RPM Records (United States)

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RPM Records was an American Los Angeles–based record label launched in 1950.[1] This is not the same RPM used by Tony Bennett, nor is it related to labels in the UK and South Africa.

RPM was a subsidiary of Modern Records and part of the Bihari Brothers record empire.

Ike Turner, who was a talent scout for the Bihari Brothers, arranged for many blues musicians such as Howlin' Wolf, B.B. King, and Roscoe Gordon to record for the Biharis.[2] King released many successful singles on the RPM label.[3] Paul Anka released his first single on RPM in 1956.[4]

In 1957, the Bihari Brothers announced that they were halting all album releases on both Modern and RPM, and that their released and scheduled albums for Modern and RPM would be issued on their Crown Records label.[1]

The catalogs and master tapes were sold to Ace Records (UK) in the 1990s.

Selected discography[edit]

Catalog No. Release
date
US US
R&B

[5]

Single (A-side, B-side) Artist
324 Jun 1951 9 "Saddled the Cow (and Milk the Horse)"

b/w "Ouch Pretty Baby"

Roscoe Gordon
325[6] Jun 1951 1 "T 99 Blues"

b/w "Rain Drop Blues"

Jimmie Nelson and The Peter Rabbit Trio
333 Sep 1951 "Riding in the Moonlight"

b/w "Morning at Midnight"

Howlin' Wolf
339 Dec 1951 1 "3 O'Clock Blues"

b/w "That Ain't the Way to Do It"

B.B. King
336 Sep 1952 1 "You Know I Love You"

b/w "You Didn’t Want Me"

B.B. King and His Orchestra
350 Mar 1952 2 "No More Doggin'"

b/w "Maria"

Roscoe Gordon
355 1952 "Shake It Up And Go"

b/w " My Own Fault, Darlin'"

B.B. King and His Orchestra
356 May 1952 "You're Drivin' Me Insane"

b/w "Trouble and Heartaches"

Ike Turner with Ben Burton's Orchestra
374 Dec 1952 9 "Story from My Heart and Soul"

b/w "Boogie Woogie Woman"

B.B. King
386 Jun 1953 1 "Please Love Me"

b/w "Highway Bound"

B.B. King and His Orchestra
416 Sep 1954 1 "You Upset Me Baby"

b/w "Whole Lotta Love"

B.B. "Blues Boy" King and His Orchestra
421 Jan 1955 8 "Every Day I Have The Blues" B. B. "Blues Boy" King and His Orchestra
14 "Sneakin' Around" B. B. "Blues Boy" King and "The Kings Men"
436 Aug 1955 10 "Those Lonely, Lonely Nights"

b/w "Someone Cares For Me"

Johnny "Guitar" Watson
453 Jan 1956 14 2 "Eddie My Love"

b/w "Just Goofed"

The Teen Queens
472 Sep 1956 "I Confess"

b/w "Blau-Wile-Deveest-Fontaine"

Paul Anka
494 Jun 1957 "Quit My Baby" B.B. "Blues Boy" King and His Orchestra
95 "Be Careful With A Fool"

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b "RPM Album Discography". www.bsnpubs.com.
  2. ^ Turner, Ike (1999). Takin' Back My Name: The Confessions of Ike Turner. Cawthorne, Nigel. London: Virgin. ISBN 1852278501. OCLC 43321298.
  3. ^ "Talking to the Boss: His Majesty Mr. King". Blues Access. Retrieved November 3, 2006.
  4. ^ Worth, Fred L. (1985). Rock facts. New York, N.Y.: Facts on File. ISBN 0816010994. OCLC 12105982.
  5. ^ Whitburn, Joel (1996). Joel Whitburn's Top R&B singles, 1942-1995. Whitburn, Joel. Record Research Inc. ISBN 0898201152. OCLC 35116031.
  6. ^ "Most Played Juke Box Rhythm & Blues Records". Billboard. November 3, 1951. p. 43.

External links[edit]