Argo Records

Last updated
Argo Records
Parent company Chess Records
Founded1955 (1955)
Founder Leonard Chess
Phil Chess
Defunct1965 (1965)
StatusInactive
Genre Jazz, blues
Country of originU.S.
Location Chicago, Illinois

Argo Records was a record label in Chicago that was established in 1955 as a division of Chess Records. [1] [2]

Contents

Originally the label was called Marterry, but bandleader Ralph Marterie objected, and within a couple of months the imprint was renamed Argo. [3]

Although Chess was a blues label, the Argo division began to record jazz in 1955 and over decades attracted some big names: Gene Ammons, Kenny Burrell, Barry Harris, Illinois Jacquet, Ahmad Jamal, Ramsey Lewis, James Moody, Max Roach, Red Rodney, and Ira Sullivan. [4]

Argo also recorded pop, blues, and calypso. Its first big hit was by Clarence "Frogman" Henry, whose song "Ain't Got No Home" came out in 1956. [5] By 1960, rhythm and blues performers on the label included Etta James and the Dells. [6]

Argo changed its name in 1965 to Cadet Records when the company discovered that an Argo Records already existed in the UK. [7] As with its parent label and British Argo, the catalog is owned by Universal Music Group. Argo was one of several record labels to lose master recordings in the 2008 Universal fire. [8]

Discography

Jazz Series (1956–1965)

