HISTORY AND DISCOGRAPHY

Los Angeles based company started in 1945 by brothers Eddie and Leo Mesner as Philo Records before being forced to change their name when the U.S. Patent Office refused to register it because of its similarity to the Philco radio corporation at which point in April, 1946 it became Aladdin Records.

At the start Aladdin was largely a jazz-based label featuring such notables as Illinois Jacquet, Lester Young, Art Pepper, Helen Humes and Jay McShann, but it soon achieved success with cocktail blues led by Johnny Moore’s Three Blazers and their original pianist Charles Brown when he went solo, downhome blues with Lightning Hopkins and Little Miss Cornshucks, and gospel with the R.H. Harris led Soul Stirrers, giving them coverage across all major black music styles and positioning them amongst the leaders in the new independent record company sweepstakes in the post-war years.

When rock ‘n’ roll emerged in 1947 they scored their greatest hits with Amos Milburn working with the brilliant in-house producer Maxwell Davis. Though they did cut one-off sessions with a variety of big names from Wynonie Harris, Big Joe Turner and Big Jay McNeely, the label’s rock reputation was carried almost singlehandedly by Milburn until they finally landed a small, but stable roster of other rock acts in the early 50’s with Floyd Dixon, The Five Keys and especially Shirley & Lee. That duo gave them an entrée into the fertile music scene of New Orleans, although aside from those two Aladdin was generally left with the second or third tier acts from the Crescent City as Imperial Records had the biggest stars from Louisiana locked up.

Aladdin was unquestionably one of the leading indie companies of the 40’s and early 50’s and were quite ambitious for their day, being among the first of independent companies to release LP’s which were then almost the exclusive province of the major pop labels. Ironically their early success in so many diverse fields may have done them in once rock began to capture a larger share of the market as the commercial appeal of the other genres began to shrink and they were not as aggressive in recruiting new artists to add to their rock ‘n’ roll stable. From 1954 on the only new signees who made any notable impact were Gene & Eunice, Marvin & Johnny and Thurston Harris and subsequently their fortunes took a downturn after Milburn left and by the end of the decade they had become a minor entity, their heyday long since passed.

The label was bought out by Imperial in early 1962 and a year later Eddie Mesner passed away just shy of fifty years old. His brother Leo, ten years his senior, lived until 1992.
 

ALADDIN RECORDS REVIEWED TO DATE ON SPONTANEOUS LUNACY:

