HISTORY AND DISCOGRAPHY

New York City independent label started in the waning days of 1947 by Ahmet Ertegun, the son of the former Turkish Diplomat to the United States, and Herb Abramson, former producer with National Records and founder (soon bought out) of Jubilee Records.

The company set out to record both jazz and modern “race records” and struggled for its first year but soon their insistence on high quality recordings (aided immeasurably by engineer Tom Dowd), thoroughly rehearsed performances and skilled session musicians, as well as an innate feel for the musical styles they were recording, soon set them apart from much of their competition. By the early 50’s they were among the top independent labels in the country and thanks largely to writer/producer/arranger Jesse Stone they were vital in shaping the rock sounds that followed.

When Abramson, who’d studied as a dentist, was called into the Armed Services to practice his given trade overseas in 1953, his spot in the company was taken by former Billboard writer, Jerry Wexler. The company soon added Ertegun’s older brother Neshui to handle their jazz artists and oversee their LP department, while Abramson’s wife Miriam ran the office and de facto legal aspects with an iron fist.

Their stable was incredibly deep and consisted almost entirely of black artists until the signing of Bobby Darin in 1958 to their Atco subsidiary, initially run by Abramson after his return from the Armed Forces. When Abramson left the company at the end of 1958 his ex-wife bought his shares out and became a full partner.

Atlantic, more than most indies of the 50’s, began to actively court white audiences with heavy handed pop-oriented production touches on many of their best artist’s work by the mid-50’s however, costing them some of their hard earned reputation as believers in musical authenticity which they’d made their name on for years. This crucial misjudging of the marketplace led to the company slipping a bit in prestige, saved mainly by the hiring of songwriters Jerry Leiber & Mike Stoller as the first independent production team in music. Their work with The Coasters and the reconstituted Drifters kept Atlantic on course into the early 60’s by which time the company began to act more as a major label which negotiated distribution deals with smaller regional independents (most notably Stax out of Memphis) which provided Atlantic with their most acclaimed releases of the era, though Atlantic had virtually no creative input whatsoever in these records.

By the mid-60’s Ertegun abandoned black rock entirely and focused on courting white acts and basking in their growing cultural aura, while Wexler continued overseeing the majority of black artists, most notably Aretha Franklin, the label’s greatest artist in its storied history. By that time they’d been sold to Warner Brothers, though Ertegun remained as President and Wexler as a salaried producer, and they still operated as basically an independent label under corporate ownership. Yet their singular identity ended by the early 1970’s as they became largely an outlet for British groups seeking the cache of the label’s long history with black rock, which ironically was all but over.

Atlantic is the only independent label of rock’s first era to remain fully active into the 21st Century.

 
 
ATLANTIC RECORDS REVIEWED TO DATE ON SPONTANEOUS LUNACY:
 

