris | Reissue of album originally released on Exodus Records in 1966 |
| VJS-3059 | Big Band Blues | Bobby Bryant | Previously unreleased recordings from 1961 |
| VJS-3060 | Opus de Funk | John Young Trio | Previously unreleased recordings from 1957 |
| VJS-3061 | Love You Madly | Duke Ellington | Recorded at Duke Ellington's 25th Anniversary Concert in 1952 |
| VJS-3062 | Gettin' Together | Mel Lewis and Friends | Previously unreleased recordings from 1957 |
| VJS-3063 | Caution | John Gross Quartet | |
| VJS-3064 | Jazz from San Francisco | The Pat Britt Quintet | Reissue of 1968 Crestview Records LP |
| VJS-3065 | Home with Sweets | Harry "Sweets" Edison | Reissue of LPS-1104 Sweets for the Sweet Taste of Love |
| VJS-3066 | Bag of Blues | Art Blakey featuring Buddy DeFranco | Reissue of VJS-2506 |
| VJS-3067 | Good for the Garden | Kent Glenn | |
| VJS-3068 | Love Song | Gary Bartz | |
| VJS-3069 | Lost and Found | Putter Smith | |
| VJS-3070 | Jazzman | Pat Britt | |
| VJS-3071 | Wynton Kelly in Concert | Wynton Kelly | Live recording from 1968 |
| VJS-3072-2 | Final Notes | Wynton Kelly | 2LP live recording from 1968 |
Vee-Jay International VJS-18000 Gospel Series
In 1975 Vee-Jay International VJS-18000 Gospel Series released eleven 12 inch LPs.[22]
| Catalog No. | Album | Artist | Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| VJS-18000 | God Bless the Child | Princess Stewart | |
| VJS-18001 | Gospel in My Soul | The Harmonizing Four | |
| VJS-18002 | Seeking Salvation | Maceo Woods | |
| VJS-18003 | Mighty God | Voices of Jordan | |
| VJS-18004 | Come to the Savior | The Triumphs | |
| VJS-18005 | Peace in the Valley | Gospel Harmonettes | |
| VJS-18006 | I Woke Up This Morning | The Patterson Singers | |
| VJS-18007 | Think of God | The Harmonizing Four | |
| VJS-18008 | Pray for Me | The Swan Silvertones | |
| VJS-18009 | Wade in the Water | The Disciples | |
| VJS-18010 | Every Time I Feel the Spirit | Pilgrim Travelers | |
| VJS-18011 | It's a Blessing | The Cogics | Reissue of material recorded in the 1960s featuring Andraé Crouch and keyboardist Billy Preston |
| VJS-18013 | Gospel in My Soul | Sam Cooke and The Soul Stirrers | Reissue of material recorded in the 1950s - not all of tracks feature Sam Cooke |
| VJS-2-19000 | Forty Gospel Greats | Various Artists | 2-LP compilation |
| VJS-2-19001 | The Legendary Staple Singers | The Staple Singers | 2-LP compilation |
See also
- List of record labels
- Category:Vee-Jay Records albums
- Category:Vee-Jay Records artists
References
- Thompson, Dave (2002). A Music Lover's Guide to Record Collecting, pp. 286-89. San Francisco: Backbeat Books. ISBN 0-87930-713-7.
- Wickman, Forrest (January 10, 2013). "How a Black Label Brought the Beatles to America". Slate. Retrieved April 7, 2016.
- Chris Norby, "Vee-Jay label", Archer2000.com. Retrieved 19 January 2017
- Pruter, Robert (1996). Doowop: The Chicago Scene, p. 105. Urbana and Chicago: University of Illinois Press. ISBN 0-252-06506-9.
- Johnson, David (February 1, 2016). "The Vee-Jay Jazz Story". Night Lights. Retrieved April 10, 2020.
- "The Beatles U.S. Singles". yokono.co.uk. Retrieved 14 November 2016.
- "Reference Library - Beatles Before Capitol - Internet Beatles Album". beatlesagain.com. Retrieved 14 November 2016.
- "The Beatles B.C.--Before Capitol". friktech.com. Retrieved 14 November 2016.
- "The Beatles Before Capitol, Part 2". friktech.com. Retrieved 14 November 2016.
- "Billboard - Google Books". Books.google.com. 1965-10-23. Retrieved 2015-03-18.
- "Billboard - Google Books". Books.google.com. 1966-08-13. Retrieved 2015-03-18.
- "The Vee-Jay International Story". Bsnpubs.com. Retrieved 2015-03-18.
- Archived August 7, 2007, at the Wayback Machine
- "Concord Music buys Vee-Jay catalogue". Completemusicupdate.com. 2014-07-09. Retrieved 2015-03-18.
- Trakin, Ron. "Concord Music Group Acquires Famed Soul Label Vee Jay Records". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 25 September 2014.
- Both Sides Now: Vee-Jay Album Discography, Part 1: LP-1001-1070 (1956-1963) accessed July 23, 2019
- Both Sides Now: Vee-Jay Album Discography, Part 3: Jazz Series (1959-1978) accessed July 23, 2019
- Both Sides Now: Vee-Jay Album Discography, Part 4: Gospel Series accessed July 30, 2019
- Both Sides Now: Vee-Jay Album Discography, Part 2: Main Series VJS-1071 to VJS-1154 (1963-1965) accessed July 23, 2019
- Both Sides Now: Vee-Jay Album Discography, Part 3: Jazz Series (1959-1978) accessed July 23, 2019
- Both Sides Now: Vee-Jay Album Discography, Part 3: Jazz Series (1959-1978) accessed July 23, 2019
- Both Sides Now: Vee-Jay Album Discography, Part 4: Gospel Series accessed July 30, 2019
External links
- Discography for Vee-Jay Records
- The Vee-Jay Story - Both Sides Now website
- Vee-Jay Records on the Internet Archive's Great 78 Project