American record label
Record label
| Federal Records |
|---|
| Founded | 1950 |
|---|
| Country of origin | United States |
|---|
Federal Records was an American record label founded in 1950 as a subsidiary of Syd Nathan's King Records and based in Cincinnati, Ohio. It was run by famed record producer Ralph Bass and was mainly devoted to Rhythm & Blues releases. The company also released hillbilly and rockabilly recordings from 1951 onward, e.g., "Rockin' and Rollin" by Ramblin' Tommy Scott on Federal 10003.[1] Singles were published on both 45 and 78 rpm speed formats.
Federal issued such classics as The Dominoes' "Sixty Minute Man", and "Have Mercy Baby"[2] as well as Hank Ballard & The Midnighters' "Work with Me, Annie"[3] which was opposed immediately by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) but went on to be an enormous hit.[4]
James Brown was touring with The Famous Flames when they were signed to Federal in 1956. The group's first Federal single, "Please, Please, Please," was a regional hit and eventually sold a million copies.[5]
Between 1962 and 1965 Freddie King, one of the three Blues "kings" (Freddie, B.B. and Albert), released a series of albums, mostly instrumentals, for Federal.
Johnny "Guitar" Watson was another artist on Federal Records.[6]
Selected discography
Singles
| Catalog No.
|
Release
date
|
US
|
US
R&B
|
Single (A-side, B-side)
|
Artist
|
| 12001[7]
|
Dec 1950
|
|
6
|
"Do Something For Me"
b/w "Chicken Blues"
|
The Dominoes
|
| 10003
|
Mar 1951
|
|
|
"Rockin’ and Rollin'"
b/w "You Done Me Wrong"
|
Tommy Scott
|
| 12022[8]
|
May 1951
|
17
|
1
|
"Sixty Minute Man"
b/w "I Can't Escape From You"
|
The Dominoes
|
| 12055[9]
|
Dec 1951
|
|
8
|
"Ring-A-Ding-Doo"
b/w "The Crying Blues"
|
Little Esther and Mel with the J. And O. Orchestra
|
| 12068
|
1952
|
|
1
|
"Have Mercy Baby"
b/w "Deep Sea Blues"
|
The Dominoes
|
| 12070[10]
|
1952
|
|
|
"Drill Daddy Drill"
b/w "Must Go Out and Play"
|
Dorothy Ellis
|
| 12114
|
Dec 1952
|
|
3
|
"The Bells"
|
Billy Ward & His Dominoes
|
|
|
4
|
"Pedal Pushin' Papa"
|
| 12169
|
Apr 1954
|
|
1
|
"Work with Me Annie"
b/w "Until I Die"
|
The Midnighters
|
| 12195
|
Aug 1954
|
|
1
|
"Annie Had A Baby"
b/w "She's The One"
|
The Midnighters
|
| 12200
|
Oct 1954
|
|
10
|
Annie's Aunt Fannie
b/w "Crazy Loving (Stay With Me)"
|
The Midnighters
|
| 12265[11]
|
Apr 1956
|
|
|
"I'm Tore Up"
b/w "If I Never Had Known You"
|
Billy Gayles with Ike Turner's Rhythm Rockers
|
| 12258
|
Mar 1956
|
|
6
|
"Please, Please, Please"
b/w "Why Do You Do Me"
|
James Brown with the Famous Flames
|
| 12283[12]
|
Oct 1956
|
|
|
"What Can It Be"
b/w "Gonna Wait For My Chance"
|
Jackie Brenston with Ike Turner's Kings of Rhythm
|
| 12284[13]
|
Nov 1956
|
|
|
"Flaming Love"
b/w "My Baby's Tops"
|
The Gardenias
|
| 12297[14]
|
May 1957
|
|
|
"Do You Mean It"
b/w "She Made My Blood Run Cold"
|
Ike Turner & His Orchestra
|
| 12337
|
Oct 1958
|
48
|
1
|
"Try Me"
b/w "Tell Me What I Did Wrong"
|
James Brown and the Famous Flames
|
| 12370
|
May 1960
|
33
|
7
|
"Think"
|
James Brown and the Famous Flames
|
| 86
|
14
|
"You've Got the Power"
|
| 12401
|
Jan 1961
|
29
|
5
|
"Hide Away"
b/w "I Love the Woman"
|
Freddie King
|
| 12524
|
Jul 1964
|
|
|
"Uncle Willie's Got A Thing Goin' On"
b/w "Our Kind Of Love"
|
Willie Dixon and the Big Wheels
|
See also
References
- ^ "Federal". Rockin' Country Style. Archived from the original on 2013-02-01. Retrieved 2008-12-31.
- ^ Jim Dawson, & Steve Propes (1992). What Was the First Rock'n'Roll Record. Boston & London: Faber & Faber. pp. 21–25. ISBN 0-571-12939-0.
- ^ "Ralph Bass". rockhall of fame. Archived from the original on 2006-10-17. Retrieved 2006-11-08.
- ^ Jim Dawson, & Steve Propes (1992). What Was the First Rock'n'Roll Record. Boston & London: Faber & Faber. pp. 76–79. ISBN 0-571-12939-0.
- ^ "James Brown". history-of-rock. Retrieved 2006-11-08.
- ^ Edwards, David; Mike Callahan (1998-01-10). "King/Federal/DeLuxe Story". Both Sides Now Pubs. Retrieved 2009-08-02.
- ^ "Federal Records ad" (PDF). Billboard. December 16, 1950. p. 39.
- ^ "Federal Records ad" (PDF). Billboard. May 12, 1951. p. 31.
- ^ "R&B Records to Watch" (PDF). Billboard. December 8, 1951. p. 43.
- ^ "45 discography for Federal Records". Globaldogproductions.info. Retrieved September 4, 2022.
- ^ "Reviews of New R&B Records" (PDF). Billboard. April 23, 1956. p. 60.
- ^ "Reviews of New R&B Records" (PDF). Billboard. November 3, 1956. p. 50.
- ^ "Reviews of New R&B Records" (PDF). Billboard. November 10, 1956. p. 136.
- ^ "Reviews of New R&B Records" (PDF). Billboard. May 20, 1957. p. 150.
External links