TINY GRIMES: Boogie Woogie Barbecue (5) (Atlantic 854; February, 1948)
JOE MORRIS: Lowe Groovin’ (5) (Atlantic 855; March, 1948)
TINY GRIMES: That Old Black Magic (3) (Atlantic 858; April, 1948)
JOE MORRIS: The Spider (7) (Atlantic 859; August, 1948)
TINY GRIMES: Midnight Special (7) (Atlantic 865; October, 1948)
TINY GRIMES: Annie Laurie (5) (Atlantic 865; October, 1948)
JOE MORRIS: The Applejack (4) (Atlantic 866; October, 1948)
MANHATTAN PAUL: Hard Ridin’ Mama (5) (Atlantic 868; December, 1948)
TINY GRIMES: Hot In Harlem (7) (Atlantic 869; January, 1949)
TINY GRIMES: Nightmare Blues (2) (Atlantic 869; January, 1949)
JOE MORRIS: Weasel Walk (6) (Atlantic 870; February, 1949)
STICK McGHEE: Drinkin’ Wine Spo-Dee-O-Dee (9) (Atlantic 873; March, 1949)
FRANK CULLEY: Cole Slaw (7) (Atlantic 874; March, 1949)
FRANK CULLEY: Central Avenue Breakdown (5) (Atlantic 874; March, 1949)
TEXAS JOHNNY BROWN: The Blues Rock (4) (Atlantic 876; May, 1949)
JOE MORRIS: Beans And Cornbread (7) (Atlantic 878; June, 1949)
RUTH BROWN: So Long (7) (Atlantic 879; July, 1949)
FRANK CULLEY: Floorshow (7) (Atlantic 880; August, 1949)
FRANK CULLEY: The Snap (4) (Atlantic 880; August, 1949)
JIMMY “BABY FACE” LEWIS: All Night Lover Blues (3) (Atlantic 884; October, 1949)
JIMMY “BABY FACE” LEWIS: How Long Baby (7) (Atlantic 884; October, 1949)
JOE MORRIS: Chuck-A-Boogie (3) (Atlantic 885; October, 1949)
TINY GRIMES: Jealousy (5) (Atlantic 886; October, 1949)
RUTH BROWN: I’ll Get Along Somehow (Part 1 & 2) (2) (Atlantic 887; October, 1949)
RUTH BROWN: Rocking Blues (5) (Atlantic 887; October, 1949)
FRANK CULLEY: After Hour Session (5) (Atlantic 888; November, 1949)
FRANK CULLEY: Rumboogie Jive (1) (Atlantic 888; November, 1949)
JOE MORRIS: Jax Boogie (5) (Atlantic 892; January, 1950)
RUTH BROWN: Love Me Baby (2) (Atlantic 893; January, 1950)
TINY GRIMES: Rock The House (8) (Atlantic 894; January, 1950)
TINY GRIMES: See See Rider (4) (Atlantic 894; January, 1950)
PROFESSOR LONGHAIR: Mardi Gras In New Orleans (9) (Atlantic 897; February, 1950)
PROFESSOR LONGHAIR: She Walks Right In (5) (Atlantic 897; February, 1950)
STICK McGHEE: Drank Up All The Wine Last Night (7) (Atlantic 898; February, 1950)
STICK McGHEE: Southern Menu (6) (Atlantic 898; February, 1950)
RUTH BROWN: (I’ll Come Back) Someday (6) (Atlantic 899; February, 1950)
JIMMY “BABY FACE” LEWIS: I’m So Good To You (5) (Atlantic 901; March, 1950)
JIMMY “BABY FACE” LEWIS: Mailman Blues (6) (Atlantic 901; March, 1950)
FRANK CULLEY: Waxie Maxie Boogie (6) (Atlantic 902; March, 1950)
FRANK CULLEY: Hop ‘N’ Twist (5) (Atlantic 902; March, 1950)
VAN “PIANO MAN” WALLS: Tee Nah Nah (5) (Atlantic 904; March, 1950)
RUTH BROWN: Sentimental Journey (4) (Atlantic 905; April, 1950)
PROFESSOR LONGHAIR: Walk Your Blues Away (7) (Atlantic 906; April, 1950)
PROFESSOR LONGHAIR: Professor Longhair’s Blues (5) (Atlantic 906; April, 1950)
STICK McGHEE: Venus Blues (9) (Atlantic 909; April, 1950)
STICK McGHEE: My Baby’s Comin’ Back (5) (Atlantic 909; April, 1950)
STICK McGHEE: Let’s Do It (7) (Atlantic 912; July, 1950)
