Flip Records (1950s)

Last updated
Flip 45 rpm label, by The Six Teens singing "A Casual Look" Flip Six Teens A Casual Look.jpg
Flip 45 rpm label, by The Six Teens singing "A Casual Look"

Flip Records was an American record label that flourished in the 1950s, releasing rhythm and blues and doo-wop music by such artists as Richard Berry, The Six Teens, Donald Wood, the Elgins, and many others. Max and Lilian Feirtag operated the label in Los Angeles, California, and published music under the Limax Music trademark.

The biggest, most lasting success was Richard Berry's original recording of his song "Louie, Louie," which came out in 1957 (although it was only a regional hit and The Six Teens' "A Casual Look" was a much bigger national hit).

In 2000, Ace Records of England purchased the assets of the original Flip Records catalog, and has been releasing this vintage music for the CD market.

See also


Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jan and Dean</span> American musical duo

Jan and Dean was an American rock duo consisting of William Jan Berry and Dean Ormsby Torrence. In the early 1960s, they were pioneers of the California Sound and vocal surf music styles popularized by the Beach Boys.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Doo-wop</span> Style of rhythm and blues music

Doo-wop is a genre of rhythm and blues music that originated in African-American communities during the 1940s, mainly in the large cities of the United States, including New York, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Chicago, Baltimore, Newark, Detroit, Washington, DC, and Los Angeles. It features vocal group harmony that carries an engaging melodic line to a simple beat with little or no instrumentation. Lyrics are simple, usually about love, sung by a lead vocal over background vocals, and often featuring, in the bridge, a melodramatically heartfelt recitative addressed to the beloved. Harmonic singing of nonsense syllables is a common characteristic of these songs. Gaining popularity in the 1950s, doo-wop was "artistically and commercially viable" until the early 1960s, but continued to influence performers in other genres.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Louie Louie</span> 1955 song by Richard Berry

"Louie Louie" is a rhythm and blues song written and composed by American musician Richard Berry in 1955, recorded in 1956, and released in 1957. It is best known for the 1963 hit version by the Kingsmen and has become a standard in pop and rock. The song is based on the tune "El Loco Cha Cha" popularized by bandleader René Touzet and is an example of Afro-Cuban influence on American popular music.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Richard Berry (musician)</span> American singer-songwriter (1935–1997)

Richard Berry, Jr. was an American singer, songwriter and musician, who performed with many Los Angeles doo-wop and close harmony groups in the 1950s, including The Flairs and The Robins.

Original Sound is a Los Angeles, California-based record label. It was founded in the early 1950s by KPOP deejay Art Laboe. It began as a small label that specialized in compiling and re-releasing "oldies" R&B and rock 'n' roll songs.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bobby Freeman</span> American singer (1940–2017)

Robert Thomas Freeman was an American rock, soul and R&B singer, songwriter and record producer from San Francisco, best known for his two Top Ten hits, the first in 1958 on Josie Records called "Do You Want to Dance" and the second in 1964 for Autumn Records, "C'mon and Swim".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Collectables Records</span>

Collectables is a reissue record label founded in 1980 by Jerry Greene. Jerry Greene formed Lost Nite and Crimson record labels. Soul Survivors gained the hit "Expressway to Your Heart" (1967) while on Crimson Records.

The Flairs were an American doo-wop group known for their 1961 hit "Foot Stompin', Pt. 1." Based in Los Angeles, they went through several lineup changes during their existence. Their notable members included Richard Berry and Cornell Gunter, who would go on to be a member of the Coasters.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lee Maye</span> American baseball player

Arthur Lee Maye was an American Major League Baseball player. He played eleven seasons in the majors as an outfielder for the Milwaukee Braves (1959–1965), Houston Astros (1965–1966), Cleveland Indians (1967–1969), Washington Senators (1969–1970), and Chicago White Sox (1970–1971).

Marvin & Johnny were an American doo-wop duo which recorded in the 1950s. The duo comprised Marvin Phillips and Emory "Johnny" Perry, who recorded the early doo-wop single, "Cherry Pie".

Leon Hughes, Sr. is an American singer. He is the last surviving original member of The Coasters.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Capris</span>

The Capris are an American doo wop group who became a one-hit wonder in 1961 with "There's a Moon Out Tonight." They experienced a popularity and performing resurgence in the 1980s, when three members reformed and The Manhattan Transfer recorded their song, "Morse Code of Love," which reached the US Hot 100 and the U.S. AC top 20.

"That's My Desire" is a 1931 popular song with music by Helmy Kresa and lyrics by Carroll Loveday.

The Six Teens were an American pop group from Los Angeles, California, United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Colts (vocal group)</span>

The Colts: also known, is an American vocal group from Bakersfield, California, United States. The group's founding members consisted of a four-man line-up: lead singer Ruben Grundy, his brother Joe Grundy, Carl Moland. In 1955, while attending L.A. City College, in Los Angeles, New Jersey native Leroy Smith had joined the group. The following year later, the Colts had added singer: Mel Williams' wife, Mickey Lynn, to their lineup, and changed the group's name to Four Colts & a Filly. The Colts is best known for their version, the first recording of the popular doo-wop classic "Adorable." The Colts is also the first African American vocal group ever coming out of the San Joaquin Valley from Kern county.

The Charades is a doo-wop, r&b group which was mostly active in California in the early to mid-1960s and has released a number of singles on various labels. One of the songs it recorded, which was associated with the surf genre, was "Surf 'n Stomp" on the Northridge label. The band also recorded for Tony Hilder's Impact label, and even had a release on a label owned by Fred Astaire. They had a minor hit with "Please Be My Love Tonight". The group, though it has been through some changes, still continues today, and has a history that spans six decades.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Harvey Fuqua</span> American musician, record producer

Harvey Fuqua was an American rhythm and blues singer, songwriter, record producer, and record label executive.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Revels (doo-wop group)</span>

The Revels were an American doo-wop group formed in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in 1954. At first, the group bounced around different record labels earnings regional hits with tunes such as "Cha-Cha Toni" and "False Alarm", but national success initially eluded them. In 1959, however, the Revels charted at number 35 on the Billboard Hot 100 with "Midnight Stroll"—the act's only Top 40 hit.

The Viscaynes were an American doo-wop group from Vallejo, California, United States, that released a few singles in the early 1960s. They also had a regional hit with the song "Yellow Moon". One of their members Sylvester Stewart, later known as Sly Stone would front the multi-racial group Sly & the Family Stone. They were unique in being one of the very few integrated doo-wop groups of their time.

"God Only Knows" was a regional hit for Philadelphia Doo wop group The Capris. It was their debut single for the group and was written by Ruben Wright. The song also had a dramatic effect on Motown singer Marvin Gaye. It has been covered by other artists as well.