WYNONIE HARRIS: Big City Blues (2) (Aladdin 196; September, 1947)
GATEMOUTH BROWN: Gatemouth Boogie (5) (Aladdin 198; September, 1947)
GATEMOUTH BROWN: Without Me Baby (4) (Aladdin 199; October, 1947)
AMOS MILBURN: Blues At Sundown (6) (Aladdin 201; October, 1947)
AMOS MILBURN: My Love Is Limited (7) (Aladdin 201; October, 1947)
AMOS MILBURN: Aladdin Boogie (7) (Aladdin unreleased)
AMOS MILBURN: Sad And Blue (6) (Aladdin 202; November, 1947)
AMOS MILBURN: That’s My Chick (3) (Aladdin 202; November, 1947)
TINA DIXON (as LADY BLUES): Don’t You Know I Want To Love You (8) (Aladdin 205; December, 1947)
TINA DIXON (as LADY BLUES): Hello Baby! (4) (Aladdin 205; December, 1947)
AMOS MILBURN: Bye Bye Boogie (8) (Aladdin, 206; January, 1948)
AMOS MILBURN: Train Time Blues (7) (Aladdin 206; January, 1948)
WYNONIE HARRIS: Hard Ridin’ Mama (5) (Aladdin 208; February, 1948)
WYNONIE HARRIS: You Got To Get Yourself A Job, Girl (6) (Aladdin 208; February, 1948)
AMOS MILBURN: Nickle Plated Baby (8) (Aladdin unreleased)
AMOS MILBURN: I Still Love You (7) (Aladdin 211; May, 1948)
AMOS MILBURN: Pool Playing Blues (5) (Aladdin 211; May, 1948)
AMOS MILBURN: Chicken Shack Boogie ★ 10 ★ (Aladdin 3014; October, 1948)
AMOS MILBURN: It Took A Long, Long Time (7) (Aladdin 3014; October, 1948)
BIG JOE TURNER: Low Down Dog (7) (Aladdin 3013; October, 1948)
AMOS MILBURN: Bewildered ★ 10 ★ (Aladdin 3018; December, 1948)
AMOS MILBURN: A&M Blues (6) (Aladdin 3018; December, 1948)
AMOS MILBURN: Jitterbug Parade (a/k/a – Jitterbug Fashion Parade) (6) (Aladdin 3023; April, 1949)
AMOS MILBURN: Hold Me Baby (7) (Aladdin 3023; April, 1949)
AMOS MILBURN: In The Middle Of The Night (7) (Aladdin 3026; June, 1949)
AMOS MILBURN: Pot Luck Boogie (5) (Aladdin 3026; June, 1949)
THE ROBINS: Don’t Like The Way You’re Doing (5) (Aladdin 3031; June, 1949)
THE ROBINS: Come Back Baby (5) (Aladdin 3031; June, 1949)
AMOS MILBURN: Roomin’ House Boogie (7) (Aladdin 3032; August, 1949)
AMOS MILBURN: Empty Arms Blues (6) (Aladdin 3032; August, 1949)
WYNONIE HARRIS & BIG JOE TURNER: Battle Of The Blues (Part One) (7) (Aladdin 3036; October, 1949)
WYNONIE HARRIS & BIG JOE TURNER: Battle Of The Blues (Part Two) (3) (Aladdin 3036; October, 1949)
AMOS MILBURN: Bow-Wow! (6) (Aladdin 3037; October, 1949)
AMOS MILBURN: Let’s Make Christmas Merry, Baby (8) (Aladdin 3037; October, 1949)
AMOS MILBURN: Real Pretty Mama Blues (9) (Aladdin 3038; November, 1949)
AMOS MILBURN: Tell Me How Long Has The Train Been Gone (7) (Aladdin 3043; January, 1950)
AMOS MILBURN: I’m Just A Fool In Love (4) (Aladdin 3043; January, 1950)
AMOS MILBURN: Johnson Rag (5) (Aladdin 3049; February, 1950)
AMOS MILBURN: Walking Blues (6) (Aladdin 3049; February, 1950)
BIG JAY McNEELY: Jaysfrantic (5) (Aladdin 3050; March, 1950)
BIG JAY McNEELY: Deac’s Blowout (3) (Aladdin 3050; March, 1950)
TITUS TURNER: I’m Just A Lucky So And So (1) (Aladdin 3053; March, 1950)
AMOS MILBURN: Square Dance Boogie (7) (Aladdin 3056; April, 1950)
AMOS MILBURN: Anybody’s Blues (8) (Aladdin 3056; April, 1950)
AMOS MILBURN: Birmingham Bounce (5) (Aladdin 3058; May, 1950)
AMOS MILBURN: I Love Her (5) (Aladdin 3058; May, 1950)
AMOS MILBURN: Hard Luck Blues (3) (Aladdin 3059; June, 1950)
AMOS MILBURN: Two Years Of Torture (3) (Aladdin 3059; June, 1950)
AMOS MILBURN: Sax Shack Boogie (8) (Aladdin 3064; August, 1950)
AMOS MILBURN: Remember (1) (Aladdin 3064; August, 1950)
LA MELLE PRINCE: Get High (7) (Aladdin 3067; October, 1950)
LA MELLE PRINCE: Phone Me Blues (6) (Aladdin 3067; October, 1950)
AMOS MILBURN: Bad, Bad Whiskey (9) (Aladdin 3068; October, 1950)
AMOS MILBURN: I’m Going To Tell My Mama (6) (Aladdin 3068; October, 1950)
FLOYD DIXON: Girl Fifteen (8) (Aladdin 3069; October, 1950)
FLOYD DIXON: Walkin’ And Talkin’ Blues (6) (Aladdin 3069; October, 1950)
BIG JOE TURNER: Back Breaking Blues (4) (Aladdin 3070; October, 1950)
FLOYD DIXON: Real Lovin’ Mama (7) (Aladdin 3075; November, 1950)
FLOYD DIXON: Let’s Dance (6) (Aladdin 3078; January, 1951)
FLOYD DIXON: We’ll Be Together (3) (Aladdin 3078; January, 1951)
AMOS MILBURN: Let’s Rock Awhile (8) (Aladdin 3080; February, 1951)
AMOS MILBURN: Tears, Tears, Tears (7) (Aladdin 3080; February, 1951)