STICK McGHEE: She’s Gone (Rock Away Blues) (5) (Atlantic 912; July, 1950)
JIMMY “BABY FACE” LEWIS: All The Fun’s On Me (3) (Atlantic 913; July, 1950)
JIMMY “BABY FACE” LEWIS: I’m Still In Love (7) (Atlantic 913; July, 1950)
JOE MORRIS (ft. LAURIE TATE): Anytime, Any Place, Anywhere (7) (Atlantic 914; August, 1950)
JOE MORRIS (ft. LAURIE TATE): Come Back Daddy, Daddy (7) (Atlantic 914; August, 1950)
FRANK CULLEY: Mona Lisa (5) (Atlantic 918; September, 1950)
RUTH BROWN: Teardrops From My Eyes ★ 10 ★ (Atlantic 919; September, 1950)
TINY GRIMES: Flying High (9) (Atlantic 920; September, 1950)
FRANK CULLEY: Gone After Hours (7) (Atlantic 922; November, 1950)
FRANK CULLEY (ft. ARLENE TALLEY): Little Miss Blues (5) (Atlantic 922; November, 1950)
JOE MORRIS (ft. LAURIE TATE): Don’t Take Your Love Away From Me (7) (Atlantic 923; January, 1951)
STICK McGHEE: Housewarmin’ Boogie (5) (Atlantic 926; January, 1951)
STICK McGHEE: Tennessee Waltz Blues (7) (Atlantic 926; January, 1951)
JIMMY “BABY FACE” LEWIS: Slippin’ And Slidin’ (6) (Atlantic 927; January, 1951)
JIMMY “BABY FACE” LEWIS: I’ve Got A Right To Love (4) (Atlantic 927; January, 1951)
RUTH BROWN: I’ll Wait For You (8) (Atlantic 930; February, 1951)
RUTH BROWN: Standing On The Corner (3) (Atlantic 930; February, 1951)
JOE MORRIS: Yeah! Yeah! Yeah! (4) (Atlantic 931; February, 1951)
JOE MORRIS: Jump Everybody Jump (8) (Atlantic 931; February, 1951)
JOE MORRIS (ft. BILLY MITCHELL): Pack Up All Your Rags (4) (Atlantic 933; March, 1951)
THE CLOVERS: Don’t You Know I Love You ★ 10 ★ (Atlantic 934; March, 1951)
THE CLOVERS: Skylark (2) (Atlantic 934; March, 1951)
FRANK CULLEY: Culley-Flower (4) (Atlantic 935; March, 1951)
STICK McGHEE: One Monkey Don’t Stop The Show (6) (Atlantic 937; May, 1951)
STICK McGHEE: Blue Barrelhouse (3) (Atlantic 937; May, 1951)
THE CARDINALS: Shouldn’t I Know (9) (Atlantic 938; May, 1951)
THE CARDINALS: Please Don’t Leave Me (3) (Atlantic 938; May, 1951)
BIG JOE TURNER: Chains Of Love ★ 10 ★ (Atlantic 939; May, 1951)
BIG JOE TURNER: After My Laughter Came Tears (6) (Atlantic 939; May, 1951)
JOE MORRIS: Midnight Grinder (8) (Atlantic 940; May, 1951)
JOE MORRIS (ft. JIMMY “BABY FACE” LEWIS): Love Fever Blues (4) (Atlantic 940; May, 1951)
RUTH BROWN: I Know (7) (Atlantic 941; June, 1951)
JOE MORRIS (ft. LAURIE TATE): I Hope You’re Satisfied (5) (Atlantic 942; June, 1951)
JOE MORRIS (ft. LAURIE TATE): You’re My Darling (5) (Atlantic 942; June, 1951)
JIMMY “BABY FACE” LEWIS: Let’s Get Together And Make Some Love (7) (Atlantic 943; August, 1951)
JIMMY “BABY FACE” LEWIS: I’ll Be Faithful To You (1) (Atlantic 943; August, 1951)
THE CLOVERS: Fool, Fool, Fool ★ 10 ★ (Atlantic 944; August, 1951)
THE CLOVERS: Needless (3) (Atlantic 944; August, 1951)
PROFESSOR LONGHAIR: Hey Little Girl ★ 10 ★ (Atlantic 947; September, 1951)
PROFESSOR LONGHAIR: Willie Mae (4) (Atlantic 947; September, 1951)
RUTH BROWN: Shine On (Big Bright Moon, Shine On) (6) (Atlantic 948; October, 1951)
RUTH BROWN: Without My Love (4) (Atlantic 948; October, 1951)