Catalog numberTitleArtist
LP-601Melodies by Al Hibbler Al Hibbler
LP-602 Chamber Music of the New Jazz Ahmad Jamal
LP-603 Flute 'n the Blues James Moody
LP-604Lonely One Pinky Winters
LP-605Without SauceDick Lane's Quartet
LP-606Doorway to Dixie Cy Touff , Miff Mole and Mike Simpson
LP-607Norman Simmons Trio Norman Simmons
LP-608Zoot Zoot Sims Quartet
LP-609Chicago SceneIra Schulman, Sandy Moose and Eddie Baker
LP-610 Count 'Em 88 Ahmad Jamal
LP-611 Ramsey Lewis and his Gentle-men of Swing Ramsey Lewis
LP-612Young John Young John Young Trio
LP-613 Moody's Mood for Love James Moody
LP-614Chubby's Back Chubby Jackson
LP-615Dick Lane QuartetDick Lane Quartet
LP-616Chet ChatsChet Roble
LP-617Time on My HandsSeymour and His Heartbeat Trumpet
LP-618Many MoodsAl Russ Orchestra
LP-619My MemoriesMelavano and Orchestra
LP-620 Out on a Limb with Clark Terry Clark Terry
LP-621MJT+3MJT+3
LP-622Jazz ExponentsJazz Exponents
LP-623 MAX Max Roach Quintet
LP-624 Johnny Griffin Johnny Griffin Quartet
LP-625I'm Entitled to You!!Chubby Jackson
LP-626 Cookin' Paul Gonsalves
LP-627 Ramsey Lewis and his Gentle-men of Jazz Ramsey Lewis
LP-628 At the Pershing: But Not for Me Ahmad Jamal Trio
LP-629 Sonny Stitt Sonny Stitt
LP-630 The Colorful Strings of Jimmy Woode Jimmy Woode
LP-631Swinging the Loop Vito Price
LP-632Theme for the Tall OneBess Bonnier Trio
LP-633This Is Me, J. C. Heard J. C. Heard and Orchestra
LP-634 Lateef at Cranbrook Yusef Lateef
LP-6352:38 A.M. Ralph Sharon Quartet and Friend
LP-636 Ahmad Jamal Trio Volume IV Ahmad Jamal Trio
LP-637 Last Train from Overbrook James Moody
LP-638Portfolio of Ahmad JamalAhmad Jamal Trio
LP-639Relaxin' with Sandy Mosse Sandy Mosse
LP-640Marian McPartland at the London House Marian McPartland
LP-641Touff AssignmentCy Touff
LP-642 Lem Winchester and the Ramsey Lewis Trio Lem Winchester and Ramsey Lewis
LP-643 Red Rodney Returns Red Rodney
LP-644 Breakin' It Up Barry Harris Trio
LP-645 An Hour with the Ramsey Lewis Trio Ramsey Lewis Trio
LP-646 Jamal at the Penthouse Ahmad Jamal
LP-647[Unissued]Will Green
LP-648 James Moody James Moody
LP-649Remember the OldiesVarious Artists
LP-650 Taylor Made Jazz Billy Taylor
LP-651Holiday on the Riviera Caesar Giovannini
LP-652Where There's Fire... There's Smokey Stover and his Original FiremenSmokey Stover's Original Firemen
LP-653 The Last of the Big Plungers Al Grey and The Basie Wing
LP-654Blue Lou Lou McGarity Big Eight
LP-655 A Night at the Vanguard Kenny Burrell Trio
LP-656Fanfare of HitsVarious Artists
LP-657JazzHerb Pilhofer Trio
LP-658Richard's AlamacRichard Evans Trio
LP-659The Legend of BixMetropolitan Jazz Octet
LP-660Mighty High Milt Buckner
LP-661 Burnin' Sonny Stitt
LP-662 Happy Moods Ahmad Jamal Trio
LP-663 Early in the Morning Lorez Alexandria with the Ramsey Lewis Trio
LP-664 Meet the Jazztet Art Farmer and Benny Golson
LP-665 Stretching Out Ramsey Lewis Trio
LP-666 Hey! It's James Moody James Moody
LP-667Ahmad Jamal At The Pershing, Volume 2Ahmad Jamal
LP-668 The Music of Quincy Jones Benny Bailey , Joe Harris, Åke Persson and the Quincetet
LP-669 Introducing Roland Kirk Roland Kirk and Ira Sullivan
LP-670Please Mr. Organ PlayerMilt Buckner
LP-671 The Ramsey Lewis Trio in Chicago Ramsey Lewis Trio
LP-672 Big City Sounds Art Farmer and Benny Golson
LP-673 Listen to the Ahmad Jamal Quintet Ahmad Jamal
LP-674JubileeSmokey Stover's Original Firemen
LP-675Home Cookin'Richard Evans Trio
LP-676 Playtime Buddy Rich and His Buddies
LP-677 The Thinking Man's Trombone Al Grey
LP-678 Art Art Farmer
LP-679 Moody with Strings James Moody
LP-680 More Music from the Soil Ramsey Lewis Trio
LP-681 Take a Number from 1 to 10 Benny Golson
LP-682 Sing No Sad Songs for Me Lorez Alexandria
LP-683 Sonny Stitt at the D. J. Lounge Sonny Stitt
LP-684 The Jazztet and John Lewis John Lewis , Art Farmer and Benny Golson
LP-685 Ahmad Jamal's Alhambra Ahmad Jamal
LP-686 Never on Sunday Ramsey Lewis Trio
LP-687 Sound of Christmas Ramsey Lewis Trio
LP-688 The Jazztet at Birdhouse Art Farmer and Benny Golson
LP-689 The Al Grey - Billy Mitchell Sextet Al Grey and Billy Mitchell
LP-690 Dorothy Ashby Dorothy Ashby
LP-691 All of You Ahmad Jamal
LP-692Themes and ThingsJohn Young Trio
LP-693 The Sound of Spring Ramsey Lewis Trio
LP-694 Deep Roots Lorez Alexandria
LP-695 Another Bag James Moody
LP-696Look Out! Look Out!Red Holt
LP-697 Dig Him! Gene Ammons and Sonny Stitt
LP-698 Just Jug Gene Ammons
LP-699Just for Kicks Eldee Young and Company
LP-700 Snap Your Fingers Al Grey and Billy Mitchell
LP-701 Country Meets the Blues Ramsey Lewis Trio
LP-702Midnight MoodMilt Buckner
LP-703 Ahmad Jamal at the Blackhawk Ahmad Jamal Trio
LP-704 Soul Cookin' Thornel Schwartz and Bill Leslie
LP-705 Bossa Nova Ramsey Lewis Trio
LP-706 Blues on the Other Side Mike Mainieri Quartet
LP-707Breakthrough Gene Shaw Quintet
LP-708Trumpet CalienteDon Goldie
LP-709 Rearin' Back Sonny Stitt
LP-710Diggin' the ChicksBill Leslie
LP-711 Night Song Al Grey and Billy Mitchell
LP-712 Macanudo Ahmad Jamal
LP-713A Touch of PepperJohn Young
LP-714 Soul Merchant Sam Lazar
LP-715 Pot Luck Ramsey Lewis Trio
LP-716 Free Benny Golson Quartet
LP-717Basie Is Our Boss Frank Foster
LP-718 Having a Ball Al Grey
LP-719 Poinciana Ahmad Jamal
LP-720 For Swingers Only Lorez Alexandria
LP-721 French Cookin' Budd Johnson
LP-722 The Message Illinois Jacquet with Kenny Burrell
LP-723 Barefoot Sunday Blues Ramsey Lewis Trio
LP-724 Signifyin' Lou Donaldson
LP-725 Great Day James Moody
LP-726Debut in BluesGene Shaw
LP-727Ready and Willing Herman Foster
LP-728 Here's Love Hank Jones
LP-729World of TravelJimmy Grissom
LP-730 Move on Over Sonny Stitt
LP-731 Boss Bone Al Grey
LP-732 Bach to the Blues Ramsey Lewis Trio
LP-733 Naked City Theme Ahmad Jamal
LP-734 Possum Head Lou Donaldson
LP-735 Desert Winds Illinois Jacquet
LP-736 Ya! Ya! Budd Johnson
LP-737 Fantabulous Oliver Nelson and his Orchestra
LP-738 Perception Art Farmer
LP-739 Mo' Rock Baby Face Willette
LP-740 Comin' on Strong James Moody
LP-741 The Ramsey Lewis Trio at the Bohemian Caverns Ramsey Lewis Trio
LP-742 Summer Dawn Sahib Shihab
LP-743Carnival SketchesGene Shaw
LP-744 My Main Man Sonny Stitt with Bennie Green
LP-745 More Sounds of Christmas Ramsey Lewis Trio
LP-746 Bosses of the Ballad Illinois Jacquet
LP-747 Cole Slaw Lou Donaldson
LP-748 Off the Wall Budd Johnson
LP-749 Behind the 8 Ball Baby Face Willette
LP-750 You Better Believe Me Ramsey Lewis Trio with Jean DuShon
LP-751 The Roar of the Greasepaint Ahmad Jamal
LP-752CoolRune Ofwerman's Piano
LP-753 Testifyin' Time Bunky Green
LP-754 Spectrum Illinois Jacquet
LP-755Choice! The Best of the Ramsey Lewis TrioRamsey Lewis Trio
LP-756 Cookin' the Blues James Moody
LP-757 The In Crowd Ramsey Lewis Trio
LP-758 Extensions Ahmad Jamal
LP-759 Musty Rusty Lou Donaldson
LP-1078 At the Spotlite Club Vol. 1 Ahmad Jamal Trio