CHUCK NORRIS: Rockin’ After Hours (5) (Aladdin 3081; March, 1951)
FLOYD DIXON: Rockin’ At Home (7) (Aladdin 3083; April, 1951)
THE FIVE KEYS: Too Late (7) (Aladdin 3085; April, 1951)
THE FIVE KEYS: With A Broken Heart (5) (Aladdin 3085; April, 1951)
AMOS MILBURN: Everybody Clap Hands (3) (Aladdin 3090; May, 1951)
AMOS MILBURN: That Was Your Last Mistake – Goodbye (6) (Aladdin 3090; May, 1951)
AMOS MILBURN: Just One More Drink (8) (Aladdin 3093; June, 1951)
AMOS MILBURN: Ain’t Nothing Shaking (4) (Aladdin 3093; June, 1951)
PEPPERMINT HARRIS: I Got Loaded (8) (Aladdin 3097; July, 1951)
THE FIVE KEYS: The Glory Of Love ★ 10 ★ (Aladdin 3099; July, 1951)
THE FIVE KEYS: Hucklebuck With Jimmy (7) (Aladdin 3099; July, 1951)
FLOYD DIXON: Time And Place (3) (Aladdin 3101; July, 1951)
FLOYD DIXON: Do I Love You (5) (Aladdin 3101; July, 1951)
AMOS MILBURN: Boogie Woogie (3) (Aladdin 3105; September, 1951)
AMOS MILBURN: She’s Gone Again (7) (Aladdin 3105; September, 1951)
PEPPERMINT HARRIS: Have Another Drink And Talk To Me (7) (Aladdin 3107; October, 1951)
PEPPERMINT HARRIS: Middle Of Winter (3) (Aladdin 3107; October, 1951)
THE FIVE KEYS: Old MacDonald (7) (Aladdin 3113; November, 1951)
THE FIVE KEYS: It’s Christmas Time (5) (Aladdin 3113; November, 1951)
MAXWELL DAVIS: Charmaine (4) (Aladdin 3114; November, 1951)
MAXWELL DAVIS: Hey, Good Lookin’ (2) (Aladdin 3114; November, 1951)
MAXWELL DAVIS: I’ll Always Be In Love With You (3) (Aladdin 3115; November, 1951)
PEPPERMINT HARRIS: Let The Back Door Hit You (2) (Aladdin 3108; January, 1952)
PEPPERMINT HARRIS: P. H. Blues (6) (Aladdin 3108; January, 1952)
THE FIVE KEYS: Yes Sir, That’s My Baby (7) (Aladdin 3118; January, 1952)
AMOS MILBURN: Thinking And Drinking (4) (Aladdin 3124; February, 1952)
AMOS MILBURN: Trouble In Mind (8) (Aladdin 3124; February, 1952)
AMOS MILBURN: Put Something In My Hand (5) (Aladdin 3125; March, 1952)
AMOS MILBURN: Flying Home (1) (Aladdin 3125; March, 1952)
THE FIVE KEYS: Red Sails In The Sunset (5) (Aladdin 3127; March, 1952)
THE FIVE KEYS: Be Anything But Be Mine (3) (Aladdin 3127; March, 1952)
JESSE ALLEN: Rock This Morning (7) (Aladdin 3129; March, 1952)
PEPPERMINT HARRIS: Right Back On It (6) (Aladdin 3130; April, 1952)
PEPPERMINT HARRIS: Maggie’s Boogie (6) (Aladdin 3130; April, 1952)
THE FIVE KEYS: Mistakes (2) (Aladdin 3131; May, 1952)
THE FIVE KEYS: How Long (6) (Aladdin 3131; May, 1952)
AMOS MILBURN: Roll Mr. Jelly (7) (Aladdin 3133; May, 1952)
AMOS MILBURN: I Won’t Be A Fool Anymore (5) (Aladdin 3133; May, 1952)
FLOYD DIXON: Call Operator 210 (6) (Aladdin 3135; June, 1952)
FLOYD DIXON: Wine, Wine, Wine (6) (Aladdin 3135; June, 1952)
THE FIVE KEYS: I Hadn’t Anyone Til You (6) (Aladdin 3136; July, 1952)
THE FIVE KEYS: Hold Me (5) (Aladdin 3136; July, 1952)
PEPPERMINT HARRIS: There’s A Dead Cat On The Line (8) (Aladdin 3141; July, 1952)
PEPPERMINT HARRIS: I Cry For My Baby (8) (Aladdin 3141; July, 1952)
MICKEY CHAMPION: Two Faced Daddy (7) (Aladdin 3137; July, 1952)
MICKEY CHAMPION: Don’t Say You Love Me (4) (Aladdin 3137; July, 1952)
FLOYD DIXON: Red Cherries (6) (Aladdin 3144; August, 1952)
FLOYD DIXON: The River (7) (Aladdin 3144; August, 1952)
MAXWELL DAVIS: Popsicle (5) (Aladdin 3142; August, 1952)
AMOS MILBURN: Greyhound (8) (Aladdin 3150; September, 1952)
AMOS MILBURN: Kiss Me Again (4) (Aladdin 3150; September, 1952)
FLOYD DIXON: Come Back Baby (5) (Aladdin 3251; October, 1952)
FLOYD DIXON: Tired, Broke And Busted (6) (Aladdin 3251; October, 1952)
MICKEY CHAMPION: What Have You Got (4) (Aladdin 3152; October, 1952)
SHIRLEY & LEE: I’m Gone (9) (Aladdin 3153; October, 1952)
SHIRLEY & LEE: Sweethearts (4) (Aladdin 3153; October, 1952)
PEPPERMINT HARRIS: Hey Little Schoolgirl (5) (Aladdin 3154; October, 1952)
PEPPERMINT HARRIS: I Sure Do Miss My Baby (6) (Aladdin 3154; October, 1952)
THE FIVE KEYS: I Cried For You (3) (Aladdin 3158; October, 1952)
THE FIVE KEYS: Serve Another Round (6) (Aladdin 3158; October, 1952)
AMOS MILBURN: Rock, Rock, Rock (8) (Aladdin 3159; November, 1952)
AMOS MILBURN: Boo Hoo (5) (Aladdin 3159; November, 1952)
PATTY ANNE (with THE FLAMES): Midnight (2) (Aladdin 3162; November, 1952)
PATTY ANNE (with THE FLAMES): My Heart Is Free Again (2) (Aladdin 3162; November, 1952)