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Black Top Records was an American, New Orleans, Louisiana-based independent record label, founded in 1981 by brothers Nauman S. Scott, III and Hammond Scott. [1] [2] [3] The label specialized in blues and R&B music. The first release was "Talk To You By Hand" by Anson Funderburgh & the Rockets. [1] [2] The artist roster included Earl King, Snooks Eaglin, Lee Rocker, Guitar Shorty, and Robert Ward, among others.
The label started out primarily as a blues label, and soon stretched out to New Orleans R&B and American roots music. Black Top especially excelled in discovering obscure talents. Many of the label's artists such as Robert Ward, Carol Fran, Clarence Hollimon, and W. C. Clark were either relatively unknown, or had been away from record contracts and/or the music industry for many years. The label used a variety of musicians on its recordings, including many from the New Orleans music community. Examples include George Porter Jr., David Torkanowsky, Herman V. Ernest III, and Sammy Berfect; Black Top also often hired the members of the Antone's house band from Austin, Texas, including Mark "Kaz" Kazanoff on saxophone. Pianist and organist Nick Connolly, also based in Austin, was another musician who recorded several sessions. Although Black Top concentrated on recording new material for the most part, it also handled some vintage reissues from artists such as Earl Hooker and Hollywood Fats.
Initially, its catalog was distributed by Rounder Records. When the contract ended in the mid-nineties, Passport Music took over distribution for a brief period of time; Chicago blues label Alligator Records distributed the Black Top catalog after that.
After releasing well over 100 albums, the label closed in 1999. [2] [3] Nauman Scott died in 2002. [3] Hammond Scott sold the rights of the catalog, and some releases were reissued on labels such as Varèse Sarabande, Fuel 2000, and Shout! Factory. In 2006, P-Vine Records in Japan acquired the worldwide rights to them.
Earl Silas Johnson IV, known as Earl King, was an American singer, guitarist, and songwriter, most active in blues music. A composer of blues standards such as "Come On" and "Big Chief", he was an important figure in New Orleans R&B.
Anson Funderburgh is an American blues guitar player and bandleader of Anson Funderburgh and the Rockets since 1978. Their style incorporates both Chicago blues and Texas blues.
Arhoolie Records is an American small independent record label that was run by Chris Strachwitz and is based in El Cerrito, California, United States The label was founded by Strachwitz in 1960 as a way for him to record and produce music by previously obscure "down-home blues" artists such as Lightnin' Hopkins, Snooks Eaglin, and Bill Gaither. Strachwitz despised most commercial music as mouse music. Arhoolie still publishes blues and folk music, Tejano music including Lydia Mendoza, Los Alegres de Terán, Flaco Jiménez, regional Mexican music, cajun, zydeco, and bluegrass.
Fird Eaglin Jr., known as Snooks Eaglin, was an American guitarist and singer based in New Orleans. In his early years he was sometimes credited under other names, including Blind Snooks Eaglin, "Lil" Snook, Ford Eaglin, Blind Guitar Ferd.
The Long Beach Blues Festival, in Long Beach, California, United States, was established in full in 1980, and was one of the largest blues festivals and was the second oldest on the West Coast. It was held on Saturday and Sunday of Labor Day weekend. For many years it was held on the athletic field on the California State University, Long Beach campus. The 2009 festival, the 30th annual, was held at Rainbow Lagoon in downtown Long Beach. The Festival went on hiatus in 2010, and has not been held since.
Topsy Turvy is the second studio album released by blues guitarist Guitar Shorty. The album was released in 1993 on CD by the label Black Top. The tracks "I'm So Glad I Met You", "Mean Husband Blues", "The Bottom Line" and "Hard Life" would later appear on Shorty's compilation album, The Best of Guitar Shorty, in 2006.
Get Wise to Yourself is the third studio album released by blues guitarist Guitar Shorty. The album was recorded during August and September 1995 and released later that year on CD by the label Black Top. The tracks "I'm the Clean up Man" and "Hard to Stay Above the Ground" appeared on Shorty's compilation album, The Best of Guitar Shorty, in 2006.
Roll Over, Baby is the fifth studio album released by blues guitarist, Guitar Shorty. The album was recorded in April and May 1998 and released later that year in August on CD by Black Top.
George Porter Jr. is an American musician, best known as the bassist and singer of The Meters. Along with Art Neville, Porter formed the group in the mid 1960s and came to be recognized as one of the progenitors of funk. The Meters disbanded in 1977, but reformed in 1989. The original group played the occasional reunion, with the Funky Meters, of which Porter and Neville are members, keeping the spirit alive, until Neville's retirement in 2018 and death the following year.
John Mooney is an American blues guitarist and singer based in New Orleans, Louisiana. He has developed a unique music style by combining Delta blues with the funky second line beat of New Orleans. He is especially known for his slide guitar work.
"Come On" is a song written by New Orleans rhythm and blues artist Earl King. He first recorded the song as "Darling Honey Angel Child" in 1960 for the Ace Records subsidiary Rex. Later that year, he recorded it as a two-part song for Imperial Records using some new lyrics. Retitled "Come On", it was released in 1960 with "Come On – Part I” as the A-side backed with “Come On – Part II”.
The San Francisco Blues Festival was active from 1973 until 2008, and was located in San Francisco, California. It was the one of the longest running blues festival in the United States.
Bobby Radcliff is an American blues guitarist, singer and songwriter. Radcliff, raised in Bethesda, Maryland, started playing guitar and, blues in particular, in his early teens.
Carol Fran was an American soul blues singer, pianist, and songwriter, best known for her string of single releases in the 1950s and 1960s, and her later musical association with her husband, Clarence Hollimon. She released six albums since 1992 including four as a duo with Hollimon.
Teasin' You is an album by the American guitarist and singer Snooks Eaglin, released in 1992 on the Black Top label.
Soul's Edge is an album by the American blues guitarist and singer Snooks Eaglin, released in 1995 on Black Top Records.
James Louis Huston, better known as James "Thunderbird" Davis, was an American Texas blues and electric blues guitarist, singer and songwriter. He recorded several singles for Duke Records in the early 1960s, achieving moderate success with "Blue Monday" (1963). He dropped out of public attention until his career was revived in 1989 with the release of his album Check Out Time. Davis died on stage in 1992, at the age of 53.
Baby, You Can Get Your Gun! is an album by the American blues musician Snooks Eaglin, released in 1987. It was regarded as a comeback for Eaglin, who had not put out an album since 1978.
Sexual Telepathy is an album by the American musician Earl King, released in 1990. King supported the album with a North American tour.
Out of Nowhere is an album by the American musician Snooks Eaglin, released in 1989. It was his second album for Black Top Records.
