HISTORY AND DISCOGRAPHY

A notable, but rather minor, independent label begun in 1946 by Sam Goody (the retail discount store founder) in New York before Ivin Ballen, who owned a record pressing facility, bought him out two years later, moving its operations to Philadelphia.

The company’s roster was decidedly eclectic with Latin music sharing space with blues and gospel (the latter of which became its most frequent output), and eventually rock ‘n’ roll. Beset with the usual obstacles to success all independent labels face, including a lack of distribution and promotion, and despite never having a bankable artist to act as the public face of the label they weren’t completely insignificant in rock’s evolution and managed to last through multiple eras and styles of rock ‘n’ roll.

Their fatal flaw was failing to capitalize on their best rock artists – Earl Bostic and much later Lee Andrews & The Hearts – ultimately seeing them depart for greener pastures where they scored hits for other labels with songs originally recorded for Gotham. Missing out on the much needed cash flow and name recognition they might’ve gotten as a result the label was fighting a losing battle to remain viable. In spite of this they still managed to release some important sides along the way by the likes of Jimmy Preston in the late 40’s and early 50’s and The Capris in the mid-50’s before quietly folding in 1956.

 
 
GOTHAM RECORDS DISCOGRAPHY (Records Reviewed To Date On Spontaneous Lunacy):
 
 
EARL BOSTIC: 845 Stomp (7) (Gotham 154; November, 1947)
EARL BOSTIC: Earl’s Rumboogie (6) (Gotham 154; November, 1947)
EARL BOSTIC: Hot Sauce! – Boss (7) (Gotham 155; January, 1948)
EARL BOSTIC: Bostic’s Jump (4) (Gotham 155; January, 1948)
EARL BOSTIC: Temptation (8) (Gotham 160; April, 1948)
EARL BOSTIC: Bostic’s Boogie Blues (5) (Gotham 161; June, 1948)
THE DIXIEAIRES: Go Long (7) (Gotham 163; September, 1948)
JIMMY PRESTON: Messin’ With Preston (5) (Gotham 166; November, 1948)
THE DIXIEAIRES: Things Got Tough Again (4) (Gotham 167; November, 1948)
EARL BOSTIC: Disc Jockey’s Nightmare (3) (Gotham 168; December, 1948)
JIMMY PRESTON: Numbers Blues (6) (Gotham 170; January, 1949)
JIMMY PRESTON: Chop Suey, Louie (3) (Gotham 170; January, 1949)
JIMMY PRESTON: Hucklebuck Daddy (8) (Gotham 175; March, 1949)
JIMMY PRESTON: Sugar Baby (3) (Gotham 175; March, 1949)
PANAMA FRANCIS: Stompin’ With Panama (3) (Gotham 178; June, 1949)
JIMMY PRESTON: Hold Me, Baby (7) (Gotham 180; June, 1949)
JIMMY PRESTON: Home Cookin’ (4) (Gotham 180; June, 1949)
J. B. SUMMERS: Stranger In Town (7) (Gotham 186; July, 1949)
EDDIE WOODLAND: Jumpin’ With Pio (5) (Gotham 186; July, 1949)
JIMMY PRESTON: Rock The Joint (9) (Gotham 188; August, 1949)
JIMMY PRESTON: Drinking Woman (4) (Gotham 188; August, 1949)
J. B. SUMMERS: Back Door Mama (5) (Gotham 190; August, 1949)
EDDIE WOODLAND: Snap Case (5) (Gotham 194; August, 1949)
DOC BAGBY: Saturday Night Boogie (4) (Gotham 195; August, 1949)
HARRY CRAFTON: Roly Poly Mama (7) (Gotham 196; September, 1949)
TINY GRIMES: Drivin’ & Jivin’ (8) (Gotham 198; September, 1949)
TINY GRIMES: Things Ain’t What They Used To Be (7) (Gotham 198; September, 1949)
J. B. SUMMERS: Drinking Beer (4) (Gotham 203; October, 1949)
J. B. SUMMERS: Hey Now! (5) (Gotham 203; October, 1949)
JIMMY PRESTON: The Bells Of St. Mary’s (6) (Gotham 204; October, 1949)
JIMMY PRESTON: Going Away (7) (Gotham 206; November, 1949)
JIMMY PRESTON: Credit Blues (5) (Gotham 206; November, 1949)
J. B. SUMMERS: I Want A Present For Christmas (7) (Gotham 209; November, 1949)
J. B. SUMMERS: My Baby Left Me (5) (Gotham 209; November, 1949)
HARRY CRAFTON: Bring That Cadillac Back (6) (Gotham 211; December, 1949)
HARRY CRAFTON: So Long Baby (3) (Gotham 211; December, 1949)
PANAMA FRANCIS: Pussy Cats At Midnight (6) (Gotham 214; January, 1950)
PANAMA FRANCIS: Satchel Shuffle (4) (Gotham 214; January, 1950)
JIMMY PRESTON: Swingin’ In The Groove (7) (Gotham 216; January, 1950)
JIMMY PRESTON: They Call Me The Champ (8) (Gotham 216; January, 1950)
PANAMA FRANCIS: Peach Tree Shuffle (3) (Gotham 225; April, 1950)
PANAMA FRANCIS: The Crackerjack (4) (Gotham 225; April, 1950)
HARRY CRAFTON: Get Off Mama (2) (Gotham 227, April, 1950)
JIMMY PRESTON: Early Morning Blues (4) (Gotham 228; April, 1950)
JIMMY PRESTON: Hay Ride (4) (Gotham 228; April, 1950)
JIMMY PRESTON: Do The Bump (8) (Gotham 240; July, 1950)
JIMMY PRESTON: Estellina Bim Bam (7) (Gotham 240; July, 1950)
PANAMA FRANCIS: Scrambled Eggs (4) (Gotham 243; September, 1950)
HARRY CRAFTON: Let Me Tell You, Baby (5) (Gotham 245; September, 1950)
HARRY CRAFTON: It’s Been A Long Time, Baby (6) (Gotham 245; September, 1950)
JIMMY PRESTON: Potato Salad (3) (Gotham 246; September, 1950)
JIMMY PRESTON: Let’s Hang Out Tonight (7) (Gotham 246; September, 1950)