Pop/Blues/Folk Series (1961–1965)

Catalog numberTitleArtist
LP-4000The Eyes of LoveOsborne Smith
LP-4001Johnny Hamlin QuintetJohnny Hamlin Quintet featuring Marci Miller
LP-4002 Space Flight Sam Lazar
LP-4003 At Last! Etta James
LP-4004Misty Night King Fleming Trio
LP-4005The Three SoulsThe Three Souls
LP-4006Morris Grants Presents JUNKVarious Artists
LP-4007Drum SumBuck Clarke Quintet
LP-4008Drums, Drollery And DrivelProfessor Paradiddle
LP-4009You Always Hurt the One You Love Clarence Henry
LP-4010Brilliant! The Trumpet of Don GoldieDon Goldie
LP-4011 The Second Time Around Etta James
LP-4012 Dodo's Back! Dodo Marmarosa
LP-4013 Etta James Etta James
LP-4014[Unissued]
LP-4015 Playback Sam Lazar
LP-4016For the First TimeShelley Moore
LP-4017Brown GalBonnie Graham
LP-4018 Etta James Sings for Lovers Etta James
LP-4019Stand By!King Fleming Trio
LP-4020House Warmin'! Howard McGhee and the Blazers
LP-4021 The Buck Clarke Sound Buck Clarke
LP-4022Let Me In/Music, Music, Music The Sensations
LP-4023The Campus Singers at the Fickle PickleThe Campus Singers
LP-4024I'm on My WayWillie Wright
LP-4025 Etta James Top Ten Etta James
LP-4026The Blues, Volume 1Various Artists
LP-4027The Blues, Volume 2Various Artists
LP-4028Cheer Up Me LadsThe Outsiders
LP-4029Martin Yarbrough ShowcaseMartin Yarbrough
LP-4030Folk SwingerDean DeWolf
LP-4031Folk Festival of the BluesVarious Artists
LP-4032 Etta James Rocks the House Etta James
LP-4033Road of BlueThe Campus Singers
LP-4034The Blues, Volume 3Various Artists
LP-4035High Tide: The Folk Songs of Dean DeWolfDean DeWolf
LP-4036Dangerous Dan ExpressThe Three Souls
LP-4037The Soul of Blues Harmonica Shakey Horton
LP-4038Composer's Choice Johnny Nash
LP-4039Make Way for Jean DuShon Jean DuShon
LP-4040 The Queen of Soul Etta James
LP-4041Dick Williams Kids Sing for Big People (and Little People Too) Dick Williams
LP-4042The Blues, Volume 4Various Artists
LP-4043Mixed MoodsMartin Yarbrough
LP-4044Soul SoundsThe Three Souls
LP-4045The Real George Kirby George Kirby
LP-4047Jammin' with the WindjammersThe Windjammers

See also

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References

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  2. Cook, Richard (2005). Richard Cook's Jazz Encyclopedia. London: Penguin Books. p. 17. ISBN   0-141-00646-3.
  3. Cohodas, Nadine (2000). Spinning Blues into Gold: The Chess Brothers and the Legendary Chess Records. New York: St. Martins. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on February 4, 2017. Retrieved October 19, 2016.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  4. Gardner, Mark (2002). Kernfeld, Barry (ed.). The New Grove Dictionary of Jazz. Vol. 1 (2nd ed.). New York: Grove's Dictionaries Inc. p. 65. ISBN   1-56159-284-6.
  5. "Clarence "Frogman" Henry Biography by Bill Dahl". Allmusic.com. Retrieved September 2, 2011.
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  7. Brack R. Chess 'Withdraws' Argo Name, Billboard, October 9, 1965. pp. 8–10.
  8. Rosen, Jody (June 11, 2019). "The Day the Music Burned". The New York Times. ISSN   0362-4331 . Retrieved July 2, 2019.