BIG JOE TURNER: The Chill Is On (9) (Atlantic 849; October, 1951)
BIG JOE TURNER: Bump Miss Susie (7) (Atlantic 849; October, 1951)
JOE MORRIS (ft. BILLY MITCHELL & TEDDY SMITH): If I Had Known (6) (Atlantic 950; November, 1951)
JOE MORRIS (ft. BILLY MITCHELL): Verna Lee (3) (Atlantic 950; November, 1951)
THE CARDINALS: I’ll Always Love You (8) (Atlantic 952; November, 1951)
THE CARDINALS: Pretty Baby Blues (6) (Atlantic 952; November, 1951)
JOE MORRIS: Let’s Have A Ball Tonight (7) (Atlantic 954; January, 1952)
JOE MORRIS (ft. BILLY MITCHELL): Someday You’ll Be Sorry (7) (Atlantic 954; January, 1952)
STICK McGHEE: Wee Wee Hours (5) (Atlantic 955; January, 1952)
WILLIS JACKSON: Wine-O-Wine (4) (Atlantic 957; January, 1952)
WILLIS JACKSON: Good Gliding (3) (Atlantic 957; January, 1952)
THE CARDINALS: The Wheel Of Fortune (7) (Atlantic 958; January, 1952)
THE CARDINALS: Kiss Me Baby (6) (Atlantic 958; January, 1952)
BIG JOE TURNER: Sweet Sixteen (9) (Atlantic 960; February, 1952)
BIG JOE TURNER: I’ll Never Stop Loving You (4) (Atlantic 960; February, 1952)
RUTH BROWN: 5-10-15 Hours (8) (Atlantic 962; February, 1952)
THE CLOVERS: One Mint Julep ★ 10 ★ (Atlantic 963; February, 1952)
THE CLOVERS: Middle Of The Night (8) (Atlantic 963; February, 1952)
ODELLE TURNER: Alarm Clock Boogie (7) (Atlantic 964; April, 1952)
ODELLE TURNER: Draggin’ Hours (5) (Atlantic 964; April, 1952)
LAURIE TATE (with JOE MORRIS): Rock Me Daddy (6) (Atlantic 965; April, 1952)
LAURIE TATE (with JOE MORRIS): Can’t Stop My Crying (6) (Atlantic 965; April, 1952)
WILLIS JACKSON: Rock! Rock!! Rock!!! (7) (Atlantic 967; June, 1952)
THE CLOVERS: Ting-A-Ling (8) (Atlantic 969; June, 1952)
THE CLOVERS: Wonder Where My Baby’s Gone (8) (Atlantic 969; June, 1952)
BIG JOE TURNER: Don’t You Cry (4) (Atlantic 970; June, 1952)
BIG JOE TURNER: Poor Lover’s Blues (4) (Atlantic 970; June, 1952)
THE CARDINALS: The Bump (5) (Atlantic 972; July, 1952)
THE CARDINALS: She Rocks (6) (Atlantic 972; July, 1952)
RUTH BROWN: Daddy Daddy (7) (Atlantic 973; July 1952)
RUTH BROWN: Have A Good Time (4) (Atlantic 973; July 1952)
JOE MORRIS: Ghost Train (7) (Atlantic 974; July, 1952)
JOE MORRIS (ft. BILLY MITCHELL): Bald Head Woman (5) (Atlantic 974; July, 1952)
WILLIS JACKSON: Gater’s Groove (6) (Atlantic 975; August, 1952)
RAY CHARLES: Roll With My Baby (5) (Atlantic 976; September, 1952)
RAY CHARLES: The Midnight Hour (6) (Atlantic 976; September, 1952)
THE CLOVERS: Hey, Miss Fannie (9) (Atlantic 977; September, 1952)
THE CLOVERS: I Played The Fool (6) (Atlantic 977; September, 1952)
RUTH BROWN: Three Letters (2) (Atlantic 978; September, 1952)
VAN “PIANO MAN” WALLS: After Midnight (2) (Atlantic 980; December, 1952)
VAN “PIANO MAN” WALLS: Blue Sender (5) (Atlantic 980; December, 1952)
THE DIAMONDS: A Beggar For Your Kisses (7) (Atlantic 981; December, 1952)
THE DIAMONDS: Call, Baby, Call (7) (Atlantic 981; December, 1952)
BIG JOE TURNER: Still In Love (4) (Atlantic 982; December, 1952)
BIG JOE TURNER: Baby, I Still Want You (6) (Atlantic 982; December, 1952)